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1615- 



o,\STOy^^ 



-OF- 



ONONDAGA COUNTY, 



NEW YORK. 



=WITH^ 



ilUnstralians md l|i0gra^Hical ^ketchc^ 



t_^==0F^==2>_» 



SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS. 



>- 



By PROFESSOR W. W. CLAYTON. 



I=T7BX,XSHEX> BIT X). MlJ^SOIfr & CO., 
Syracuse, N". Y. 



-1878.- 



m 



iro 



W 






Tiuair. Smith & Bruce. Printers. .Journal Otticf. .Syr.uiisi'. N. Y. 



-^•^i ' .^ ^ 'j'i; ^ ^ ' ^' — ^"' ' -^i 




^\-i< 



F"iM 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



; rortraits of Dr. Elijah Park, and wife. 
■ Cbas. W. Hoyt, 
" Albert Becker, 
Ilesidence of Jas. Becker, (with portraits) 

'* •' Luther Baker, " " 

I'ortrait of Joseph Thomas, 

'• " Avery F. Palmer, 
Itesidence of Homer Case, (with portraits) 
Portrait of Lewis O. Hill, . 



PAGE 

between 360, 861 

. " 360, 361 

360, 361 

360, 361 

facing 362 

between 363, 363 

362, 363 

362, .'163 

facing 398 



facing 



between 366, 
366. 
facing 
between 368, 



MANLIUS. 
St. John's School for Boys, 

F.esidence of the late C. E. Sooville, (with portraits) 
r;esidence of Curtiss Twitchell, (with portraits) 
" '■ Mrs. Ann Mable, " 

" '■ Ambrose S. Uabie, 

^Id Homestead of David Collin, (with portraits) 
'esidence of Wm. T. Avery, 
Homestead of A. H. Avery. Sr., and residence of A. H. Avery, 

Jr. , (with portraits) . between 368. 

Residence of Anson Smith, .... facing 

" ■" Dr. Judson H Graves, ... 
'' and Farm Views of D. W, Grldley, (double page) 

between Sro, 
Residence of Edward French, (with portraits) . facing 

Church of the Immaculate Conception, Fayetteville, *' 

Kesidence of Chas. II. Cole. I with portraits) . " 

" ■• the late Reuben H. Bangs, (with portraits) 

between 374. 



364 
365 

367 
•367 
367 



369 
370 
370 

371 
372 
373 
374 

375 



Residence of Myron Bangs, Fayetteville, 

'• Ambrose Clark, (With portraits) 
" Wellwood. " residence of Sam'l J. Wells, 
Hotel and Residence of E W. Woodward', '. 
Portraits of Seymour and Nancy Pratt, 
" Beach and Frances Beard, 
" Illustrious and Eunice Remington, 
Residence of E. A. Coe, iwith portraits) 
of Silas Bell, (with portraits) . 

DE WITT. 
Portrait of Robert Dunlop, . 
Residence of Robert Dunlop, 

Residence, etc. of Warren C. Brayton, (double page) 
Residence of Vliet Carpenter, (with portraits) 
Portraits of David S. Miller and wife, 

'• Elbridge, Emerson, Julius C. and Mason 
Kinne. 
Residence of Rufus R. Kinne, (with portraits) 
• Seth O. Palmiter, 



. POMPEY. 

Residence of David Hibbard, (with portraits) 

Portrait of Daniel (iott, 

Portraits of Abraham Northrup and wife. 

Homer Case's Monument, Pompey Cemetery, 

Residence of Ju.stin F. Gates, 

Portraits of Elijah and Maranda Weston, 





PAOB 


between 


374, 


375 


facing 


376 






377 






377 


" 




878 


• 




378 


• 




378 






330 


fact 


og 


381 


between 


(386 


3«T 


" 


386 


387 


" 


388 


:i89 


facing 


3!(1 






39S 


a P. 






between 


392 


393 


. 


393 


393 




318 


319 


facing 


395 


. 




395 


•■ 




398 






398 


" 




400 






400 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



General A. P. Granger, 

Parley Howlett. 

Oeorge Stevens, 

William Metcalf Clarke 

Albdrt G. Salisbury. . 

John Wilkinson, 

Henry Shattuck, 

Jascn C. Woodruff, 

Lyman Clary. M. D., . 
•• Hon. Joshua Forman, 
■ General Ellas W. Leavenworth, 

J. M Wieting, M. D., 

Lewis H. Redfield, 

Hon Moses Summers, 

Asa White. 

Horace White, 

Hamilton White, 

Nathan F. Graves, 

Hon. D. P. Wood, 

E. F. Rice, 

Hon. Daniel Pratt, 
Wili'/am C. Ruger, 
Hon. Elizur Clark. 
Cornelius T. Longstreet, 
John (Jreenway, 
Sylvester P. Pierce, 
Major William A. Cook, 
JohnCouse. 
Hon. Peter Burns. 
Horace Bronson, 
Johnson Hall, . 
Captain Oliver TealU 
George J. Gardner, Esq.. 
Major-Oeneral John J. Peck 
Rufus Stanton, 
Hon. Vivus W. Smith. 
Hon. D.^nnis McCart^l.v, 
Henry Giflfurd, 
Robert Gere, 
Jacob .\ino8. 
ma. Ann M. T. Rinitleld, 
Milton H. Nnrthtup, 
John G. K. Truanr, 
General John E His, 
Carroll E. Smith, 
Charles Tallm an. 
H.N. White, 
Dwight H. Biuoe, 
B. Burton, 





facing 140 


" 141 


" 142 


" 148 


■' 149 


between 1.50, 151 


facing 156 


" 160 


" 161 


162 


rth, 164 




'acing 166 




. 192 




. 193 




. 199 




. 199 




. 200 




. 201 




. 202 


. 


(acing 208 




, 212 




. 213 




, 213 




. 214 





acing 318 


" 222 


" ^23 


2'i4 


22<i 


facing 230 


•• 231 


. 234 


839 


facing 240 


a»i 


" 246 


247 


. 247 


. 248 


249 


. 250 


251 - 


251 


. 252 


. 255 


Hi 


facing 256 


. . 257 


f 


acing 2t>2 



Miles Adams, 

John Paddock, 

W. W. Porter, M. D., 

Hon. Abner Chapman, 

John F. Clark, 

Leonard P. Field. 

Jeremiah Everringham, 
i-Ephraim Webster, 

Col. Comfort Tyler. 

Gen. Asa Dauforth, 

Gen. Thaddeus M. Wood, 

Horace Hitcbings, 

Moses Fowler, 

Theophilus Hall, 

Ellas B. Bradley, 

George T. Clark, M. D., 

W. W, Newman. 

Charles Carpenter, 

George Hall, 

Volney King, 

Jared W. Parsons, 

A. G. Wyckoft, . 

Theodore E. Clarke. . 

Deacon Jerathmael Hunt, 

David Chafee, Sr., 

David Chafee. Jr.. 

Ransel S. Kenyon, 

Hon. Dan Bradley. 

Judge Hezekian Earll, 

Daniel Kellogg, 

Benoni Lee, 

Hon. Luke Rauney, 

Hon. John D. Rhoades, 

CliauDcey B. Laird, 
James Rodger. . 
Titus Merr^liiau, M. D.. 
Truman K. Wright, 
John A. Stevens, 
Ezekiel Skinuer, 
Deacon Isaac Hill, 
Jacob Halsted, . 
Marvin W. Hardy. 
Judge James Geddos, . 
John C. Munro, Esq , 
David Munro. 
Robert Hopkins, 
Enos Peck, 
Sidney H. Cook, 
Bennett Biothars, 
Daniel Bennett, 





264 




265 


facing 


268 




272 


between 272 


, 273 


272 


, 273 


facing 


273 




272 




272 — / 




.273--/ 




274 


facing 


•274 


between 274 


275 


274 


275 


facing 


275 


'• 


276 


between 276,277 


276 


, -OT 


278 


.279 


facing 


279 




m 




281 




282 




282 




582 


between 282, 283 


facing 


283 




284 


between 288 


389- 




289 




297 


facing 


30O 


between 300 


:J01 


• " .300 


mt 


facing 


303 




.303 


*■ 


304 


between .304 


305 


3(M 


.305 


facing 


305 




306 


" 


307 




308 


facing 


309 


" 


309 


" 


310 


*' 


311 


facing 


312 




314 


between 312. 


313 



IV 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Jonathan White, 
B. B. Schenck, M. T>. 
Lyman Norton, . 
Dr. J. E. Bilts. . 
Juilge Otis Bigelow. 
WilBoii Family, 
FrcJerick W. Fenner. 
John Halsteil, 
John Van Derveer, 
Harvey H. Rtiss, 
Henry Datoll. 
Horace B. Bingham. 
Moses Wormuth, 
George Eoker, . 
Nathaniel Cornell, 
Russel Foster, . 
Col. Qabriel Tappai: 
Stewart Scott, . 
Moseley Dunham, 
French Falrchild, 
Samnel Emmons, 
Hon. Asa Eastwood. 
Oreamus Johnson, 
Isaac Connley. . 
M. H BIynn, M. D., 
Capt. Valentine Dunham, 
David H. Hoyt. 
Samuel H. Stanton, 
I. Tyler Frisbie, 
Willis C. Pish, . 
George W. Card, 
Alfred J. Xiles, 
James L. Niles, 
James H. Kedway, 
Warren Kinney, 
Myron Hillyer, 
Hon. Samnel Willis, 



PAOE 

facing 313 

between 318. 319 

320, 321 

fai'ing 331 

$S 

'■■a 

■!43 

)■» 

:a5 

between 3-2», 32S 

" 328. .389 

3:J0 

:ao 

■m 

■!3J 

:!3I 

■m 
m 

387 

facing 340 

between 340, 341 

340, 341 

facing .341 

between 342, 343 

.343 

!M3 

3-17 

351 

:m 

352 

352 

.)62 

.W3 

.■)M 

!54 

between .■i5tf. 357 



Dr. Elijah Park, 

COarles W. Hoyt, 

Albert Becker. 

James Becker, 

Joseph Tbi'mas, 

Avery F. Palmer, 

Luther Baker, 

Morris Baker. 

Homer Ca!^e. 

Reuben B. Bangs, 

Ambrose Clark, 

David llibhard, 

Samuel J. Wells, 

Judson H Graves, M.D.. 

Charles M. Cole", 

C. E, Scoville, 

Allen H. Avery, 

J. Beach Beard. 

Edward French. 

Eli A. Coe, 

David Collin, Sr , 

Silas Bell, 

B. W. Woodward, 

Robert Dunlop, 

Rufus K. Kinne, 

Vllet Carpenter, 

Dairy Farm of W. C. Brayton, 

David S. Miller, 

The Kinne Family, 

Doniel Gott, 

Dr. Hezekiah Clarke. 

Elijah Weston. 

Abraham Northrup, .... 

MISCELLANEOUS. 
Roster of Soldiers, .... 

List of Citizens who assisted in the publication of 
of Onondaga County with Personals, 



between 



PJtCB 1 

3«i', 



360, 
360, Sfil 
360,36: 
Sfid, 36t 
363, 36;1 
362, 36> 
3«S! 



37 1 





17.'. 




^.77 




37V 




'■'7'i 




;1T^ 
31!. 




:v^) 




;if.ii 




.*i 




3S1 


between 


386, 3(-7 




3>ll 




m 




393 


fac 


ng 392 




m 


faciap SBB 




40:) 




401 




404 




. 405 


the History 






4n 



INTRODL'CTION. 



tempting to compile a History of Onondaga 

the writer is well aware of the interest and 

•H'ect botV to the historian 

.iciaga has always been a 

in the prehistoric period, before 

:ni. ui .he white man to its territory, it was 

re of a great Indian Confederacy— that of 

-lois or Five Nations— and when the Jesuit 

.o.>;. ries penetrated the solitudes of its forests, 

it becan.c I'ne theatre 61 events in which the 

two leading nations of Europe became directly 

it.terested. 

The French and the English began the coloniza- 
tion of North America at nearly the same period. 
The jea!( nsies and rivalries which had long made 
them lies in the Old World were trans- 

planted ie New Continent. The French, by 

settling St. Lawrence, whose waters head in 

the great ' if the Northwest, within a few miles 
of the triL s of the Mississippi, which f^ows 

across half -jntinent to the Gulf of Mexico, 

had the ad of the most direct means of 

access to lli _. .'Jf the cou'n.iy, and to the rich 
nificent valleys and prairies of the Great 
.n a few years they had ascended the St. 
e to the Upper Lakes ; had crossed over to 
sissippi and descended it to the Gulf of 
, they had explored the vast fertile regions 
tht Alleghanies and Texas, and visited 
every tribe from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Mobile 
Bay. 

The French avowed the deliberate purpose of 
keeping the English out of all this territory, and of 
confining them to the narrow strip of country along 
the Atlantic coast. In this scheme of empire they 
sought the friendship and alliance of the Indian 
tribes. They first secured the friendship of the 
Hurons and Algonquins of the North and West, 



establishing among them missions and trading posts : 
first in the forests of Canada, then on the Straits 
entering Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, and 
finally along the Mississippi, the Wabash and the 
Ohio. In 1641, a great convention of Red Repub- 
licans of the Northwestern vW.?rness was called at 
Sault Ste. Marie, which ^^as attendeJ by all the 
tribes far and near, ana by officers both "ivil and 
ecclesiastic of the government of New France ; ciV.''d 
it was proclaimec' to the assembled tribes that they 
were placed imder the protection of the French 
nation. In 1671, Nicholas Perot, the agent of 
Talon, the Intendant of Canada, convened a similar 
great council at Green Bay, on Lake Michigan. 
Not only were the vast multitudes of dusky warriors, 
Sichems and braves there assembled brought into 
alliance of friendship with the French, but Perot, 
paddled in a bark canoe by friendly Pottawattomies, 
visited the Miamis at Chicago, and secured from 
them similar conditions of friendship and alliance. 
While all this was going on, the Iroquois or Five 
Nations, the most powerful confederation of Indians 
on the continent, were holding the ground between 
the English and the French in the State of New 
York, the Long House, as they called it, reaching 
from the Hudson to Lake Erie : not as neutrals, 
although they sought at times to preserve a sort of 
neutrality, but as enemies of the French and ulti- 
mately as friends and allies of the English. The 
French had wantonly provoked their hostility at 
the beginning of the colonization of Canada ; by 
forming an alliance with the hereditary enemies 
of the Iroquois, tribes whom the latter had beaten 
back beyond the lakes and held in awe and subor- 
dination. They were so antagonistic to the French 
along the northern border of New York that Lake 
Ontario and the Niagara River could not be naviga- 
ted by them, and for many years their only avenue 



INTRODUCTION. 



of access to the West lay by the Ottawa River, 
through which they paddled their bark canoes to 
Lake Nippissing, crossed over to French River, 
by which they descended to Lake Huron. 

The first visit of the Jesuits to the Mohawks and 
Onondagas had its origin in the necessity for con- 
ciliating the Iroquois, whose geographical position 
between the English and the French, and whose 
strength and prowess in war, made them the natural 
arbiters of the destiny of which ever nation they 
chose to assist in the struggle. Those who regard 
the mission of tlie Jesuits in this country as purely 
religious, having for its exclusive object the conver- 
sion of the heathen to Christianity, mistake very 
gravely its impor^ and character. It had evidently 
a polititori^ligious significitnce. Not alone to e.\- 
tenr' j'lje dominion of the Church, but through the 
Cnurch to extend the power and dominion of 
France, came these zealous, devoted and self-sacri- 
ficing disciples of Ignatius Loyola to the wilds of 
North America. 

In Onondaga their mission-field was t;-.e most 
important on the Continent. For, while it was com- 
paratively easy to make friends and converts of '.he 
unbiased tribes of other sections of the country, 
here they had a strong, wily, skillful, though often 
a magnanimous foe, to contend with and to con- 
ciliate. Other tribes were less dominating — the 
Iroquois were the proud lords of the domain, the 
heroes of a thousand battles. Resides, at Onondaga, 
there was that in the situation which made the 
work of the Jesuits vastly important. This was the 
center of the Confederacy or League of the Five 
Nations, the Capital, at which all their great 
National Councils were held, where the sachems 
a. id chiefs, from the Hudson to the Niagara, assem- 
bled to attend to the business of State, where the 
national policy and all the great questions of peace 
and of war were decided. If, therefore, the Five 
Nations were to be influenced and brought over to 
an alliance with the l^rench against their English 
enemies, where could his be so well accomplished 
as at Onondaga, in the heart and capital of their 
confederacy .' 

This made Onondaga a famous locality, not only 
during the period of the Jesuit Missions, but equally 
famous during the wars which followed, when the 



French, failing in ecclesiastical diplomacy, r* 
to the arbitrament of war. Thrice was this 
invaded by the French. 7., ■ came tht 
struggle known as the " Old French War," \\\ 
in 1759 culminated in the downfall of the French 
colonial power in America : the Iroquois fighting on 
the side of the English and turning the scale agains' 
the common foe. 

It has been seriously doubted by some *" 
best statesmen and casuists whether the E 
colonists would have been abl<^ to <-<-• -i' 
French without the assi'-fa" 
and whether, in the absence 0. 
which they rendered, this country mi^ 
be a part of the French dominions. Certain 
their great strength, skill and advantage of 
turned against the English, the fate of X\ 
would have been ver)' r!iftere"^t from what ii 

Nor has Onondaga been less noted as an oi^. .• 
civil division of the State of New York. Her "ren- 
tral location in the great State of which Ltt' is a 
part ; her connection with the great ?ines of com- 
munication both of the early and more ' "^cf it times ; 
her peculiar topographical and geologica .ures ; 
the variety and richness of her resourr id pro- 
ductions ; and, above all, the character, .•juished 
'.alents and reputation of her eminf .en, have 
rendered her one of the most noted ics in the 

interior of the Empire State. A ;ariy time, 

when the cf.:"'acter of this great <ud Nation 

had to be formed ami its policy . n)d directed, 

Onondaga men, at the bar, on the bench '-p 

fields of enterprise and in the halls of leg 
bore a conspicuous part, and rendered the 
Onondaga famous throughout the country, 
were the great advocates and projectors of t 
Canal — that great State enterprise which, cc 
ing the early stage of the country's progress in 
which it was begun and completed, eclipsed all the 
marvels of the oldest nations of Europe, The men 
who believed in the practicability of this great 
undertaking, so far in advance of the rest of their 
fellow-citizens that their ideas were regarded as the 
dream of visionary enthusiasts and treated with 
derision ; who first brought the subject before the 
Legislature, first explored and surveyed the route, 
and who stood by the enterprise till it was finally 



INTRODUCTION. 



crowned with success, were men of Onondaga ; and 
by their identification with this great work made 
the name of Onondaga famous throughout the land. 

Onondaga became noted at an early time for her 
piineral resources — her Salt, Gypsum, and Water- 
Lime. The Salt Springs of this locality were 
known throughout the French and English colonies 
and in Europe more than two hundred years ago. 
After the Revolution, their fame attracted hither 
visitors and settlers, and their partial development 
formed the nucleus of flourishing villages which have 
grown into a center of more than sixty thousand 
population. 

The first discovery of water lime in America was 
made in Onondaga at a period most opportune, when 
it was needed for the permanent locks and culverts 
in the construction of the Erie Canal ; and, in 
consequence, from 1819 that great work went 
forward to its completion, and has since had the 
materials at hand to keep it in a permanent state of 
repair. Here, too, the first discovery of gypsum 
in the United States was made in 1792, which has 
since become as noted and valuable as the famous 
plaster of Paris. 

The history contained in the following pages 
covers all the ground over which we have thus 
cursorily glanced, giving each step of the progress 
of the county in detail from the earliest discoveries. 
The plan of our work, of course, is very different 
from that of Mr. Clark's two volumes. While we 
have condensed the history of the Indians into 
three or four chapters, adding considerable original 
matter, we have extended the history of the Military 
Tract, the Salt Interest, the Civil Record, and other 
matters, deemed of most importance, far beyond 
anything that has yet been published. 

Our History of the City of Syracuse is almost 
entirely original matter, embracing the inception 
and progress of industries and institutions which 
either did not exist or were in their infancy when 
Mr. Clark published his Onondaga, such as the 
Public Schools, Churches, Institutions of Learning, 
Libraries, Manufactories, Banking, Railroads, and 
the various Industrial and Commercial interests of 
the modern city. Also in the various Towns of the 
County, the histories have been brought down from 
the point where they had been left by the former 



historian. The Military Record of Onondaga in 
the War of the Rebellion — a history not hitherto 
attempted — has been added, forming one of the 
most valuable and interesting features of the work. 

The sources of information to which we have 
had access in compiling this volume are the Jesuit 
Relations ; Colonial and Do'^umentary Histories of 
New York ; Clark's Onondaga ; Bancroft's History 
of the United States ; Smith's New York ; Park- 
man's Jesuits in America; Champlain's Journal; 
Charlevoi.x's History of New France; Parkman's 
Old Regim^ in Canada ; Davidson & Stuv^'s His- 
tory of Illinois : Turner's History of the Holland 
Purchase ; Geological Reports of the State of New 
York ; Transactions of the State Agricultural 
Society ; New York Civil List ; State Census for 
1875 ; Local, County and Town Records, Maps, 
Pamphlets, Files of Newspapers, and various other 
documents of a local character. For local matters 
we have consulted the Pompey Re-union and Van 
Schaack's History of the Village of Manlius. 

For valuable assistance we are indebted to Hon. 
George Geddes, not only for material.! and sugges- 
tions embodied in various portions of the general 
history, but for the matter on geology, agriculture, 
&c., drawn from his valuable Report published in 
the Transactions of \he State Agricultural Society 
for 1859 ; to Moses Summers, Esq., of the Onondaga 
Standard, for aid in the use of books and papers, 
and the History of the 149th Regiment ; to Col. J. 
M. Gere, Col. Jenney, Major Poole, Gen. Sniper, 
Capt. W. Gilbert, Lieut. Estes, Gen. Richardson, 
and others, in making up the history of the regi- 
ments from this county engaged in the late war. 
We also acknowledge indebtedness to Hon. E. 
W. Leavenworth, Messrs. J. Forman and Alfred 
Wilkinson, Hon. Thomas G. Alvord, George J. 
Gardner, Esq., and others, both in the city and 
country. Many clergymen have kindly assisted us 
with data for the History of the Churches, and 
prominent Masons and Odd-Fellows have court- 
eously aided us in the histories of their societies. 

It is hoped that this contribution to local history 
will be the means of rescuing much historical 
material from oblivion that would otherwise perish. 
Records are liable to be destroyed : in many in- 
stances they are very imperfectly kept ; many of the 



INTRODUCTION. 



most important events of daily occurrence in every 
community are never recorded at all : if they find 
their way into the daily papers and files are kept, 
there are usually no duplicates of the same, and the 
likelihood that they will be preserved is as one 
against a thousand compared with a book of history 
in which these facts and events are gathered up and 
distributed among thousands of readers. 

Moreover, much of the most valuable part of our 
local history exists only in the memory of those 
who have been witnesses of the events or partici- 
pators in them. And these are rapidly passing from 
the stage of action. Scarcely a week passes but 
some early settler, whose experience reached back 
to the beginning of our present improvements and 
institutions, and whose memory was replete with 
interesting facts and incidents connected with the 
country, is numbered no more among the living. 
Happy for the interests of local history if such citi- 
zens had been interviewed, and the contents of their 



interesting knowledge and e.xpericnce put upon 
record. Surely he who preserves these valuable 
traditions from perishing, and commits them to the 
hands of the descendants of our worthy pioneers 
in an authentic and readable form, is doing a, kind 
office to present and future generations. 

No one but he who has attempted to compile 
such historical collections, is aware of the difficul- 
ties, even now, attending the collection rf such 
materials. The meagreness of the records and the 
incompleteness of the best recollections that can be 
elicited, are constantly compelling the local historian 
to modify his plan or to leave it imperfectly execu- 
ted. Links are wanting which the utmost labor 
and research cannot supply. While painfull)- con 
scious of this fact, we have striven to make the 
following pages as accurate and complete as possible 
under the circumstances, and we submit our humble 
labors to the indulgent criticism of the public. 



CONTENTS 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. 



INTROPVCTIOX 

Chapter 1— Early Discoveries— Claims of different Nations— Xew 
York under Dutch Rule— First Colonial Assembly— The 
Revolution and Progress of Settlement Vestward. 
Chapter H.— History of the Military Tract, .... 

Chapter III.— Interesting Early Records— Town Meetings— For- 
mation of Counties prior to Onondaga— Organization of 
Onondaga County. 
OaAPT>R IV.— The Iroquois Confederacy. .... 

Chai'T' ft V — The Onondaga Indians and the French— War Detween 
The English and French— Count Frontenao"s Invasion 
■ •f Onondaga, etc.. ...... 

Chapter VI.— The Iroquois and the English— The Onondagas in 
the French War— English and German Missions among 
the Onondagas — Schools — Treaties, etc., . 
Chapter VII —.Migration of the Onondagas— Location of their vari- 
ous Town Sites— Period of their Residence in each Lo- 
cality, ........ 

C'eapter VIII.— Antiquities—Relies of European Intercourse with 
the Indians — The Monumental Stone of 1520, discovered 
in Pompey— Other curious Relics, 
Chapter IS— Internal Navigation— The old Canal— Origin of the 
Eiie Canal— Part taken in it by Eminent Men of Onon- 
daga Counly--Its Completion and Advantages, 
Chapter X— History of the Courts — Erection of the County Build- 
iuiis, ........ 

Chapter XI —History of the Salt Springs, and Manufacture of 
Salt, with Statistics, etc., ..... 

Chapter XII.— History of the Salt Springs, continued, with tables 

showing amount of Salt made since 17^, 
Chapter XIII.— Topography of Onondaga County, . 
Chapter XIV.— Geology of Onondaga County, 
Chapter XV.— Geology, continued, ..... 

Chapter XVI.— Agriculture— Classiflcation of Soils— Climate— Tim- 
ber-Clearing Land— Pictures of Pioneer Life— Produc- 
tions of the County, ...... 

Chapter XVII.— Comparative Statistics— Influential Agricultur- 
ists-County Agricultural Societies— The present Joint 
Stock Company— General Agricultural Statistics ol the 
County, ........ 

Chapter XVIII.— Judicial and Executive Officers under Herkimer 
County — Onondaga County Civil List — Military Organi- 
zation-Population of the Couuty from 18(J0 to 1(^75, . 
Chapter XIX.— County Poor House and Insane ."isylum— County 
Penitentiary— State Asylum for Idiots, . 



PAGE 

1 



23 



3« 



4fl 



ti-s 



75 



Chapter 

Chapter 
Chapter 
Chapter 
Chapter 
Chapter 
Chapter 
Chapter 
Chapter 
Chapter 
Chapter 



XX.— Onondaga in the War of the Rebellion— Capt. But- 
ler's Company— Pettit's Battery, . 
XXI.— Jenney's Battery, etc., 

XXII— The 15th Regt. X. Y. Vols 

XXIIL— 12th Regt., continued— The 101st Regt., . 
XXIV.-The laad N. Y. Vols., .... 
XXV.-Tbe 12iM X. Y. Vols., continued, . '. 

XXVI —The 125d N. Y. Vols., continued— 15th Cavalry, 
XXVII. -The 149th X. Y. Vols., 
XXVIII.-The 14<ith X. Y. Vols., continued, 
XXIX.— The 185th N. Y. Vols., 
XXX.-The l.S5ih N. Y. Vols., continued, . 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 



SI I 



Introduction 

Railroads, 

Education, 

Syracuse University, 

Churches. 

Press. 

Banks. 

Manufactures, 

Commercial Interests, 

Masons. Odd-Fellows. *c.. 

HISTORIES OF THE TOWNS. 

Town of Sallm, 

■' Geddes. 

•' Onondaga. 

■' Marcellus, 

" Skaneateles. 

•' Eibridge, . 

■■ Camillus, , 

" Lysander, 

■' Van Bhren. 

•■ Clay, 

'• Cicero. 

■ Spafford, 

■ Otisco, 
■' TuUy, 

•• La Fayette. 

'' ■' Manlius. 

■' Fahius. 

•' De Witt, 

" •' Pompey. 



Si 

88 

91 

96 

lOS 

107 

JIl 

118 

122 

12T 

131 



135 
150 
152 
167 
]T« 
194 
•203 
215 
3ST 
»tl 



258 
2Ctj 

an 

2K.-J 

.•i<»f< 

315 

327 

332 

:J37 

344 

.348- 

355- 

.359 

'iti-'i ■ 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

t 

Pratt's Falls. Pompey, N. Y. (Froutice.i. facing title page. 

!Plau of Onondaga County. .... facing 5 

Court House, Syracuse, . '42 

Penitentiary, " . . ■ 81 

Ono.idaga County Poor-House, 81 

SYRACUSE. 
Clinton Square, 
Residence of Patrick Lyn^h, 
Eo trait of Gen. A. P. Granger. 
■ Parley Howlett, 
" " George Stevens, 
hesidence of John Greenway, 
'ortralts of W M. Clarke and wife, 

\. G. .Salisbury and wife. 

i.-'hn Wilkinson, (steel.) between 



facing 



135 
ise 
140 
141 
142 
144 
148 
149 
ICO. 151 



Residence of John Moore, . 
Portrait of Henry Shattuck. 

" J C. Woodruff. 
■' " Lyman Clary, M. D , 

" Hon. Joshua Forman,(steeli 

" Gen. E. W. Leavenworth, (steel) 

" J. M. Wieting, M. D., 

■' Rev. E. O. Haven, D. D., LL. D., 
Syracuse University Boildings, (double page) 
Martin's Block, ... 

Residence of John Eastwood. 
Portrait of L. H. Ridfield, (steel) 
" " Horace White, (steel) 
The White Memorial Building, 
Portrait of Hamilton White, (steel i 

" X. F. Graves, (steel i 

" D. P. Wood, (steel 1 



fac 


ing 


152 




■ 


15K 






160 






161 


. 




162 






164 






IB6 






107 


between 


168 


169 


facing 


IM 


. 




184 






192 


between 


198, 


199 


" 


198, 


199 




200, 


201 


•• 


200. 


901 


facing 


202 



II 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Portrait of E. F. Rice, 

" Hon. D. Pratt, (Meeli . 
" William C, Kuger. I steel) 
'• Elizur Clark, isteel) 
•' C, T. LoDgstreet. (Steel) 
Empire State Jlills— .Iacot> AmosA Sons. 
Portrait of Jobii Orceiiway, 
View of GreeuTBj'8 lirewiry. 
Portrait of S, P, Pierce, 
•• Wm. A. Cool!, 
" " JoliD Crouse, isteelj 

•' Hon, Peter Burns, (steelj 
" •' Hotace Bronson, 
" " Johnbou Hall, 
Onondaga Coiintv Mill! Association Depot, 
Portrait of Capt. Oliver Teall, isteel) 
'■ " George J. Gardner, (eteel) 
'• " MajorGeneral Jolm J. Peck, 
" " Rufus Stanton, 

•• Hon V. W. Smith 
•' •' Hon. Dennis McC'artliy, 
" " Robert Gere. (Sleel) 
Besidence of Jacolj Aniux, iwitli portrait) 
Portrait of Mrs. Ann M. T. Rtdfleld, (steel) 
•• James M. Ellis, isteel) 
■• C. Tallmnn, isteel i 
•• H. X. Wliite, 

SALIXA 
Residence of John Padilock, 
Portraits of John Paddock and Wife, 
Portrait of B. Burton, 
Portraits of Miles Adams and Wife. 

GEDDES. 
Portrait of Dr. W W. Porter; 

OXONDAGA. 
Residence of J. W. Parsons, iwltli portrait,! 
Portrait of Hon. Abner Cliapuian, . 
Portraits of John F. and Minerva Clark, . 
Portrait of Leonard P, Field, 
Portraits of Jeremiah Everrinjjham and wives, . 

" *• Horace Hitohiiigs and wife, 

'* " Moses Fowler " '" . 

" Theophilus Hali 

" •• E B.Bradley 
Portrait of George T. Clark, M. I> 

" " W. W, Newman. 
Portraits of Charles Carpenter and wife. 
Residence of George Hull, 
Portraits of George Hall and wife, 

" '• Volney King " " , 
Residence of Austin G. WyckofI, (with portraits) 

" " Jerathmael Hunt. '' " 

Portraits of David Chafee and wife, 

" •■ Ransel S. Kenyoii and wife, 

MARCELLUS. 
Marcellus Wuulen Mills— L. Moses, (double page) 



PAbE 

(aciug tm 

lietween 212, -.'13 

«1«, •,i:i 

•,J14, -iVi 

■Hi. 41.'. 

facing 311) 

am 

219 
2« 
?« 
i-U 

yao 

iSO 
831 
833 
•JM 

iiv 
a-io 

841 
846 
84T 
848 
849 
2,i0 
8.V3 
255 
850 



facing 



8M 
85S 
868 
865 



facing -iiyl 



facing 



871 
878 

Ijetween 872, 273 
878, 873 
facing 873 
874 

between 274, 875 

274,875 

facing 875 

876 

between 876,877 

876, 877 

87», 879 

878. 879 

facing 879 

881 

between iSi. 883 

»e, 883 

facing 383 

between 884, 885 



SKAXEATELES, 
Residence of the lale Julius Earn, . between 288,! 

Portrait of Judge Hezekiah Earll, ... 
Residence of A. J. Earll with portraits, (double page) 
Darvel Mills, Property of Thomas Morton, (double page) 
Portrait of C. Pardee, .... 

Portraits of D. C. Thornton and wife, 
Thomas Morton's Mills, at Mottville, (double page) 
Draycott Paper Mills, (double page) 
Residences of W. T and F. G. Weeks, . 
F. A. Sinclair's I'nion Chair Factory, (double page> 
Portraits of F. A. Sinclair and wife. 
Portrait of Benoni Lee, (steel) 

ELBRIDGE. 
Residence of Tliomas W. Hill, ( vith iiKitrails' 
Portrait of Hon. Luke Banuey 

*• '• CUauncey B Lniid, 

" " Hon, John D. Hhoades, 

" " James Rodger, . 
Portraits of Dr. Titus Merriraanand w(ic. 
Portrait of T. K Wright, ... 

" " John A. Stevens, 

" " Ezekiel Skinner, 



28C, 


289 


. " 888, 


889 


ge) '• aso, 


291 


facing 


S91 


" 


891 


between 898, 


89'j 


SW, 


893 


«iH. 


810 


296 


•897 


•»« 


•897 


facing 


•J97 


fa''iug 


298 


" 


300 


between 3tO 


301 


300 


301 


facing 


802 


" 


803 


•• 


304 


between 804 


SOS 


304 


803 





PAOB 




Itlg 


305 
306 
307 


ft 


■Ing 


fOH 

SOU 

'10 
3*11 
318 


eeii 318 


. 313 


fa 


ing 


313 



Portraits of Deacon Isaac Hill and nife, . 

■' '• Jacob Halsied 
Portrait of Marvin W. Hardy, 

CAMILLCS, 
Portrait of David llunro. 

•' •' John C. Muuro, . 
Portraits of Robert Hopkins and wife, 

•• •* Enos Peel; 
Portrait of Sidney H. Cook 

" Daniel Bennett, beti 

•• Jonathan White, , . , . 

Residence of J B. Bennett, (with portrait*) double 

page. . . , . . between 3I4, 315 

Residence and Farm of Henry Winchell. (with portraits) '• 3IJ, 815 

LYSANDER, 

Former Residence of John Halsted, 
Residence of Mrs. Electa Van Derveer. 
Portrait of B. B. Schenck. M. D., . 
Residence of B. B. Schenck, M. D., PlalnviUe, 
Residences of J. H. and Lymau Norton. . 
Portrait of Lyman Xorton, .... 

•• •• Dr. J. E. Hilts 

Residence of Mrs F. W. Fenner, (with portraits) 
Residence and Tobacco Bams of William Wilson, 
Portrait of John Halsted, (Steel I 
Residence and Hop Farm of H. H Russ, (With portiaits) 

VAX BUREN. 
Portrait of A. W. Bingham. 

•• Henry Daboll. . be 

Residence of •• . 

Portraits of H. B. Bingham and wife. 
Residence of A. W. Bingham, .... 
Residence of the late Moses Wormuth, (with portraits) 

" George Ecker, (with portraits), 

'• Russei Foster, *• " . 



facing 

between 31H, 

■■&). 
320. 
facing 

facing 



315 
816 
319 
319 
321 
381 
321 
383 
384 
»i& 
32l> 



facin.' 328 
I ween Vf. '40 

.ijH. ■.fyr> 

:i3o, 8:)! 
facing .3:)1 



CLAY. 

Late Residence of William Wormoth, . facing 

Residence of Thomas H. Scott, between 'SU, 
Residences of Mosley, Horace S., and Homer Dunham, 

(With portraits I, between 334, 

Residence of French Fairchild, with portraits, (double 

p-igei .... between 336, 

CICERO. 

Residence of William H. Carter, (With portrait), facing 
Portrait of Samuel Emmons and wife, ..." 

Portraits of Hon. Asa Eastwood and wife, between 810, 

•• Orsamus Johnson and wife, '■ 310, 

Portrait of Isaac Cooniey, ... facing 

Residence of Robert Henderson. . between .'i48, 

•• Capt. V. Dunham, ■ :(4S, 

Portrait of M, H. Blynn, M P., 148, 

Portraits of Samuel Cushing and wife. :i4'8. 

Residence of David H. Hoyt, (With poitralts), facing 

SPAFFORD. 
Residence of Samuel H. Stanton, (with portraits), 

OTISCO, 



3-i2 

;m 

.835 

xn 

138 
310 
841 
341 
311 
Mt 
.'^43 
MS 
t43: 



facing ,847 



between 348, 
Us. 
■US. 

»1«, 

348, 

••15(1. 
.850. 
:»), 
facing 



Residences of Thomas and James H. Red way. 
Portraits of Thomas Redway and wife, . 

*• James H. 
Residence of James L. Xiles, Anil>er, (with portraits) , 
Residence and Store of A. J. Niles, Amber, (with portraits) 
Residence ond Farm View of John Van Benthuysen, 

(double page) .... 
Residence of W, C. Fish, . 

Portraits of W. C. and Elir.a H. Fish, 
Residence of I. T. Frisbie, i with portraits) 
Portrait of Uriah Fish. . . , , . 

Residence of George W. Card, (double page) between 

Portraits of George W Card and family. 
Residence of Warren Kinney, (With portraits) . •• 

Residence and Shop of Myron Hillyer, (with portraits) 

TCLLY. 
Portraits of Hon. Samuel Willis and wife, 
Residence of Hon. Samuel Willis, 

LA FAYETTE. 
Residence of Morris Baker, (With portrait) 

" " Maj. F. J. Farrington, (with portraits) 



»t9 
:Mft 

.il!) 

:»■! 
:M9 

351 
331 
:)51 
S5t 
351 
86* 
853 
8.^5 
8->5 



between ."J-Vi. :?67 



facing 



aw 

.860 



Pla/L of ^ p 



CO. 



I 



\Aii^ldin{ 



C u 




HISTOEY 



OF 



Ono^'daga County, New Yoek. 



CHAPTER I. 

General History — Early Discoveries — Claims 
OF Different Nations — New York under 
Dutch Rule — First Colonial Assembly — 
The Revolution and Progress of Settle- 
ment Westward. 

THE County of Onondaga as a civil organiza- 
tion is of comparatively recent date. Tlie 
history of this locality, however, extends back 
into a remote period, and is intimately connected 
with the earliest discoveries and settlements on the 
continent of North America. There are evidences 
that this region of country was visited by Euro- 
peans a hundred years before the Pilgrims landed 
at Plymouth Rock, almost a century before the 
Dutch settled the New Netherlands, and eighty- 
eight years before Quebec was founded by the 
French. The monumental stone discovered in 
Pompey, bearing date 1520, carries back our local 
history three liundred and fifty-seven years from 
our own time, to a period when the Spaniards 
were making their discoveries in Florida, and 
forty-five years before the founding of St. Augus- 
tine. 

A brief review of the early discoveries will be 
proper in this place. 

In less than a decade after the discovery of 
America by Columbus, the diflerent maritime pow- 
ers of Europe were engaged in active competition 
for the prizes of the New World. Spain, actuated 
by the greed of gold and the lust of conquest, seized 
upon the rich treasures of the Montezunias, and 
after conquering and plundering Mexico and South 
America, took possession of Florida and of that por- 
tion of the Northern Continent .bordering on the 
Gulf of Mexico. The first Spanish colony in North 
America was planted at St Augustine, Florida, in 
1565, about fifty years after Ponce de Leon had 



discovered the southern-most cape of the United 
States. 

The English meanwhile were not idle. Author- 
ized by letters patent from Henry VH, John Ca- 
bot, a Venetian, accompanied by his son, Sebas- 
tian, set out on a voyage of discovery to America. 
He struck the sterile coast of Labrador, June 24, 
1-497, ^"d was the first European to see the Conti- 
nent of North America. In 1498, Sebastian Cabot, 
returning, explored the coast from Newfound- 
land to Florida. 

In 1 50 1, the Portuguese explored nearly the 
whole coast of North America. 

Attracted by the prize of the Newfoundland 
fisheries, the French of Normandy and Britany sent 
thither their sailing vessels as early as the begin- 
ning of the sixteenth century. From this point 
they discovered the Island of Cape Breton and gradu- 
ally passed westward into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 
To Jacques Cartier, a French mariner of St. Malo, be- 
longs the honor of having discovered and named 
the River St. Lawrence. Sailing up its broad ex- 
panse of waters on St. Lawrence Day, (August 10,) 
1534, he gave it the name of that distinguished 
saint, and ascended the river as far as the Island 
of Orleans. The following year he explored it to 
the ancient Indian town of Hochelaga, now Mon- 
treal. The French under Champlain, founded Que- 
bec in 1608. One year earlier the English colo- 
nists had made their first permanent settlement at 
Jamestown, Virginia, and in 1620 the Mayflower 
landed another colony at Plymouth Rock, destined 
to have an important influence in the settlement 
and institutions of the country for all time to come. 
These two colonies were the successful rivals of 
all others of every nationality, in that competition 
for empire which has made their descendants the 
masters of North America. 

Meanwhile the French had also explored the 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



coasts of New England and New York. Emu- 
lating the enterprise of England and Sixain, Fran- 
cis I, of France, had sent upon a voyage of ex- 
ploration the distinguished Florentine mariner, John 
Verrazzani. This persevering navigator visited 
America in 1 524, sailed along the coast a distance of 
twenty-one hundred miles in frail vessels and safely 
returned to report his success to his sovereign. 

The Dutch East India Company employed 
Henry Hudson to seek a northern passage to 
India. In a mere yacht he ventured among the 
northern icebergs, skirted the coast of North 
America, and sailing up the noble river which 
perjjctuates his name, cist anchor in the stream 
and opened a trade with the Indians. From them 
Hudson obtained corn, beans, pumpkins, grapes 
and tobacco, — products indigenous to the soil and 
climate of America, — and to them he imparted a 
knowledge of the baneful eiTects of into.\icating 
liquor. 

On account of the foregoing e.xplorations and 
discoveries, three nations laid claim to a portion 
of the territory embraced in the State of New 
York. On the ground of the discoveries of Sebas- 
tian Cabot in i49S.was based the English claim of ter- 
ritory, eleven degrees in width extending indefinitely 
westward ; the French claimed a portion of the 
eastern Atlantic coast on the ground of the discov- 
eries made by Verrazzani ; and Holland l.nid claim 
to the country from Cape Cod to the southern 
shore of Delaware Bay, basing her right upon the 
discoveries of Hudson, made in September, 1609. 
Of this thrice-claimed region the Dutch be- 
came the actual possessors and gave it the name 
of New Netherlands. They planted a fort on 
Manhattan Island in 1614, antl in 1623 made settle- 
ments at New Amsterdam and Fort Orange. For 
a time on amicable terms with the Indians the 
colonists lived in peace and security, but the cruelty 
of Keith, one of the four colonial Governors, 
awakened the fires of revenge and threatened the 
colony with extermination. Restricted in their 
rights, and desirous of the privileges and liberties 
accorded the neighboring English colonists, the 
Dutch settlers refused to contest supremacy with the 
naval expedition of Admiral Nichols, sent out by 
the Duke of York in 1664 ; and the warlike 
Sleuyvesant, reluctantly yielding to the English, 
resigned his command, and the province re- 
ceived the name of Nkw Yokk. The settlement 
at New Amsterdam was changed to the same name, 
and Fort Orange to Albany, the present State 
Capital. 

Hailing with satisfaction the change of masters, 



the Dutch and English colonists, whose plantations 
had been devastated by the Raritans and their 
allies, and whose lives had been saved by the inter- 
position of the friendly Mohawks, soon found them- 
selves in a protracted struggle with the royal Gov- 
ernors. Repeatedly defrauded of their means, they 
raised revenues under their own officers and stout- 
ly defended and successfully maintained their rights 
and liberties. 

In October, 1683, the first Colonial Assembly 
lor the Province of New York held its session. It 
consisted of a Governor, Council of Ten, and 
House of Representatives of seventeen members 
elected by the jjcople. 

In conflict with their French enemies on the 
north, the timidity and delays of the Governors 
brought the English into contempt with their fierce 
allies, the Iroquois, on the west ; but the misfor- 
tune was averted before treaties were annulled by 
the sagacity and activity of Schuyler and Fletcher 
in the winter of 1693. The changes and revolu- 
tions in England extended to the royal province 
and occasioned an event of vast importance in its 
bearing on the future of the State. The circum- 
stances of the hanging of Leisler and Millbourne, 
so familiar to many, opened a chasm between the 
people, whose hardships in a new land entitled 
them to a voice in their own government, and pro- 
prietors of large tracts of land, with aristocratic 
tendencies and pretensions, who aimed at a com- 
plete usurpation of popular rights and privileges. 
The antagonism thus fostered kindled to a flame 
upon the breaking out of the Revolution, and un- 
der the appellations of Whig and Tory the people 
were arranged in nearly equal numbers. 

During the Revolution, eastern New York was 
the scene of various severe struggles. The defeat 
of the Americans on Long Island was the com- 
mencement of a period of gloom and depression ; 
but the surrender of Hurgoyne at Saratoga in- 
spired a hope and a resolution which never ceased 
till the close of the war. With the arrival of peace 
and freedom from foreign influence, and during the 
cessation of internal dissensions, many soldiers re- 
ceiving grants of land in lieu of bounties, proceeded 
westward to find and settle upon their tracts. Large 
areas of land were bought, and sometimes after 
many changes of ownership, the proprietors or com- 
panies oflfcring liberal terms, invited settlers, laid 
out counties and towns, and founded villages and 
hamlets, which have grown into cities important 
and populous. 

At the close of the Revolution, Central and 
Western New York was a wilderness ; but the 



^ 

i 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



march of armies and the forays of detachments had 
made known the future promise of this hitherto un- 
trodden region ; and companies, the State and the 
general Government, immediately took steps, as 
policy and duty seemed to dictate, to acquire im- 
mediate ownership. 

The conclusion of that peace by which American 
Independence was acknowledged secured no terms 
to England's savage au.xiliaries. Their ancient 
possessions, by the treaty of 1783, passed into the 
hands of the United States. The new Government 
desired to consolidate a peace with the Six Na- 
tions, and to this end the General Assembly of 
New York made provision for a treaty, by passing 
an act, April 6, 1784, associating with Governor 
George Clinton, President ex-officio of the Board of 
Commissioners, and his three associates, such other 
persons as should be deemed necessary, who were 
authorized to proceed to form a compact with the 
Indians. The place selected was Fort Stanwi.x. 
But pending the meeting Congress took action in 
the matter, appointing Oliver Wolcott, Arthur Lee 
and Richard Butler, Commissioners to make a 
treaty with the same parties. This brought the 
general Government and State into conflict ; the 
general Government maintained its prerogatives, 
and, by the Commissioners appointed, concluded a 
treaty with the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, Octo- 
ber 22, 1784. This treaty ceded a large portion of 
land in Western New York. By a treaty with the 
Onondagas, concluded September 12, 1788, the 
lands known as the Military Tract were acquired. 



CHAPTER II. 

History of the Military Tr.act. 

IN our introductory chapter we have brought 
down the thread of events to the extinguish- 
ment of the Indian title to the Military Tract. That 
portion of the State was afterwards organized into 
the County of Onondaga. The history of this famous 
tract of land may properly begin with the action of 
Congress on the i6th of September, 1776, in mak- 
ing provision for the bounties of the soldiers to be 
enlisted in the Continental Army during the War 
of the Revolution. The following is an extract 
from the journal of Congress, dated as above : 

" Congress then resolved itself into a committee 
of the whole to take into consideration the report 
of the Board of War ; and after some time the 
President resumed the chair, and Mr. Nelson re- 
ported that the committee have had under consid- 
eration the report from the Board of War, and have 
made sundry amendments ; which they ordered 



him to lay before Congress. Congress then took 
into consideration the report of the Board of War, 
and the amendments offered by the committee of 
the wliole, and thereupon came to the following 
resolutions : 

" That eighty-eight Battalions be enlisted as soon 
as possible, to serve during the present war ; and 
that each State furnish their respective quotas in 
the following proportions, viz.: 

New Hampshire Three Battalions. 

Massachusetts Bay ... Fifteen " 

Rhode Island Two " 

Connecticut Eight " 

New York Four " 

New Jersey Four " 

Pennsylvania Twelve " 

Delaware One " 

Maryland Eight " 

Virginia Fitteen " 

North Carolina Nine " 

South Carolina Six " 

Georgia One " 

" That twenty dollars be given as a bounty to 
each non-commissioned ofificer and private soldier 
who shall enlist to serve during the present war, 
unless sooner discharged by Congress. 

"That Congress make provision for granting 
lands in the following proportions to the officers and 
soldiers, who shall so engage in the service, and 
continue therein till the close of the war, or until 
discharged by Congress, and to the representatives 
of such officers and soldiers as shall be slain by the 
enemy. 

" Such lands to be provided by the United 
States ; and whatever expenses shall be necessary 
to procure such land, the said expenses shall be 
paid and borne by the .States, in the same propor- 
tion as the other expenses of the war, viz : 

To a Colonel 500 Acres. 

To a Lieutenant-Colonel 450 

To a Major 400 

To a Captain 300 

To a Lieutenant 200 

To an Ensign 150 

Each non-commissioned ofificer 

and soldier 100 " 

By an act of the 12th of August, 1780, Congress 
also made provision of land bounties for Major 
Generals and Brigadier Generals, as follows : 

To a Major General 1,100 Acres. 

To a Brigadier General ..... 850 " 

At the close of the war, in 1783, the Legislature 
of the State of New York, took action with regard 
to these promised bounty lands, not only with a 
view of discharging the aforesaid engagement of 
Congress, but, in consideration of the virtue and 
patriotism of the troops of New York, to add there- 
to a large gratuity of State lands. The resolution 
of the Senate was introduced by Mr. Duane, and 
is dated March 27, 1783. It is in the words fol- 
lowing : 



8 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



" Resoh'fd therrforty > if the honorable, the House 
of Asscmhlv concur herein,) That besides the 
bounty of i \. 

laturc will . 1 s 

and Brigadier (icncrals now serving in the line of 
the army of the United States, and being citizens 
of this State ; and the officers, non-commissioned 
officers and privates of the two re};inicnls com- 
manded by Colonels Van Schaick and Van Cort- 
landt ; such officers of the regiment of artillery 
commanded by Colonel Lamb, and of the corps of 
sap|)ers and miners, as were when they entered the 
service, inhabitants of this State ; such of the non- 
commissioned officers and privates of the said last 
mentioned two fnr|)s as are credited to this State 
as part of the troops thereof; all officers designated 
by any act of Congress subsecpient to the l6th of 
September. 1776; all officers recommended by 
Congress as persons whose depreciation on pay 
ought to be made good by this State, and who may 
hold military commissions in the line of the army 
at the close of the war ; and the Rev. John Mas"t)n 
antl John Gano. shall severally have granted to 
them the following quantities of land, to wit : 

To a NFajor General 5 500 Acres. 

To a Brigadier General 4.250 " 

To a Ciijoncl .. 2,500 " 

To a Lieut Ctjloncl 2,250 " 

To a Majtjr 2,000 " 

A Captain and a Regimental 

Surgeon each ... 1,500 " 

Each of said Chaplains. . . .2,000 " 
Every Subaltern and Sur- 

i^foti's Mate r.ooo " 

Every non-commissioned offi- 
cer and private . 500 " 
'• That the lands so to uc gr.inted as bounty from 
the United States, and as gratuity from the State, 
shall he laid out in townships of six miles sqnarc ; 
thai each township shall be divided into 156 lots of 
150 acres each, two lots whereof shall be reserved 
for the use of a minister or ministers of the gospel, 
and two lots for the u.sc of a school or schools: that 
each |)erson above described shall be cntitleil to as 
many such lots as his bounty and gratuity land as 
aforesaid will admit of; that one-half the lots each 
I>erso;i shall be entitled to shall be improved at the 
rale of five acres for each hundred acres, within 
five years after the grant, if the grantee shall re- 
tain the jjosscssion of such lots ; and that the said 
bounty antl gratuity lands be located in the district 
of this State reserved for the u.se of the troops by 
an act entitled, •' An Act to |)revcnt grants or loca- 
tions of the lands therein mentioned, passed the 
2Sth day of July, 1782. 

" Rfschfti. That His Excellency the Governor 
be requested to communicate the.se resolutions in 
such manner as he shall conceive most proper. 

'■ Resolved. That this House do concur with the 
Honorable, the Senate, in the la«t preceding reso- 
lutions. 

•• Ordered, That Mr John Lawrence and Mr. 
H' ' irry a copy of the preceding resolution 

of I rice to the Ilonorahle, the Senate." 



Previous to the date of the above extract the 
Legislature of the State had by an act passed 
March 20, 1781, further provided for the raising of 
troops to complete the line of this State in the ser- 
vice of the United States ; and two regiments to 
be raised on bounties of lands and for the further 
defense of the frontier of the State. The land 
granted by these last mentioned acts being bounty 
lands ; those granted as provided for in the extracts 
above being gratuity lands. 

The original acts granting these lands were sub- 
sequently and from time to time modified and 
amended, till finally, it was ordered by an act 
passed February 28, 1789, " That the Commission- 
ers of the land office shall be, and they are hereby 
authorized to direct the Surveyor General to lay 
out as many townships in tracts of land set apart 
for such purposes as will contain land sufficient to 
satisfy the claims of all such persons who are or 
shall be entitled to grants of land by certain con- 
current resolutions and by the eleventh clause of 
the act entitled, 'An Act for granting certain lands 
promised to be given as bounty lands by the laws 
of the State, and for other purposes therein men- 
tioned, passed the iith day of May, 1784; which 
townships shall respectively contain 60,000 acres 
of land, and be laid out as nearly in squares as 
local circumstances will permit, and be numbered 
from one progressively to the last inclusive ; and the 
Commissioners of the Land Office shall likewise 
designate every township by such name as they 
shall deem proper.' " 

By the same act it was ordered " That the Sur- 
veyor General, as soon as maybe, shall make a map 
of each of said townships, and each township shall 
be sub-divided on such map into one hundred lots, 
as nearly square as may be, each lot to contain 600 
acres, or as near that quantity as may be ; and the 
lots in every township shall be numbered from one 
to the last, inclusive, in numerical order." 

After such map had been made and deposited in 
the Surveyor General's office, and in the office of 
the Secretary of State, the Commissioners were or- 
dered, to " Advertise for six successive weeks in one 
or more newspapers printed in each of the cities of 
New York and Albany (whereof the newspaper 
published by the printer to this State, if any such 
there be, shall be one,) requiring all persons entitled 
to grants of bounty or gratuity lands, who had not 
already exhibited ihcir claims, to exhibit the same 
to the Commissioners on or before the first day of 
January, 1791." 

By the same act it was further ordered that " All 
persons to whom land shall be granted by virtue of 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



this act, and who are entitled thereto by any actor 
resolution of Congress, shall make an assignment of 
his, or her proportion and claim of bounty or 
gratuity lands under any act or acts of Congress to 
the Surveyor General, for the use of the people of 
this State." This being done by the said parties, it 
was provided that for lands thus assigned an equal 
number of acres were to be given by the State, and 
so far as possible in one tract and under one 
patent, " Provided the same does not exceed 
one-quarter of the quantity of a township." 

It was also further provided that the lands to be 
granted by this act be actually settled, for every 
six hundred acres that may be granted to any per- 
son or persons within seven years from the first of 
January next after the date of the patent by which 
such lands shall be granted ; and on failure of such 
settlement, the unsettled lands shall revert to the 
people of this State." The letters patent were 
ordered " To be in such words and forms as the 
Commissioners shall direct, and shall contain an ex- 
ception and reservation to the people of this State 
of all the gold and silver nti?ies!' 

By an act passed April 6, 1790, it was ordered 
" That the quantity o'i fifty acres , in one of the corners 
of the respective lots to be laid out in squares of 
600 acres, shall be and are hereby subjected to the 
payment of the sum of forty-eight (48) shillings to 
the Surveyor-General, as a compensation in full for 
his services and expenses in marking, numbering 
and surveying each of the said lots ; and in every 
case where the said sum of forty-eight shillings, or 
any part thereof, shall remain unpaid for the term 
of two years next after the issuing of the respective 
patents, it shall be and is hereby made the duty of 
the Surveyor-General to sell the same at public 
vendue ; and the money arising from such sales 
shall be applied in payment of expenses of such 
survey." And in case a surplus of money was in 
the hands of the Surveyor-General, after paying 
such expenses, it was to be applied to the payment 
of expenses in laying out and making roads in the 
said tract." 

By an act of February 28, 1789, six lots in each 
township were reserved and were to be assigned, 
" One for promoting the gospel and a public school 
or schools, one other for promoting literature in this 
State, and the remaining four lots to satisfy the 
surplus share of commissioned officers not corres- 
ponding with the division of 600 acres, and to com- 
pensate such persons as may by chance draw any 
lot or lots, the greater part of which may be covered 
with water." 

The act of 1780 provided " That whenever it ap- 



peared that persons applying for bounty or gratuity 
land, and had received from Congress the bounty 
promised by that body, or in case they failed to re- 
linquish their claim to such lands, then the Com- 
missioners were to reserve for the use of the people 
of the State one hundred acres in each lot to 
which such person was entitled ; designating par- 
ticularly in which part of such lot such reserved 
part was located." This gave rise to the term 
" States Hundred]'' so frequently applied to sections 
of land in the Military Tract. 

The Land Commissioners consisted of "His Ex- 
cellency, the Governor, or person administering the 
government of the State for the time being, the 
Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, 
the Secretary of State, the Attorney-General, the 
Treasurer and Auditor thereof, the presence of 
three being necessary to form a quorum." 

At a meeting of this Commission held at the 
Secretary's office in the City of New York, on 
Saturday, the 3d day of July, 1790, there were 
present. His Excellency, 

Geo. Clinton, Esq., Governor, 
Lewis A. Scott, Esq., Secretary, 
Gerard Bancker, Esq., Treasurer, 
Peter T. Curtenius, Esq., Auditor. 
" The Secretary laid before the Board maps of 
the surveys of twenty-five townships made by the 
Surveyor-General, Simeon DeWitt ; on each of 
which maps the said townships respectively were 
sub-divided into one hundred lots as nearly square 
as possible, each lot containing six hundred acres ; 
whereupon the Board caused the townships and 
lots therein to be numbered according to the law, 
and designated them by the names of distinguished 
men, as follows : 

Township, No. i Lysander, 

" " 2 Hannibal, 

" " 3 Cato, 

" " 4 Brutus, 

" " 5 Camillus, 

" " 6 . Cicero, 

" " 7 Manlius, 

" " 8 Aurelius, 

" " 9 Marcellus, 

" " 10 Pompey, 

" " II Romulus, 

" " 12 Scipio, 

" " 13. Sempronius, 

" " 14 Tully, 

" " 15 Fabius, 

" " 16 Ovid, 

" " 17 Milton, 

" " • 1 8 Locke, 

« " 19 Homer, 

« " 20 Solon, 

« " 21 Hector, 



lO 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Township No. 22 Ulysses, 

" " 23 Drydcn, 

•' 24 Virgil. 

" 25.. Cincinnatus, 

" 26 Junius. 

The distinction between a town and a township 
should here be kept in mind. A township on the 
Military Tract, was a particular parcel of land laid 
out, containing certain one hundred lots. In our 
early organization a town often embraced several 
townships, as the town of Pompcy first included 
Fabius and Tully and a large part of the Onondaga 
Reservation. After settlements increased, for the 
sake of convenience, the same territory has been 
divided, at dirtVrent |>erio<ls, into the towns of Pom- 
pcy, Lafayette, Fabius, Tully, Truxton and Preble, 
including a part of each of the towns of Otisco, 
SpalTord and Onondaga. The same may be re- 
marked of other towns and townships on the Mili- 
tary Tract. 

On the 1st of January, 1791, the Commissioners 
proceeded to determine claims and to ballot for each 
individual's share. Ninety-four persons drew lots 
in each township. One lot was drawn for the sup- 
port of literature in the State of New York ; one 
was assigned near the centre of each township for 
the support of the gos|>el and (or common schools ; 
the remaining lots went to satisfy the surplus shares 
of the officers, and to compensate those who by 
chance might draw lots covered with water. 

The equitable adjustment of these land claims 
was a source of continual embarrassment and per- 
plexity to the Commissioners and to the real 
owners. 

In August, 1792, the Board of Commissioners, 
finding it necessary in order to comply with the 
grants of bounty lands, lately directed by law to be 
made to the Hospital Department and others, 
caused township No. 27, and the lots therein re- 
spectively to be numbered agreeably to law, and the 
township to be designated by the name of Galen. 
In January, 1795, there still appeared to be several 
unsatisfied claims for military^bounty lands, and the 
twenty-seven townships being already disposed of, 
the Hoard resolved that the Surveyor-General 
should lay out another township. No. 28. This was 
subsequently named Sterling, and satisfied all the 
remaining claims. 

In January, 1794, an act had been pasjed, on ac- 
count of the many frauds committed respecting the 
title to these military lands, and to prevent fraud in 
the future, requiring all deeds and conveyances 
made and executed prior to that time to be deposited 
with the Clerk of the County at Albany, for ex- 
amination, and all such as were not so deposited, 



should be considered fraudulent. The names of a I 
claimants were posted up in alphabetical order in ' 
the Clerk's offices both at Albany and Herkimer, _j 
for the more full inspection of all parties interested, f I 
The Courts overflowed with business relating to 
these contested claims. Scarcely a lot but became 
more or less a subject of litigation. Soldiers com- 
ing to take possession of the lots for which they 
had served, were obliged, at considerable expense, 
to eject some lawless squatter, or quietly to yield 
their hard earned titles. At length the inhabi- 
tants of the Military Tract became so com- 
pletely wearied with these continued and vexing 
contentions that, in 1797, the residents of the sev- 
eral townships heartily and unanimously united in 
petitioning the Legislature to pass a law authoriz- 
ing a s|5cedy and equitable mode of settling all dis- 
putes relative to these titles. An act was there- 
upon passed, appointing Robert Yates, James 
Kent, and Vincent Mathews, a Board of Commis- 
sioners with full power to hear, examine, award and 
determine all disputes respecting the titles to any 
and all the military bounty lands. The Governor 
was authorized to fill all vacancies in this Board. 
From the record of the awards made by the Onon- 
daga Commissioners, the name of James Kent does 
not at all appear in their transactions. Most of the 
awards of 1798 9 are signed by Vincent Mathews 
and James Emmott, later ones by Vincent Mathews 
and Robert Yates, and some cf those of 1801 and 
1802, by Messrs. Mathews and Emmott and Sand- 
ers Livingston. They proceeded to the work, and 
after a laborious investigation, their exertions final- 
ly brought these vexed and lingering contentions to 
a close. 



CHAPTER III. 

Interesting Early Records — Town Meetings — 
Formation of the Counties Prior to Onon- 
daga — Org.xnization qf Onondaga Col'ntv. 

THERE are some interesting records of this 
locality during the period in which it was in- 
cluded in Montgomery and Herkimer counties, 
from 1772 to 1794. In 1788 the District of Ger- 
man Flats was divided, and all that part of the 
State of New York lying west of a line drawn 
north and south across the State, crossing the Mo- 
hawk River' at "Old Fort Schuyler" (now Utica) 
was erected into a town called Whitestown, in honor 
of Judge White, who had settled at Sadaquate 
(Whitesboro) in 1784. In 1786, the county of 
Montgomery contained a population of only fifteen 



I 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



II 



thousand and fifty-seven, and the State of New 
York only two hundred and thirty-eight thousand 
eight hundred and ninety-six. At this period the 
town of Whitestown contained less than two hun- 
dred persons. The same territory now contains 
several millions. The wonderful transition by 
which, in three-fourths of a century, this immense 
forest has been converted into fruitful fields, seems 
like the illusion of a dream to those who have wit- 
nessed its progress. We can hardly trust the evi- 
dence of our senses when we look back and see 
with what rapidity villages and cities have sprung 
into existence, and mark the increase of roads and 
railways over the path of the wandering savage. 

The first town meeting for the town of Whites- 
town convened at the house of Capt. Daniel White, 
in said town, on Tuesday, the 7th of April, " agree- 
able to warning," and adjourned to the barn of Hugh 
White, Esq., " it being more convenient," at which 
time and place they proceeded as follows : 

" 1st. Chose Col. Jedediah Sanger, Supervisor. 
2d. Chose Elijah Blodget, Town Clerk. 3d. 
Chose Amos Wetmore, first Assessor. 4th. Chose 
James Bronson, second Assessor. 5th. Chose 
Ephraim Blackmore, third Assessor," &c. 

The second town meeting was held at the barn 
of Needham Maynard, in the town of Whitestown, 
on Tuesday, the i6th of April, 1790. Col. William 
Colbraith was chosen Supervisor, and Elijah 
Blodget, Town Clerk. In 1791, Jedediah Sanger 
was elected Supervisor ; Ashbel Beach, Town 
Clerk ; Ebenezer Butler, afterwards of Pompey, 
Collector ; James Wadsworth, of Geneseo, True- 
worthy Cook, of Pompey, Jeremiah Gould, of Sa- 
lina. Overseers of Highways. Probably " High- 
ways " in those days in Central New York were 
literally " few and far between." It will convey 
some idea of the widespread character of the munic- 
ipality then called a " town " to reflect that some 
of the officers chosen to manage its internal affairs 
lived near Utica, others in Pompey and Salina, and 
a third at Geneseo. 

In 1789 the county of Montgomery was divided, 
forming Ontario county west of a north and south 
line drawn across the .State through Seneca Lake 
two miles east of Geneva. Onondaga county then 
lay unformed in the western portion of Mont- 
gomery. Herkimer county was taken from Mont- 
gomery and organized in 1791. It included all the 
country west of Montgomery, north of Otsego and 
Tioga and east of the county of Ontario. The town 
of Whitestown was divided into three towns. Whites- 
town extended west from its eastern limits as far as 
the present west line of Madison county. The 
■ town of Mexico included the eastern half of the 



Military Tract, and the town of Peru the western. 
The town of Mexico was bounded east by the east- 
ern boundary of the Military Tract and a line drawn 
north from the mouth of the Chittenango Creek 
across Oneida Lake to Lake Ontario, south by 
Tioga county, west by the western boundary of the 
townships of Homer, Tully, Camillus, Lysander and 
Hannibal, of the said Military Tract, and north by 
Lake Ontario. 

The first town meeting for the town of Mexico 
was legally appointed to be held at the house of 
Benjamin Morehouse, (near Jamesville, this county.) 
The town of Peru was bounded north by Lake On- 
tario, east by the town of Mexico, south by Tioga 
county, and west by Ontario county. The first town 
meeting was directed by law to be held at the house 
of Seth Phelps, in what is now the town of Scipio, 
Cayuga county. There are probably no records of 
these town meetings extant. 

The poll for the first general election for Whites- 
town was opened at Cayuga Ferry, then adjourned 
to the house of Benjamin Morehouse (near James- 
ville,) thence to Rome, and finally closed at Whites- 
boro. 

The following extract from Dunlap's Daily Ad- 
vertiser, dated Philadelphia, 26th of July, 1792, may 
be interesting as showing what was thought of the 
prospects of this locality at that period : 

"Gentlemen who reside on the Military lands in 
the county of Herkimer, inform us that that tract 
of country contains a very great proportion of rich 
land, well watered and timbered, that there is al- 
ready a considerable number of settlers there, and 
that it bids fair to people as rapidly as any part of 
America. That sixteen bushels of salt are daily 
manufactured at Major Danforth's works at the 
Salt Springs, and that Mr. Van Vleck, formerly of 
Kinderhook, is erecting other works at the same 
place, for carrying on the like manufactory ; that 
salt now sells there for five shillings per bushel ; 
that it weighs about fifty-six pounds per bushel, 
and is equal in quality to that of Turk's Island. 
That the salmon fishing in that country must be- 
come an object of great improvement, as that fine 
fish (the salmon) abounds in their rivers and lakes 
in spring and fall. That it is not uncommon for a 
party to spear twenty or fifty in an evening, from 
fourteen to thirty pounds each. The lands sell in 
general at from one shilling to three shillings per 
acre, but some have sold as high as from eight to 
twelve shillings per acre." 

The genealogy of the different counties up to the 
formation of Onondaga is as follows : 

After the Duke of York had superceded the 
Dutch Government, in 1683, the Province of New 
York was divided into twelve counties, viz : Albany, 
Dutchess, Kings, New York, Orange, Queens, 
Richmond, Suffolk, Ulster, Westchester, Dukes 



12 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



and Cornwall. In 1768, Cumberland was added, 
and Gloucester in 1770. These two last were after- 
wards yielded to New Hampshire, and finally be- 
came a part of Vermont. In 1693, the counties of 
Dukes and Cornwall were surrendered to Massa- 
chusetts. In 177;, the county Tryon was formed 
from Albany, and in 1784 changed to Montgomery. 
In 1789, Ontario county was formed of all that 
part of Montgomery county west of a line drawn 
north and south across the State through Seneca 
Lake two miles east of Geneva. Herkimer county 
was taken from Montgomery and organized in 1791. 
It included all the country west of Montgomery, 
north of Otsego and Tioga, and east of Ontario 
county. 

In 1794 the CouNTV of Onondaga was erected 
from the western part of Herkimer, and included 
all the Military Tract, which now embraces all the 
counties ol Cayuga. Seneca, Cortland and Onon- 
daga, all that part of Tompkins lying north of a 
line drawn west from the head of Seneca Lake to 
the southwest corner of Cortland county, and all 
that part of Oswego county lying west of Oswego 
river. It was finally reduced to its present terri- 
torial limits in i8iC>, by the detachment of Cayuga 
in 1799. Cortland in 1808, and Oswego in 1816. 
Tompkins was taken from Cayuga and Seneca in 
18 r 7, and Wayne from Seneca in 1823. 

At the time Onondaga county was originally or- 
ganized, it was divided into eleven towns, viz : 
Homer, Tompey. Manlius. Lysander, Marcellus. 
Ulysses, Milton. Scipio, Ovid. Aurelius and Romu- 
lus. 



CHAPTKR IV. 

TiiK Iroquois Confederacy — Extent and I'ow- 
KK of TIIK Eivk Nations — Kokmation oftheik 

CONFF.DKKAt:V — I'ECULIARITIKS OF THEIR FoKM 

OF Government — The OxoNnACAS — Their 
Central Position as keepers of the Sacred 
Council Tires — Their Character. Tradi- 
tions AND Customs. 

AT the time of the earliest European discov- 
eries in this locality, the territory now em- 
braced in Onondaga county was the chief scat of 
the nation of Indians from whom it derives its 
name. This powerful nation was the central in the 
great Iroquois Confederacy, or League of the Five 
Nations, whose dominion included a vast extent of 
country, and who held the ascendancy over nearly 
all the tribes of North America. At one time their 
actual domain extended from the Sorrel River, 



south by the great lakes, to the Mississippi on the 
west, thence east to the Santee, and coast-wise back 
to the Hudson. The territory of the Iroquois 
possessed more fertile land, combined with a tem- 
perate and healthy climate, than any other tract of 
equal extent on the globe. And their power and 
dominion extended far beyond these geographical 
boundaries. Although they occupied, as their 
proper home, what they metaphorically termed the 
" Long House '" — that is, the territory of New 
York extcniling from the Hudson to Lake Eric, 
yet they extended their power and influence far be- 
yond these limits and held' the tribes both of the 
East and the West in subjection. 

Says Smith, in his History of New York : 
" When the Dutch began the settlement of this 
country, all the Indians on Long Island and the 
northern shore of the Sound, on the banks of the 
Connecticut, Hudson. Delaware an3 Susquehanna 
livers were in subjection to the Five Nations and 
acknowledged it by paying them tribute." The 
French historians of Canada, both ancient and 
modern, agree that the more northern Indians were 
driven far back to the west and northwest by the 
martial prowess of the Confederates, " The Ho-de- 
no-sau-nee occupied our precise territory, and their 
council fires burned continually from the Hudson to 
the Niagara. Our old forests have rung with their 
war shouts and been enlivened with their festivals 
of peace. In their progressive course they had 
stretched round half the Republic and rendered 
their names a terror nearly from ocean to ocean, 
when the advent of the Saxon race arrested their 
career, and prepared the way for the final extin- 
guishment of the fires of the Confederacy."* 

The Five Nations have been called by some the 
" Spartans of the Western Wilderness," by others, 
the •' Romans 0/ the New World ;" their warriors 
in the prime of the Confederacy, were noted for 
their valor and their far-e.xtended conquests. 

" At one period," says Schoolcraft, " we hear the 
sound of their war cry along the Straits of St. 
Marys and at the foot of Lake Superior; at an- 
other under the walls of Quebec where they finally 
defeated the Hurons under the eyes of the French. 
They put out the fires of the Gahkas and Eries. 
They eradicated the Susquchannocks. They 
placed the Lanappes, the Nanticokes and Muncecs 
under the yoke of subjection. They put the 
Metoacks and Manhattans under tribute. They 
spread the terror of their name all over New 
England. They traversed the whole length of the 
Appalachian Chain, and descended like the enraged 

*L«(icr> un the Irixjuoi) — American Review. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



13 



yagisho and megalonyx on the Cherokees and 
Catavvbas. Smith encountered their warriors in 
the settlement of Virginia and LaSalle on the dis- 
covery of the Illinois."* 

Such had become the Iroquois — the conquerors 
and terror of all the surrounding tribes — by the 
force of their energy and by the principle of con- 
federation. The French computed the number of 
their warriors, in 1660, at between two and three 
thousand, and a later census, taken by an English 
agent, confirmed the statement. Their geographi- 
cal position made them the umpires in the contest 
of the French for dominion in the West. Their 
political importance was enhanced by their con- 
quests. " Not only did they claim some supremacy 
in northern New England, as far as the Kennabeck, 
and to the south, as far as New Haven, and were 
acknowledged as absolute lords over the conquered 
Lanappe ; the peninsula of Upper Canada was their 
hunting ground by right of war ; they had ex- 
terminated the Eries and Andasties, both tribes of 
their own family, one dwelling on the southeastern 
banks of Lake Erie, the other on the head waters 
of the Ohio ; they had triumphantly invaded the 
tribes of the West as far as Illinois ; their warriors 
had reached the soil of Kentucky and Western 
Virginia ; and England, to whose alliance they 
. steadily inclined, availed herself of their treaties to 
•encroach on the empire of France in America."! 

Precisely at what period the confederacy between 
the tribes was formed is not known. Schoolcraft 
thinks it was at a comparatively recent date, prob- 
ably early in the fifteenth century. Mr. Webster, 
the Onondaga interpreter, says this great league of 
confederation was arrived at, about two generations 
before the whites became traders with the Indians. 
Mr. Clark has a different opinion. From the per- 
manency of their institutions, the injtricacy of their 
civil affairs, the stability of their religious beliefs 
and the uniformity of their pagan ceremonies, 
diftering from other Indians in important particu- 
lars, he is inclined to the belief that their federa- 
tive existence must have had a much longer dura- 
tion. All their traditions agree that the union was 
effected on the banks of Onondaga Lake where the 
village of Liverpool is now situated. 

It is well known that these tribes attributed the 
origin of their confederacy, as well as most of 
their chief national blessings, to the supernatural 
interposition of Ta-oun-ya-wat-ha. the deity who 
presided over streams and fisheries. A long time 
ago this deity came down irom his place in the 

*Schoolcraft3 Notes. 

f Bancroft. .History United States. 



clouds to teach them how to cultivate the soil and 
to be united, happy and prosperous. While he was 
living among them — having thrown aside his divine 
character and assumed the name of Hi-a-wat-ha, a 
very wise man — there was an alarm caused by the 
sudden approach of a ferocious band of warriors 
from north of the great lakes. Many had been 
slain and ultimate destruction seemed to be the 
consequence either of bold resistance or of quiet 
submission to the enemy. At this trying moment 
Hi-a-wat-ha was sought for advice, and no states- 
man of to-day could have given better counsel in as 
few words. ''Become a united people and yon will 
conqtier your enemies. Dispatch runners in all di- 
rections and notify the chiefs of a grand council to 
be held on the banks of the Oh-nen-ta-ha, (Onon- 
daga Lake.) I shall sit in council with you." The 
council fires had been kindled three days, but the 
venerable Hi-a-wat-ha had not made his appearance. 
On approaching his cabin he was found in a melan- 
choly state of mind. The old man told them he 
had evil forebodings, and that he had concluded 
not to attend the Great Council. But the chiefs 
had determined not to deliberate in council without 
the presence of Hi-a-wat-ha, and he was finally pre- 
vailed upon to go, accompanied b\' his darling 
child, an only daughter, twelve years of age. On 
the approach of the venerable wise man, a general 
shout of joy resounded through the assembled host, 
and every demonstration of respect was paid to his 
presence. 

As he landed and was passing up the steep bank 
towards the council ground, a loud sound was heard 
like a rushing, mighty wind. All eyes were instant- 
ly turned upwards, and a dark spot was seen rapidly 
descending from on high among the clouds. It 
grew larger and larger as it neared the earth, and 
was descending with fearful velocity into their 
midst. The utmost confusion prevailed throughout 
the assembled multitude, and all but the venerable 
Hi-a-wat-ha sought safety by flight. He gravely 
uncovered his silvered head, and besought his 
daughter to await the approaching danger with be- 
coming resignation, at the same time reminding her 
of the great folly and impropriety of attempting to 
prevent or obstruct the designs or wishes of the 
Great Spirit. No sooner liad his resolution become 
fixed and his last words uttered, than an immense 
bird, with a long and pointed beak, and widespread 
wings, came down with a mighty swoop'and crushed 
the beautiful girl to the earth. His darling daughter 
has been killed before his eyes in a marvelous man- 
ner, and her destroyer has perished with her. It 
was found on examination that the creature in its 



>4 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



descent had completely buried its beak and neck up 
to its body in the ground. It was covered with a 
beautiful plumage of snow white, and ever)- warrior 
as he advanced plucked a plume from this singular 
bird with which to adorn his crown, and from this 
incident the braves of the Confederate Nation for- 
ever after made choice of the plumes of the white 
heron as their most appropriate military ornament 
while on the war path. 

In despair and dejection Hi-a-wat-ha remained 
three days and nights prostrated on his face on the 
ground, and while every one participated in his 
afflictions, no one seemed inclined to approach or 
distract his entranced state, and the Indians, almost 
despairing of a council, were about to depart ; but 
a few of the leading chiefs consulted together, and 
resolved that nothing should be attempted without 
the voice of the wise man, and a suitable person 
was thereupon dispatched to sec if he breathed. 
Finding that he lived Ho-see-noke was directed to 
arouse him by his merry heart, to whisper kind 
words in his ear and call him from his reverie. 
After much ceremony and persuasion, he recovered 
so far as to converse, and after several messages had 
passed between the assembled chiefs and himself, 
he arose and desired fcod. He was afterwards con- 
ducted to the presence of the council, when all 
eyes were turned towards the only man who could 
with precision foretell their future destiny. Vari- 
ous schemes were proposed to repel the enemy. 
Hi-a-wat-ha listened in silence till the speeches 
of all were concluded. He then spoke. After 
briefly alluding to his own calamity, he referred to 
the threatened invasion, and proposed that they 
should reflect for a day on the speeches that had 
been made. After the expiration of the time they 
again met, when the wise man thus addressed them : 

" Friends and Brothers : \ou have come many 
of you a great distance from your homes ; you have 
convened for one common purpose, to promote one 
common interest, and that is to provide for our 
common safety. To oppose these hordes of north- 
ern foes by tribes, singly and alone, would prove 
our certain destruction. We can make no progress 
in that way ; we must unite ourselves into one 
common band of brothers. Our warriors united 
would surely repel these rude invaders and drive 
them from our borders. Let this be done, and we 
are safe. 

■• You, the Mohawks, sitting under the shadow of 
the 'Great Tree,' whose roots sink deep into the 
earth, and who.se branches spread over a vast coun- 
try, shall be the first nation, because you are war- 
like and mighty. 

" You, Uneidas, a people who recline your bodies 
against the 'Everlasting Stone' that cannot be 
moved, shall be the second nation, because you give 
wise counsel. 



" You, Onondagas, who have your habitation at 
the 'Great Mcuntain,' and are overshadowed by its 
crags, shall be the third nation, because you are 
greatly gifted in speech and mighty in war. 

" You, Cayugas, a people whose habitation is the 
'Dark Forest! and whose home is everywhere, shall 
be the fourth nation, because of your superior cun- 
ning in hunting 

"And you, Senecas, a people who live in the 
open country and possess much wisdom, shall be 
the fifth nation, because you understand better the 
art of raising corn and beans, and making cabins." 

" You five great and powerful nations must unite 
and have but one common interest, and no foe shall 
be able to disturb or subdue you." 

Immediately upon this was formed the celebrated 
league of the Five Nations. Such was the name 
given them by the English. The French called 
them the Iroquois ; the Dutch name for them was 
Maquas, while they called themselves Mingoes ; all 
meaning United People. They were known to the 
English as the Five Nations till the adoption of the 
Tuscaroras in 1712, after which they were called 
the Si.x Nations. 

The Onondagas occupied the central position in 
the " Long House " — a term by which they denoted 
their possessions from the Hudson to the Lakes. 
They kept the sacred council fires at Onondaga, 
and the key of the council house, where all the 
chief councils of the Five Nations were held. The 
Mohawks held the east door and the Senecas the 
west door. The confederacy was governed by heredi- 
tary chiefs whose claims were subjected to the decis- 
ions of a national council. Thus the aristocratic prin- 
ciple was brought into subjection to the democratic. 
When the hereditary chief demanded office, if 
found unworthy, he must give place to the next in 
order. In council they were a pure republic, the 
veto of one chief being sufficient to defeat a meas- 
ure.* Each canton or tribe was independent ; its 
quota of men was freely voted in war, or refused, 
without complaint from other cantons. Thus was 
guaranteed to each tribe its independence and 
security, and to each warrior his equal rights, while 
general power was conceded to the confederacy in 
all national matters. Canassatego, one of the chiefs, 
said to the Commissioners of Pennsylvania, Virginia 
and Maryland : " Our wise forefathers established 
union and amity between the Five Nations. This 
has made us formidable. This has given us great 
weight and authority with our neighboring nations. 
We are a powerful confederacy, and by observing 
the same methods our forefathers have taken, you 
will acquire fresh strength and power ; therefore I 
counsel you, whatever befalls you, never fall out 
with one another." 

• Schoolcraft. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



IS 



At the formation of the confederacy, the famous 
A-TO-TAR-HO presided : unequalled in war and arts, 
his fame had spread abroad and exalted the Onon- 
daga tribe to a preeminent position. His name 
was " Like that of King Arthur of the Round Table, 
or those of the Paladins of Charlemagne, used as 
an exemplar of glory and honor," * and became 
the title of office of the Presiding Chief The right 
of the Onondagas to furnish a presiding officer for 
the league was conceded, and is still possessed by 
them. To the Mohawks was awarded the Te-ka-ra- 
ho-ga, or Chief War Captain. The Great Council 
has always consisted of six members, each nation 
having one except the Senecas, who were allowed 
two, in consideration of their great numerical 
strength. Its powers were merely advisory, aiming 
to arrive at harmonious results by interchange of 
opinion without formal vote. No penalties could 
be inflicted or power exerted beyond that of Opinion. 
A unanimous decision was first required : this once 
obtained, its authority was absolute ; each tribe 
acting through its representative, who was first 
informed as to its views. These decisions were in 
fact clothed with all the power of the most popular 
expression of the whole confederacy. 

" A government like this gave to the orator, who 
by his eloquence could sway his people, a vast 
influence, and we find that many men of note have 
appeared among them, since they came in contact 
with more learned races of men, who were abun- 
dantly qualified to conduct their negotiations, and 
have reflected as much renown on their nation as 
their bravest warriors." f De Witt Clinton says of 
the speech of Garangula to the French General, 
De la Barre : " I believe it impossible to find in all 
the effusions of ancient or modern oratory a speech 
more appropriate or convincing. Under the veil of 
respectful profession it conveys the most biting 
irony, and while it abounds with rich and splendid 
imagery, it contains the most solid reasoning. I 
place it in the same rank with the celebrated speech 
of Logan." 

The unwritten law of this wonderful people had 
a power unequalled by any statutes ever recorded 
in books. A single instance of its power will be 
sufficient. It is given by Hon. George Geddes on 
the authority of Mr. Webster, who lived many years 
among the Onondagas, and had a woman of that 
tribe for a wife. 

A young man of the Cayugas came to the Onon- 
dagas and claimed their hospitality. He lived among 
them two years, attaching himself to Webster 

* Schoolcraft. 

f Hon. George Geddes. 



particularly. He appeared contented and happy, 
" Always foremost in the chase, most active in the 
dance, and loudest in the song." Mantinoah was 
his name. One morning he said to his friend, " I 
have a vow to perform. My nation and my friends 
know that Mantinoah will be true. My friend, I wish 
you to go with me." Webster consented. After a 
pleasant journey of a few days, enlivened with fish- 
ing and hunting, they came in the afternoon to a 
place that Mantinoah said was near his village, and 
where he wished to invoke the Great Spirit. After 
a repast, and a pipe had been smoked, Mantinoah 
said : " Two winters have gone since in my village, 
in the fury of anger, I slew my bosom friend and 
adopted brother. The chief declared me guilty of 
my brother's blood, and I must die. My execution 
was deferred for two full years, during which time I 
was condemned to banishment. I vowed to return. 
It was then I sought your nation ; it was thus I 
won your friendship. The nearest in blood to him 
I slew, according to our customs, is the avenger. 
The time expires when the sun sinks behind the 
topmost boughs of the trees. I am ready. My 
friend, we have had many a cheerful sport together; 
our joys have been many ; our griefs have been few ; 
look not sad now. When you return to the Onon- 
dagas, tell them that Mantinoah died like a true 
brave of the Cayugas ; tell them that he trembled 
not at the approach of death, like the coward pale 
face, nor shed tears like a woman. My friend, take 
my belt, my knife, my hunting pouch, my horn, my 
rifle, as tokens of my friendship. Soon the avenger 
will come ; the Great Spirit calls ; Mantinoah fears 
not death ; farewell." Vainly Webster urged him 
to escape. A short period of silence, and a yell is 
heard. Mantinoah responds. The avenger appears 
and takes the hand of his former friend, now his 
victim. Mutual salutations follow, with expressions 
of regret made by the executioner, but none by the 
doomed. The tomahawk gleams in the air, not a 
muscle moves, nor does the cheek of Mantinoah 
blanch ; folding his arms on his breast he receives 
the blow. As if by magic a host appears, the song 
of death is sung, and the solemn dance or death 
march is performed. Webster is invited to the 
village, where he is hospitably entertained, and when 
ready to return is accompanied by a party of Cay- 
ugas to his home. 

Thus powerful was the unwritten law of the 
Iroquois. 

It is not easy for us to understand this people, 
for we know but little of their peculiar springs of 
action. They had their religion, which the white 
people who came amongst them called their supersti- 



l6 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



51 



tion. If superstition it be, it was nevertheless the 
principle that governed them. And did we but 
understand their ideas fully, we should know by 
what standard to judge them. Whoever has learned 
much of their history, knows that, in their savage 
state, woman, made prisoner, was never indelicately 
approached by him. who. without pity, would brain 
her infant child. lie tortured and killed his prison- 
ers, if he did not .iilopt ihcm into his family, but he 
never enslaved or outraged women Wh.it nthcr 
nation can say this with truth .' * 

•Mr. Schoolcraft says that, to understand the 
government of the Iroquois and learn how it 
acquired its power and fame, it is necessary to 
examine their law of descent. Each canton was 
divided into distinct clans, each of which was distin- 
guishcil by the name and device of some quadruped, 
bird, or other object in the animal kingdom. The 
clans, or original families, were eight, distinguished 
respectively by the totems of the wolf, the bear, the 
turtle, the deer, the beaver, the falcon, the crane 
and the plover. The law of marriage re(|uired 
them to marry into families or clans whose totem 
was different from their own. A wolf or turtle 
male could not marry a wolf or turtle female. This 
interdict of consanguinity, preserved the purity of 
the blood, while it enlarged and strengthened the 
tie of relationship between the clans Owing to 
the limitation of descent to the line of the female, 
a chieftain's son could not succeed him in office, 
but in case of his death he would be succeeded by 
his brother, or failing this, by the son of his sister, 
or by some direct or remote descendant of the 
maternal line. The man who, by inheritance, was 
entitled to the office of chieftainship, was obliged, 
on arriving at the proper age, to submit his right 
to a council of the whole canton. Incapacity was 
always and without exception recognized as a valid 
objection to approval. 

Each canton had its eight principal chiefs and 
various assistant chiefs, who were civil officers. 
The war chiefs derived their consequence from their 
success in war ; they rose up as the exigencies of 
the nation demanded, and sustained themselves by 
their cap.icity. All males were bound to render 
military .services. Disgrace was the penalty of 
failure. Thus the ranks were always full, and all 
war parties consisted of volunteers. Each warrior 
supplied and carried his own arms and provisions. 
The enlistment consisted in simply joining the war 
dance. .The government was in fact a pure de- 
• mocr.icy controlled by its martial spirit. 

The Iroquois have been charged with making 
*Hoa. Gcor|c Geddci. 



their women beasts of burden, while they lived 
lives of indolence. The division of labor between 
the sexes, it is true, differed widely from ours. To 
the warrior was assigned the duty of hunting food 
and protecting their hunting grounds from the 
inroads of the enemy. His life was daily in his 
hands, and such were the hazards he encountered 
that there always were more women than men in 
the tribes. The men spent long dreary seasons in 
hunting and taking furs, which, when brought home, 
became the property of their wives, who sold them 
to the traders, and with the avails made such pro- 
vision for the rest of the family as they could, the 
men standing silently by and not uttering a word. 
The old men, women and boys cultivated the little 
patch of corn and gathered the fuel. Koth in the 
social and national systems, the women had great 
power and influence. The matrons sat in council, 
and had a right to propose a cessation of arms. 
There was a male functionary, an acknowledged 
orator, whose duty it was to speak for the women. 
Schoolcraft describes the social character of the 
Indian thus : " In the lodge he is a mild, considerate 
man, of the non-interfering and non-scolding species. 
He may, indeed, be looked upon rather as the guest 
of his wife, than what he is most unjustly repre- 
sented to be, her tyrant, and he is often only known 
as the lord of the lodge by the attention and respect 
she shows to him. He is a man of few words. If 
her temper is rufHcd.hc smiles. If he is displeased 
he walks away. It is a province in which his actions 
acknowledgehcr right to rule, and it is one in which 
his pride and manliness have exalted him above 
the folly of altercation." The wife owned all the 
property ; arms only belonged to the husband. The 
family were hers, and when war or the chase had 
made the father a victim, she, who had always been 
at its head, kept it unbroken. With the Iroquois 
war was the business of life, and the pursuit of an 
enemy on the war path, or hunting the wild beasts 
of the forests, were the only employments that men 
could engage in without subjecting themselves to 
the loss of rank, and the liability of being called 
women. 

The central tribe was the seat of government, and 
here all the general councils were held and the 
policy of the nation settled. The first we know of 
this people, they here swayed the sceptre of an 
empire twelve hundred miles long and eight hundred 
wide. The means of free and rapid transportation 
of armies was to these savages the same advantage 
that it is to the most artificial state of society. 
Around the shores of Onondaga Lake the councils 
deliberated, and when once the plan of the cam- 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



17 



paign was arranged, the canoes were afloat, and 
soon far down the St. Lawrence, the Adirondack 
heard the war whoop of the " Men of the moun- 
tains."* Or on the banks of Georgian Bay the 
trembling Huron felt the weight of their power. 
Or launching their barks on the waters of the 
Susquehanna, soon on the shores of Chesapeake 
Bay they dictated terms to their enemies. Fort 
Hill, in South Carolina, afterwards the residence 
of John C. Calhoun, was one of their stations, 
from which they waged inveterate war upon the 
Catawbas and Cherokees. The Iroquois nation 
could bring to battle more than two thousand war- 
riors of their own blood, besides levies of the tribes 
they had subjected. Their policy in regard to con- 
quered enemies was like that of ancient Rome : they 
were converted into allies rather than slaves, and 
having been fairly conquered in war, after a brave 
resistance, they were counted as younger brothers, 
worthy to fight by the side of their conquerors and 
share their glory. f 

"They reduced war to a science, and all their 
movements were directed by system and policy. 
They never attacked a hostile country till they had 
sent out spies to e.xplore and designate its vulnerable 
points, and when they encamped they observed the 
greatest circumspection to guard against surprise. 
Whatever superiority of force they might have, they 
never neglected the use of stratagem, employing 
all the crafty wiles of the Carthagenians. To pro- 
duce death by the most protracted suffering, was 
sanctioned among them by general immemorial 
usage." J 

The Europeans, instead of teaching mercy to 
these men, encouraged and fostered the worst points 
in their characters, and by every temptation they 
were led to become even more cruel, as they became 
demoralized and vicious by intercourse with the 
more learned but less principled " pale face." Massa- 
chusetts first gave twelve, then forty, and finally 
one hundred pounds for a scalp. The Colonial 
Legislature of New York, in 1745, passed an act 
for giving a reward for scalps ; in 1746, a governor of 
the Colony, not only paid for two scalps of French- 
men in money and fine clothes, but thanked the 
three Indians that brought them to Albany, and 
promised " Always to remember this act of friend- 
ship." American scalps were received and paid for 
in English money by the officer in command at 
Maiden, in the war of 18 12. 



* Meaning of the word "Onondaga." 
f Hon. George Geddes. 
JDeWitt Clinton. 
3* 



CHAPTER V. 

The Onondaga Indians and the French — Cham- 
plain's Invasion — Jesuit Missions among the 
Onondagas — Wak between the English and 
the French — Count Frontenac's Invasion of 
Onondaga — The Peace Commissioners before 
Onondaga Castle. 

AT the commencement of French settlements in 
Canada, a conflict arose between the French 
and the Five Nations which lasted one hundred and 
fifty years. This conflict was wantonly provoked 
by Champlain, the Governor of New France, who 
espoused the cause of the Adirondack Indians against 
the Iroquois who had driven them from their former 
homes in Northern New York. When Champlain 
built his fort at Quebec in 1608, he found the Adi- 
rondacks occupying that vicinity, whither they had 
fled for safety from their fierce and powerful con- 
querors, the Five Nations. Champlain had shown 
the Adirondacks the magical effects of his French 
guns, and had led them to believe that with such 
new and destructive weapons a few Frenchmen and 
Indian allies could make an easy conquest of their 
old enemies. Accordingly, in 1609, he joined the 
Adirondacks with his Frenchmen to invade the 
country of the Iroquois, and on the lake which 
bears his name, met two hundred of these Indians. 
Both parties went on shore for battle, and then, for 
the first time, the Iroquois saw the flash and heard 
the report of fire arms. Defeat followed, and won- 
dering and dismayed at the murderous efl^ects of the 
strange weapon, they retreated to their fastnesses 
in the wilderness. 

This was the first interview of the Iroquois with 
white men, and their first knowledge of them was 
obtained by meeting them as enemies on a field of 
battle. 

Emboldened by his first success, Champlain with 
his Frenchmen and four hundred Huron allies, 
renewed his attack upon the Iroquois in 1615. This 
time he invaded the country of the Onondagas. 
On the 9th of October, 1615, a fishing party of 
Onondagas on their way to Oneida Lake were sur- 
prised and captured. These invaders had made 
their way up the St. Lawrence to the lower end of 
Lake Ontario, where, hiding their canoes, they 
struck across the wilderness on foot. They took 
captive "Three men, four women, three boys and a 
girl." They then marched forward, and says Cham- 
plain, in his account : " On the 10th of October, at 
three o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived before the 
fort of the enemy. When I approached with my 
little detachment, we showed them what they had 



18 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



never before seen or heard. As soon as they saw 
us and heard the balls whistling about their ears, 
they retired quietly within their fort, carrying with 
them their killed and wounded. We also fell back 
upon the main body, having five or six wounded, 
one of whom died." After a six day siege, Cham- 
plain, in the midst of his French and Indians, was 
wounded in two places by Onondaga arrows, and 
ingloriously retreated, being carried in a " basket of 
wicker work, so doubled up and fastened with cords 
that he was unable to move " A long and dreary 
winter was passed by Champlain among the flurons 
before he was able to get back to Quebec. 

The location of the fort which Champlain attacked 
has been a matter of controversy for many years. 
Says Gen. John S. Clark, the antiquarian : 

" When investigators are ready to abandon theories 
in conflict with the record, rather than to abandon 
facts conflicting with their theories, they will experi- 
ence no difficulty whatever in finding an Indian 
town site, answering in every essential particular the 
description and illustrations of Champlain. 

" Certain facts must sooner or later be accepted as 
conclusive, in narrowing the limits in which we 
should seek for the exact location : one is, that the 
east branch of the Limestone is the dividing line 
absolutely between the historic and pre-historic 
town sites of the Onondagas: and that Champlain's 
narrative contains internal evidence in statements 
of fact, unquestionable, that the fort was within a 
few miles, at least, and south of Oneida Lake. 
Champlain, beyond any question, passed through 
Onondaga county, and attacked the stronghold of 
the Onondagas, but the location of this stronghold 
is not so easily found. 

" I had the honor of reading a pajier on this sub- 
ject before the HulValo Historical Society, and the 
New York Historical Society, early in the present 
year, in which I ventured to put my.self on record 
on this question of route, and objective point, and 
designaleil a well-known Indian town site in the 
northeast corner of the town of Fenncr, in Madison 
county, on the farm of Rufus H. Nichols, on what 
is known as the mile-strip, about three miles cast of 
Perryville, as the home of the Onondagas at that 
period, and as being the identical position of the 
fort attacked by Champlain." 

General Clark has examined this locality and 
made a drawing of it, corresponding in all essential 
particulars with the drawing and description given 
by Champlain. The situation is a peculiar one, the 
fort in the form of a hexagon, being in the angle of 
a stream which forms both the inlet and outlet of a 
pond in front of the fort, and which, in connection 
with the streams, surrounded it on all sides, enablintr 
the Indians to put out the fires by wliich Champlain 
tried to destroy their work. 

These attacks of Champlain upon the Iroquois 
provoked a war which ended only with the ex- 



tinction of French dominion in North America. ' 
Truces were made, but they were only of short 
duration. The Iroquois armed with powder and 
ball by the Dutch and English, were seen on every 
battle field thenceforth, until on the Plains of Abra- 
ham, Onondaga chieftains shed the blood of the 
French as freely as did Wolfe, while vengeance was 
glutted. .Says Bancroft : " Thrice did Champlain 
invade their country, until he was driven with dis- 
grace from the wilderness. The Five Nations in J 
return attempted the destruction of New I'rance. ' 
Though repulsed, they continued to defy the pro- 
vince and its allies, and under the eyes of its 
governor openly intercepted convoys destined for 
Quebec. The I'rench authority was not confirmed 
by the founding of a feeble outpost at Montreal, 
and Fort Richelieu at the mouth of the Sorrel 
River scarcely protected its immediate environs. 
The Iroquois warrors scoured every wilderness to 
lay it still more waste. Depopulating the whole 
country on the Ontario, they attained an acknowl- 
edged superiority over New France. The colony 
was in perpetual danger, and Quebec itself was 
besieged." 

From these straits the French sought to relieve 
themselves by the missionaries of a religion whose 
precepts they had so wantonly violated, and in 1642, 
" Father Jogues, commissioned as an envoy, was 
hospitably received by the Mohawks and gained an 
opportunity of offering the friendship of France to 
the Onondagas." Thus the first Frenchman came 
with the sword, the second with the cross. 

The history of the action of the Jesuit mission- 
aries among these tribes is but a constant repetition 
of cnobling exami)les of self-sacrificing devotion to 
the great cause of converting the savages to Chris- 
tianity. No hardship was too, great, no sufferings 
too severe, martyrdom itself was welcomed, and 
when one missionary was consumed by the fires of 
the savages, another stood ready to take his place. 
Father Jogues was murdered by the Mohawks at 
Caughnawaga,* in Montgomery county, but he was 
followed by more than a score of others during the 
next fifty years. 

Taking advantage of a temporary peace between 
the Iroquois and the French, Father Simon Le 
Moyne appeared as a missionary to the Onondagas 
in 1654. He says in his Relation : " On the i-th 
day of July, 1654, I set out from Montreal and cm- 
barked for a land as yet but little known, accom- 
panied by a young man of piety and fortitude who 
had long been a resident of that country." On the 
5th of August he had nearly finished his journey, 

*lncluJcd now in the corporJtion of (he %'illjgc of Fonili. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



19 



and says : " We traveled four leagues before reach- 
ing the principal Onondaga village. I passed many 
persons on the way who kindly saluted me, one 
calling me brother, another uncle, and another 
cousin. I never had so many relations. At a 
quarter of a league from the village I began a 
harangue in a solemn and commanding tone, which 
gained me great credit. I named all their chiefs, 
families and distinguished persons. I told them 
that peace and joy were my companions, and that I 
scattered war among the distant nations. Two 
chiefs addressed me as I entered the village with a 
welcome, the like of which I had never before 
experienced among savages." At the grand council 
assembled by the chiefs in the cabin of Ondessonk, 
he says, " I opened the council by a public prayer 
on my knees, in a loud voice in the Huron tongue. 
I astonished them exceedingly by mentioning them 
all by nations, tribes, families and individuals, which 
amount to no small number. This I was enabled 
to do from my notes, and to them it was as aston- 
ishing as it was novel." On the i6th, returning. 
Father Le Moyne discovered the salt springs and 
manufactured the first Onondaga salt ever made by 
a European, " as natural," he says, " as from the 
sea, some of which we shall carry to Quebec." 
This first sample of salt was made two hundred and 
twenty-three years ago. In the Relation of Father 
Le Moyne, seventh of August, 1654, he says : 
" I baptized a young captive taken from the Neuter 
nation, fifteen or sixteen years old, who had been 
instructed in the mysteries of our faith by a Huron 
convert. This was the first adult baptism made at 
Onondaga. The joy I experienced was ample com- 
pensation for all past fatigues." 

Fathers Joseph Chaumonot and Claude Dablon 
became missionaries to the Onondagas in 1655, and 
" were received with the strongest proofs of friend- 
ship." The account of their journey and experience 
is given in the Jesuit Relation of Father Francis 
Le Mercier, the Superior of the Mission of Que- 
bec. "On the 5th of November," says the narra- 
tive, " as we continued our route, a chieftain of 
note called Gonateragon met us a league from his 
cabin, welcomed our arrival, and kindly invited us 
to remain with his people. He placed himself at 
the head of our little company and conducted us in 
state to within a quarter of a league of Onondaga, 
where the "Andeiis" of the country awaited us. 
Having seated ourselves beside them, they set be- 
fore us their best provisions, especially pumpkins 
baked in the ashes." Then a speech of welcome 
was made by an aged chief, who deprecated war, 
and said that even the young men were for peace. 



It was only the Mohawks, he said, who wished to 
darken the sun, rendered glorious by our approach, 
and to fill the sky with clouds. 

The mission founded this year by Chaumonot 
and Dablon was the original mission of St. John the 
Baptist, and according to the topography of Gen. 
John S. Clark, was located on " Indian Hill," two 
miles south of the village of Manlius, which was 
then the chief town of the Onondagas. The mis- 
sionaries several times refer to their "chapel," but 
they probably mean by this their place of worship, 
fitted up in one of the principal cabins of the In- 
dians. It does not appear that they had any regu- 
lar chapel at this period. The first sacrament of 
Holy Mass was celebrated by Fathers Chaumonot 
and Dablon upon an altar in an oratory made in the 
cabin of Teotonharason, one of the women who 
came from Quebec with the missionaries, on Sun- 
day, November 14, 1655. She was a woman of 
the Onondagas, highly esteemed for her nobleness 
and wealth. She made a public profession of re- 
ligion, instructed all connected with her household, 
and eagerly demanded baptism for herself, her 
mother and daughter. She taught the prayers of 
the Roman Catholic Church to her people, and was 
a sort of deaconess of the primitive church of the 
Onondagas. (Relation, 1655.) On the 28th of 
November, being the first Sunday in Advent, was 
held the first celebration of Catechism in one of the 
principal cabins, probably the one above referred to. 

It appears from the Relations that the first re- 
quest for a French missionary settlement on the 
banks of Onondaga Lake came from Ondessonk, 
the great chief of the Onondagas, who said to 
Father Le Moyne : " We request you to select on 
the banks of our great lake a convenient place for a 
French habitation. Place yourself in the heart of 
our country, since you have possessed our inmost 
aftections. There we can go for instruction, and 
from thence you can spread yourselves everywhere." 
The location of St. Mary's of Ganentaha was 
selected the year following by Fathers Chaumonot 
and Dablon. Says the Relation, under date of No- 
vember 9, 1655 : " This day for the first time, we 
visited the salt spring, which is only two leagues 
from here, near the lake Ganentaha, and the place 
chosen for the French settlement, because it is in 
the center of the Iroquois nations, and because we 
can from thence visit in canoes various localities 
upon the rivers and lakes, which renders commerce 
free and commodious. Fishing and hunting in- 
crease the importance of this place, for besides the 
various kinds of fish that are taken there at different 
seasons of the year, the eel is so abundant that a 



20 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



thousnnd arc .soniL-imic^ spcarcd by a single fisher- 
man in a nijjht, and as for the game which docs not 
fail through the winter, the pigeons gather in the 
spring in such numbers that they are taken in nets 
in great abundance. The fountain from which very 
good salt is made, intersects a meadow surrounded 
by a wood of sujxrrior growth. From eighty to a 
hundred paces from this salt spring is another of 
fresh water, and both flow from the same hill " 

The Mission of St. John the Haptist prospered 
for several months ; proselytes were continually 
added to the faith ; and the anticipations of the 
missionaries were raised to the highest pitch. At 
length doubts and dissentions crept into the minds 
of some of the principal individuals of the canton, 
and it was resolved that Dablon should proceed to 
Quebec for a rtcnforcement to strengthen the hearts 
and hands of the missionaries. The Onondagas 
earnestly desired that the French should come and 
make their settlement on the site selected for St. 
Mary's of Ganentaha. " Why do you not come at 
once," said they. " since you see all our village ap- 
prove it .' We have not ceased all this winter to go 
in crowds to the chapel to pray and be instructed. 
You have been cordially welcomed in all our cabins 
when you have visited them to teach. You cannot 
doubt our dispositions since we have made you such 
a solemn present, with protestations so public, that 
we are believers " 

On account of the season of hunting, and the 
preference of all the youn^ men for the chase, Dab- 
lon found it difficult to obtain guides to conduct him 
back to Quebec. "At last," he says, " we deter- 
mined upon saying nine masses to St. John the 
Haptist, the patron of this mission, in order to ob- 
tain light in a business where all was dark to us. 
lichold how contrary to our exjicctations, and to all 
human appearances, without knowing how it was 
done or by whom, immediately after the ninth mass, 
I set out from Onondaga, accompanied by two of 
the principal young men of the village and by several 
others, whom doubtless St. John inspired to en- 
gage in this enterprise and journey. Thus the 
chief of the escort was named Ste. Jean Haptiste. 
he being the first adult of the Iroquois baptized in 
full health." 

Dablon and his guides crossed Oneida Lake on 
the ice on the 6th of March, 1656, and proceeded 
by the usual northern trail to the mouth of Salmon 
River, whence he reached Montreal on the 30th 
Father Chaumonol remained at Onondaga, and the 
following summer was joined by Father Claude 
Dablon, Father I.e Mcrcier, the Superior, Father 
Reni Mesnard, Father Jacques Fremin, 13rother 



Ambrose Broar. and Brother Bourgier, to found the 
Mission of St. Mary's of Ganentaha. On the 7th 
of May, 1656, these missionaries with a force com- 
posed of four nations, French, Onondagas, Senecas, 
and a few Hurons, embarked in shallops and 
canoes for Onondaga. On their departure from 
port they were cheered by the acclamations of a 
great multitude who had gathered on the shore, all 
regarding them with compassionate and trembling 
hearts as so many victims destined to the flames or 
to the fierce rage and torture of the Iroquois. They 
arrived at Three Rivers on the 20th of May, and 
on the 31st at Montreal ; on the 8th of June, hav- 
ing abandoned their shallops on account of the 
rapids of La Chine, they embarked in twenty 
canoes ; on their flag of beautiful white cloth was 
painted in large letters the name " Jhsi's," which a 
band of Mohawks on the rapids recognized and 
accosted the voyagers. The Onondagas received the 
Mohawks with curses, reproached them with treason 
and robbery, seized their canoes and arms and 
whatever was best of their equipments, in retalia- 
tion for having been robbed by the same party a 
few days before. Without other incident of im- 
portance, they pursued their journey, and on the 
I ith of July, at 3 o'clock, arrived on the shore of 
Lake Ononilaga, at the spot which had been selected 
for their mission house by Fathers Chaumonot and 
Dablon. Here many of the old men and chiefs of 
the Onondagas awaited them. The Te Deum was 
chanted and holy mass celebrated in gratitude for 
their friendly reception. On the 17th they com- 
menced the erection of their dwellings and a fort 
for their soldiers. 

The location of this fort and mission house was 
on the east shore of Onondaga Lake, on lot 106 in 
the town of Salina, where the embankment and 
outlines of the fort were plainly to be seen by the 
early settlers. The well in that vicinity out of 
which they drew their water still bears the name of 
the " Jesuits's Well." 

For a while the mission was quite prosperous ; 
other missions branched out from it among the 
Cayugas and Senecas ; the second year the increas- 
ing interest required the enlargement of the chapel ; 
the missionaries entertained hopes of the sjieedy 
conversion of multitudes of the Indians. Hut while 
they were indulging these fond anticipations, the 
renewal of border wars e.xcited the slumbering ven 
geance of the Moliawks, who induced the Ononda- 
gas to enter into a conspiracy for the destruction of 
the French mission. The plot was revealed by a 
friendly Indian, and the French escaped by the fol- 
lowing ingenious method : 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



21 



Being forewarned of the intended massacre, they 
had prepared to escape in the night, if they could 
avoid exciting the suspicions of the Indians, by 
means of several light boats which they had secretly 
constructed in the storehouse of the mission. The 
opportunity was furnished them by the ingenuity of 
a young man, very much a favorite with the head 
chief, who feigned to have a dream that the chief 
must provide a general feast, after the custom of the 
Indian nation. The rule of politeness required that 
they should eat all that was set before them, and the 
consequence was that they often became gorged and 
stupefied. So it was on this occasion. The feast 
was prepared ; all had eaten to surfeiting ; the young 
man played on his guitar to soothe them into the 
profound slumber that was soon to follow. In a lit- 
tle while they were all asleep, and before they awoke 
the Frenchmen had shipped their boats and were 
far away beyond their reach. In the morning they 
supposed the French had been sleeping as pro- 
foundly as themselves, and it was not until they had 
examined the premises that they discovered that 
their intended victims had fled. If the missionaries 
had been alone in the work in which they were en- 
gaged, they would at all times have been safe in the 
hands of the savages, but the rival governments of 
France and England continually thwarted their en- 
deavors and rendered the lives of all at times inse- 
cure. 

When the Mohawk conspiracy had died away and 
the Onondagas becoming sorry for having given 
the French reason to doubt their sincerity, and feel- 
ing the loss they had sustained in driving them 
away, the principal chief sent an invitation to them 
again to establish themselves among them. In 
1665, a number of French families returned, under 
the guidance of the missionaries, and settled near 
the Indian fort and village which stood in the vicin- 
ity of the present village of Jamesville. The mission 
here established was that of Ste. Jean Baptiste. 
The chapel was built in 1666 by the famous chief, 
Gar-a-kon-tie, who was a converted and truly Chris- 
tian Indian. Father Le Mercier, in Relation 1667, 
says of him : " As he, [Father Julian Gamier,] had 
declared to them [the Onondagas,] that he could 
not remain alone and without a chapel, Gar-a-kon-tie, 
that famous captain of whom we have spoken before 
in preceding relations, resolved to gratify him to the 
utmost of his wishes. In fact, in a few days he 
built a chapel, and immediately after undertook a 
voyage to Quebec to visit the Governor of Canada, 
who had long desired to see this great and good 
man, so obliging towards the French. One princi- 
pal object of his visit was to take away with him 



some of the Fathers, whom he wished to conduct 
into his own country."* 

In 1669 the French and the Iroquois were again 
at war. " The harvests of New France could not 
be gathered in safety, the convents were insecure, 
and many of the inhabitants prepared to return to 
France. In moments of gloom it seemed as if all 
must be abandoned. True, religious zeal was still 
active. Le Moyne, who had been driven from 
among the Mohawks, once more appeared and was 
received with affection by the Onondagas. Peace 
ensued. England came into possession of the New 
Netherlands. In 1684, the Five Nations met the 
governors of New York and Virginia at Albany, 
and the sachems returned to nail the arms of the 
Duke of York over their castle, a protection as they 
thought against the French, an acknowledgment, as 
the English deemed, of British sovereignty." The 
Governor of Canada, meantime, with six hundred 
French soldiers, four hundred Indian allies, four 
hundred canoes, and three hundred men for a gar- 
rison, started for Onondaga. But the army suffered 
from sickness, and after arriving on the soil of the 
Onondagas, he was constrained to sue for peace. 
The English desired the Five Nations to take ad- 
vantage of this situation and exterminate the French. 
But such was not their policy ; they desired to play 
one party oft" against the other, while they them- 
selves held the balance of power. An Onondaga 
chief proudly said to the Convoy of New York : 
" Yonnondio (the French Governor) has for ten 
years been our father ; Corlear (the English Gover- 
nor) has long been our brother, but it is because we 
have willed it so ; neither the one nor the other is 
our master. He who made the world gave us the 
land on which we dwell ; we are free ; you call us 
subjects ; we say we are brethren ; we must take 
care of ourselves. I will go to my father, for he has 
come to my gate and desires to speak words of 
reason. We will embrace peace, instead of war ; 
the ax shall be thrown into a deep water." To De 
la Barre, the French commander, the chief said : 
" It is well for you that you have left under ground 
the hatchet which has so often been dyed with the 
blood of the French ; our children and old men 
had carried their bows and arrows into the heart of 
your camp, if our braves had not kept them back ; 
our old men are not afraid of war ; we will guide 
the English to our lakes ; we are born free ; we 
depend neither on Yonnondio nor Corlear." Dis- 
mayed, the proud Governor of Canada accepted a 
disgraceful peace, leaving his Indian allies to the 
tender mercies of the Iroquois. 

* Clark's Onondaga, p. 190. 



22 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



After the establishmciii oi I'ort Niagara by the 
French, Louis XI\' wrote to the Governor of New 
France to capture as many of the able bodied 
Iroquois as he could and send them to France to 
work in the galleys as slaves, saying, " Uo what 
you can to capture a large number of them as pris- 
oners of war, and ship them to France." By open 
hostilities no captures could be made, and Lamber- 
ville, the missionary among the Onondagas, was 
unconsciously employed to decoy them into the fort 
on Ontario. Accordingly, being invited to nego- 
tiate a treaty, they assembled without distrust, and 
were seized, put in irons, hurried to Quebec and 
thence to France, where the warrior hunters of the 
Five Nations who used to roam from Hudson's Hay 
to Carolina, were chained to the oar in the galleys 
of Marseilles." This was in 1687. What did the 
outraged Iroquois do with this missionary, the un- 
witting tool of tyrants .' Bancroft says : " Mean- 
while the old men of the Onondagas summoned 
Lamberville to their presence. ' W'e have much 
reason,' said an aged chief, ' to treat thee as an ene 
my, but we know thee too well : thou hast betrayed 
us, but tre.ison was not in thine heart ; fly, there- 
fore, for when our young braves shall have sung 
their war song, they will listen to no voice but the 
swelling voice of their anger.' " Trusty guides con- 
ducted the missionary through by-paths into a place 
of security. This noble forbearance was due to the 
counsel of Gar-a kon-tie, the same chief who built 
the second Onondaga chaj^el for the mission of St. 
John the Baptist. " Generous barbarian ! e.xclaims 
Bancroft ; your honor shall endure, if words of mine 
can preserve the memory of your deeds." The 
Onondaga Chief Haas-kou-au.n, at once appeared 
at Montreal at the head of twelve hundred warriors, 
demanding as a .satisfaction the restoration of the 
chiefs and spoils and the abandonment of the fort 
at Niagara. Four days were given the French to 
decide. Said the haughty chief, " Our warriors pro- 
pose to come and burn your forts, your houses, 
your granges, and your corn, to weaken you by 
famine, and then to overwhelm you." The terms 
were accepted by the French, the restoration of 
the imprisoned chiefs conceded, and the whole 
country south of the lakes rescued from the domin- 
ion of Canada. In the course of events New York 
owes its present northern boundary to this exhibi- 
tion of the power and valor of the Five Nations.* 
All but a little corner u( the County of Onondaga 
is drained into the St. Lawrence, and but for these 
Indians must have formed a part of Canada.f 

• 1 Bancfut't, p. 431. 

f Hon. Gcorfe GcJJci Report, 1859. 



In 1694, the great chief, De-kan-is-so-ra, visited 
Montreal to make terms of peace with the French. 
The Count de Frontenac, then Governor, refused to 
treat with the Five Nations, e.xccpt on conditions 
that they would exclude the Knglish entirely from 
trading in their territory. This the Onondagas re- 
fused to consent to, whereupon Frontenac resolved 
to put the whole power of the French in requisition 
and by one decisive blow bring them to terms. 
In 1696, he mustered the whole force that France 
could furnish and the province could raise, together 
with such Indian allies as he could enlist, and after 
two months spent in the trip, arrived with his flotilla 
on Onondaga Lake, the second of August. The 
paraphernalia of the army made a grand display. 
" Banners were there," says Hoffman, "which had 
been unfurled at Steenkerk and Landen.and rustled 
above the troops that Lu.xemburg's trumpets had 
guided to glory when Prince VValdeck's legions were 
borne down beneath his furious charge. Nor was the 
enemy that this gallant host was seeking, unworthy 
those whose swords had been tried in some of the 
hardest fought fields of Europe. They had bearded 
a European army under the walls of Quebec, shut 
up another for weeks within the defences of Mon- 
treal, with the same courage which half a century 
after vanquished the battalions of Dieskau on the 
shores of Lake George. " 

The French, with their allies, passed up Onon- 
daga Lake in two divisions, skirting both shores, and 
finally landing at the cast end, sword in hand. On 
the third of August, they constructed a fort and left 
a garrison of [40 men to guard their batteaux and 
baggage. This fort was probably at the place now 
called Green Point, or at the site of St. Mary's of 
Ganentaha. The cannon and artillery equipments 
were hauled across the marshes, and they encamped 
at the Salt Springs. Their movements had been 
discovered by scouts and were fully known at the 
Onondaga villages. No assistance could be obtained 
from the English, and resistance to such a vast army 
was idle. The Onondagas, therefore, resolved to 
bend before the storm they could not face. On the 
night of the 3d of August, 1696, the French army 
saw the light of immense fires in the south. The 
Indians, adopting the tactics of Moscow, were des- 
troying their own property, preferring this mode of 
defence to direct resistance. When the French ar- 
rived on the ground, Frontenac says they found 
" the cabins of the Indians and the triple palisades 
which circled the fort entirely burnt." It has since 
been learned that it was in a sufficiently strong state 
of defence. It was an oblong flanked by four regu- 
lar bastions. The two rows of pickets which 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



23 



touched each other were of the thickness of an ordi- 
nary mast, and at six feet distance outside stood an- 
other palisade of much smaller dimensions, but from 
forty to fifty feet high. The corn of the Ononda- 
gas, in their fields, stretching " from a league and a 
half to two leagues from the fort," was completely 
cut up by the soldiers. " Not a single head re- 
mained," and " the destruction was complete." 

The Onondagas, of course, could not brook this 
wanton destruction long. In accordance with their 
custom they must give the enemy due notice that 
vengeance would not be delayed. A brave old war- 
rior volunteered for this honorable duty, and died 
without a groan amidst the tortures of the savage 
allies of the French. " When a savage, weary of 
his harangues, gave him some cuts of a knife," " I 
thank thee," he cried, " But thou oughtest to com- 
plete my death by fire. Learn, French dogs and 
ye savages, their allies, that ye are dogs of"dogs ; 
remember what ye ought to do when ye will be in 
the same position that I am." " It was," says Charle- 
voix, " a strange and curious spectacle, to see many 
hundred men surrounding a decrepit old warrior, 
striving in vain, by tortures, to draw a groan from 
him." 

The barren victory of Frontenac resulted in great 
injury to the French, for by taking away the militia 
of Canada, the fields were left uncultivated, and a 
famine ensued that pinched quite as hard as the lack 
of provisions in Onondaga. 



CHAPTER VL 

The Iroquois and the English — Policv of 
THE English Towards the Five Nations 
— The Onondagas in the French War — 
— Their Status in the Revolution and the 
War of 181 2 — English and German Missions 
among the Onondagas — Later Missions — 
Schools — Treaties. 

THE treaty of Ryswick, which made peace be- 
tween the English and the French, was signed 
September 10, 1697. Soon after this, French com- 
missioners appeared before the Onondaga Castle. 
Peace was made, to the great satisfaction of the 
French. " Nothing could be more terrible than 
this last war ; the French ate their bread in con- 
tinual fear. No man was sure, when out of his 
house, of ever returning to it again. All business 
and trade were often suspended, while fear, despair 
and misery blanched the countenances of the 
wretched inhabitants.* The Commissioners took 

* Clark's Onondaga, p. 283. 



with them to Montreal several of the Onondaga 
chiefs. They were received with every mark of re- 
spect, and were treated with that consideration 
which brave men always command. 

Before the peace oi Ryswick, in 1697, the In- 
dians of the Five Nations had become the allies of 
the English. In 1689, they had met the represen- 
tatives of the English colonies, the Governors of 
New York and Virginia, in council at Albany, and 
had formally pledged to them peace and alliance. 
Although the French, from this time forward, made 
the most strenuous efibrts, through diplomacy and 
religion, to gain the Five Nations over to their in- 
terest, and failing in that, had employed the best 
military resources of New France for their subjuga- 
tion, yet they steadily adhered to their friendship 
for the English, who gradually gained the ascend- 
ancy over them and in due time became their mas- 
ters. 

The earliest and strongest influence of the Eng- 
lish was exerted over the Mohawks, who lived in 
immediate proximity to their settlements on the 
Hudson ; hence the Mohawks were most hostile to 
the French and were often in open war upon their 
frontiers while the more western tribes were quietly 
listening to the Jesuit Fathers within the sound of 
Niagara, in the forests of Cayuga and the villages 
of Onondaga. Many a conflict between the Mo- 
hawks and the other tribes of the Five Nations 
originated in the partiality of the latter for the 
French. At length the English, penetrating farther 
into the country, extending trade and commerce to 
the diff"erent tribes, and assisting them against their 
common enemies, gradually gained an ascendancy 
over them, and an alliance was formed with the 
United Five Nations which remained an indissolu- 
ble bond of union through all the conflicts and wars 
which followed, not only till the downfall of French 
power in Canada, but till England herself surren- 
dered her possessions in America to her colonies. 
The English gained their ascendancy over the Iro- 
quois, not by levying war, but by commerce and 
assistance, in the first place, and then by negotia- 
tion and the arts of peace. From this time the 
Five Nations recognized themselves as subjects of 
Great Britain and were at war or peace, as suited the 
policy of the governing nation. 

Among the earliest English travelers in the Iro- 
quois country was Wentworth Greenhalgh, who 
commenced a journey westward from Albany on the 
28th of May, 1677.* He visited the Mohawks, 
Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas, and 
describes minutely in his journal the situation and 

* Chambers' Political Annals of the United Colonies, London, 1780 



24 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



strength of each nation. The Onondagas he found 
" situated on a hill that is very large, the bank on 
each side extending itself at least two miles, all 
cleared land whereon the corn is planted." This 
traveler furnishes the following census of the " fight- 
ing men" of the respective nations : Mohawks 300 ; 
Oneidas, 200 •{ Onondagas, 350: Cayugas, 300; 
Senccas, i.oco; total, 2,150. 

In the manuscripts of Sir William Johnson there 
is a census of the northern and western Indians 
from the Pludson to the Mississippi, taken in 1763, 
in which the Five Nations appear numerically as 
follows: Mohawks, 160 ; Oneidas, 250; Onondagas, 
150; Cayugas, 200: Senccas, 1,050; total, 1,610 
warriors. 

In 1700, Robert Livingston, Secretary of Indian 
affairs, visited Onondaga, and reported to the Earl 
of Belmont upon the proper policy for the English 
to adopt in regard to the Five Nations. He ad- 
vised that missionaries should be sent among them, 
and that forts should be constructed and garrisoned 
for their protection against the French. He pro- 
posed to locate a fort at the confluence of the Oneida 
and Seneca Rivers. In June of that year, Dckan- 
nissora, at the head of an embassy, visited Albany 
complaining that the French " will not take the 
hatchet from their hands" unless the Five Nations 
submit to them. And he said, " All of us here are 
resolved to have a Protestant minister at Onondaga, 
the centre of the Five Nations, as soon as one can 
be sent to us." The Governor promised the mis- 
sionary, and that the bible should be translated for 
their use. and proposed that they should send two 
or three of their sons to be educated at the expense 
of the King. The Indians replied that they loved 
the King and were determined to continue firm to 
him and his religion, adding that they had refused 
to receive the Jesuit priests. "As to the offer to 
educate the boys," said the chief, "that is a sub- 
ject not under our control ; it belongs to the women 
entirely." 

At this council the Earl of Helmont promised 
the Onondagas to build a fort in their country. 
Col. Romer was selected as the engineer to explore 
the country and fi.x upon a site for the fort. The 
Indians agreed to furnish two hundred men to work 
upon it, and to furnish corn, venison, and other pro- 
visions for the workmen. Four young Onondagas 
were selected to accompany Colonel Romer in his 
exploring expedition. Colonel Romer explored the 
Onondaga country, and passed down till he came to 
the Oneida River, but found no suitable place to 
locate a fort. They finally decided upon the ledge 
called Kagnewagcage, near the mouth of the Oswe- 



go River, as the most suitable site. The King of 
England, in 1701, had given five hundred pounds 
towards erecting a fort in the country of the Onon- 
dagas. The fort was not built till 1727. A trading 
house, however, was erected at Oswego in 1722, 
under the administration of Governor William Bur 
net. The design of the occupancy of this position 
was to frustrate the purpose of the French to con- 
fine the English colonies to narrow limits along the 
sea coast by a chain of forts extending from Canada 
to Louisiana ; and it would also give the English 
command of Lake Ontario and the route of the 
French by the Oswego River into the heart of the 
Ifoquois country. No establishment could be of 
greater importance to the interest of the English. 
When, therefore, the trading house was erected at 
Oswego it highly exasperated the Canadian authori- 
ties, and they immediately inaugurated a counter 
moveifient in erecting a trading house at Niagara. 
The Baron De Longueil visited the canton of the 
Onondagas in person to secure the consent of the 
chiefs, and by misrepresentation partially succeeded. 
But the other Iroquois nations declared the action 
of the Onondagas void, as the country in which the 
French were at work belonged solely to the Senc- 
cas. The French, however, persisted, and through 
the influence of the Jesuit, Joucairc, who succeeded 
in keeping the Indians quiet, completed their work 
at Niagara. Governor Burnet, unable to accom- 
plish anything else, erected the fort at Oswego in 
1727. He built it almost wholly at his own private 
expense. The Governor of Canada was so incensed 
that he sent a written order to the officer in com- 
mand to evacuate the fort at once. The English 
officer did not, however, comply. 

In the war which followed between the French 
and the English, the defence of the fort at Oswego 
was entrusted to the Onondagas. When Sir Wil- 
liam Johnson called for them they were ready and 
assisted in winning the glory he acquired. At Ni- 
agara. Montreal and Quebec, they participated in 
the great engagements which decided the question 
of empire between the French and English ; and 
on the 2 1 St of July, 1761, after the war had closed 
and all the French possessions east of the Missis- 
sippi had fallen into the hands of the English, up- 
wards of forty of the sachems and warriors of the 
Onondaga nation met Sir William Johnson at Os- 
wego, to receive the medals sent to all their chiefs, 
by General Amherst. The chiefs, in a formal ad- 
dress, took that occasion to remonstrate against the 
ill treatment many of their people had received 
from the traders and soldiers at the posts during the 
war. and the cxhorbitant prices of goods charged 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



25 



by the traders. Sir William promised to reform 
abuses and furnish them plenty of powder and ball, 
which proved very agreeable to the chiefs. 

In the war of the Revolution these Indians steadi- 
ly adhered to the friendship which had been so long 
cemented between them and the English, and were 
the faithful allies of Great Britain throughout that 
memorable struggle. Mr. Clinton says that in the 
war of the Revolution the Five Nations contributed 
to the aid of the British 1,580 men. "They hung 
like the scythe of death in the rear of our settle- 
ments, and their deeds are inscribed with the scalp- 
ing knife and the tomahawk, in characters of blood, 
on the fields of Wyoming and Cherry Valley, and 
on the banks of the Mohawk."* 

The chastisement we inflicted upon the Five 
Nations was as terrible as their own cruelties had 
invoked. On the 21st of April, 1779, Colonel Van 
Schaick surprised the Onondagas and destroyed 
their village, provisions and munitions of war, kill- 
ing twelve and taking thirty or forty prisoners. The 
destruction of their property was complete. The 
same year the campaigns of Sullivan carried war 
and famine to the Cayugas and Senecas, effectually 
breaking the power of the Iroquois. The Mohawks 
fled to Canada with Sir William Johnson. 

The treaty of peace with England gave us the 
chain of the great lakes as our northern boundary. 
No stipulation whatever was made respecting these 
tribes. They consequently found themselves in the 
condition of a conquered people in the hands of 
their enemies who had become highly exasperated 
at their dreadful cruelties. The Legislature of New 
York evinced a disposition to e.xpel them all from 
their territory, but wiser and more humane counsels 
prevailed. Through the influence of Generals 
Washington and SchuyJer they were saved from 
total ruin. The treaty made at Fort Stanwix in 
1784, by commissioners of the government and the 
Indians, secured sufficient reservations of land to 
all the tribes, except the Mohawks who had gone to 
Canada. But this treaty appeared hard to the 
Indians, who had gone into the war at the command 
of a government they felt bound to obey, and that 
had so shamefully neglected them in the final set- 
tlement. After this their prowess was gone, and 
their martial spirit entirely broken. Some of them 
assisted the Western Indians in the wars under 
Harmar, St. Clair and Wayne, being led by Brant, 
the great captain of the Five Nations ; and when 
the gallant Wayne turned the victory in favor of 
the Americans, Ohekungh and Oundiaga, chiefs of 



the Onondagas, were there ; the latter left his bones 
to bleach on the plains of the Miamis. 

After this noted victory, the Onondagas clearly 
saw the folly of cherishing any longer a hostile dis- 
position towards their immediate neighbors. They 
settled down in quiet, determined to submit with 
fortitude to their fate. 

During the war of 18 12, when our Niagara fron- 
tier had become a scene in which the tomahawk 
and scalping knife were playing their part, General 
Peter D. Porter called on the remnant of this people 
for a force that might be successfully opposed to the 
Canadian Indians. A council was held to which all 
the tribes were invited, and all came except the 
Mohawks. It was resolved to aid the United States 
with all their force. By the ancient usage of the 
Five Nations, the Mohawks were to furnish the 
Commander-in-Chief, but, as they had left the con- 
federacy, it was necessary to depart from the usage 
and elect one in general council. Debate ran high, 
until the celebrated Sa-goy-a-\vat-ha (Red Jacket) 
settled the matter by proposing Hog-a-hoa-qua 
(La Fort,) an Onondaga chieftain. He accepted 
the post, and died at Chippewa, having received his 
death wound while bravely leading his people. His 
dying words were expressive of his gratification at 
having been placed at the head of his nation and 
having done his duty there. The braves of the 
of the Onondagas gathered around the prostrate 
hero, and exclaimed in their own language, "Alas, 
the great chief! the brave ! the brave !"* 

It remains now to consider the English and other 
later missions among these people. 

The Jesuit missions began sensibly to decline 
after the year 1700. About this time the English 
began to interest themselves in planting Protestant 
Christianity among the Five Nations. The Earl of 
Belmont, then Governor of New York, proposed a 
fort and a chapel at Onondaga, and King William 
sent over a set of plate for communion service and 
furniture for the proposed chapel. But this plan 
was interrupted by the death of the King in 1702, 
and was renewed by Queen Anne, who became a 
zealous patron of missions among the Five Nations. 
This good queen ordered the erection of a chapel 
among the Mohawks and contemplated a similar 
work among all the Five Nations. The Mohawk 
chapel was built of stone, and was erected at Fort 
Hunter in 17 10. The queen presented the chapel 
with a solid silver communion set, bearing the follow- 
ing inscription : "The gift of Her Majesty, Anne, by 
the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ire- 



CUrk's Onondaga. 
4* 



* Webster received his last words while acting as aid to Gen. Brown, 

to carry orders to the Indians, he understanding their language. 



26 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



land, QuEHN, to her Indian Chapel of the Mohawks." 
A similar service was engraved for the Onondagas, 
but, from some cause, it seems never to have reached 
its destination. On the plate presented to the Mo- 
hawks was the date 1712. Portions of the same 
scr\'ice arc still in use at the Mohawk mission in 
Canada. 

Among the Onondagas, missions were established 
by the Moravians or United Brethren, in 1750. 
Heckwalder, the Indian historian, says : " The most 
remarkable occurrence of 1750 was the journey of 
Bishop CammcrhofT and Brother David Zcisberger 
to Onondaga, the chief town of the Iroquois. They 
set out from Bethlehem" (Pennsylvania, where they 
had founded a mission in 1740,) "on the 14th of 
May, having obtained a passport from the Governor 
of Pennsylvania, requesting all the subjects of the 
British Government to forward their undertaking. 
• • • On the 19th of June, they reached Onon- 
daga, situated in a very pleasant and beautiful 
country and consisting of five small towns or vil- 
lages " The account goes on to say that the Bishop 
and his associate were received at the great council 
as the deputies of the Church of the United Breth- 
ren. Permission was granted them to keep their 
missionaries at Onondaga one or two years to learn 
the language of the people. The Brethren returned 
to spend the winter in Bethlehem, and the year fol- 
lowing appeared again among the Onondagas, by 
whom they were very cordially received and lodged 
in the chief's house. All things went prosperously 
for about a year, when, on account of trouble and 
war, acting upon the advice of the council, they 
returned to their homes. 

In 1754, Zeisbcrger returned to his post with a 
brother named Charles Frederick. The chief, Can- 
NAS-SK-T.\-GO, adopted him as his son, and he had 
great influence with the Onondagas. He became 
an eminent Onondaga scholar. In 1768, he wrote 
and completed two grammars, one in English, the 
other in German, adapted to the Indian language, a 
copious dictionary of German and Indian, contain- 
ing seven quarto manuscript volumes of more than 
seventeen hundred and seventy pages of writing, 
and in 1776 he published a spelling book, other pri- 
mary books for learners, and Juvenile devotional 
books. We find no permanent fruits of this mission 
or that it was ever re-established, although feebly 
continued for several years. 

The mission of Rev. Samuel Kirkland among the 
Oneidas began in August. 1766. Mr. Kirkland re- 
mained among them for over forty years. During 
this time his influence spread all over the Iroquois 
country, and many of all the different tribes learned 



from him the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel. 
At the commencement of the Revolution he re- 
moved his family to Stockbridge, Mass., for safety, 
while he continued his mission among the Onei- 
das. His influence over them contributed materi- 
ally to secure their neutrality, and in several 
instances, their friendship and service, during the 
Revolutionary struggle. In 1779, he was Brigade 
Chaplain with General Sullivan in his Indian cam- 
paign, and was chaplain to the garrison at Fort 
Schuyler and other posts. Messrs Phelps and 
Gorham, large purchasers of land in Western New 
York, deeded him two thousand acres of land for 
his valuable services, situated in township No. 7, 
Ontario county. Mr. Kirkland was a native of Nor- 
wich, Conn , in which town he was born December 
I, 1 74 1. He was one of the most widely useful and 
influential among his class of devoted and self-sac- 
rificing pioneer missionaries. Out of his " Plan of 
Education for the Indians," projected in 1792, grew 
the Hamilton Oneida Academy, which was incor- 
porated early in 1793, and in 18 10 became Hamilton 
College. Mr. Kirkland endowed the Academy with 
valuable donations of land. He was a man of un- 
bounded benevolence and hospitality. He loved the 
Indians and was loved by them most sincerely in 
return. He died in the 78th year of his age, Feb- 
ruary 28, 1808, and was buried in a private ground 
near his residence in Clinton. 

The first person connected with the Protestant 
Episcopal Church who called the attention of the 
Onondagas to the subject of religion, was Mr. 
Eleazer Williams, lay reader, catechist and school- 
master among the Oneidas. By the request of 
several of the Onondaga chiefs, he visited that nation 
first, on the 31st of March, 1816. He says in his 
journal : "They gave me no time to refresh myself, 
but hurried me oft" to their council house, to hear, 
as they said. ' The words of Him who dwells in 
hhavai' " These visits were followed by Rev. 
Timothy Clowes, Rector of St. Peter's Church, 
Albany, who pn the 18th of July, 1816, preached 
and administered the sacrament. He baptized 
eht't/i children of the Onondagas. In July, 1817, 
they were visited by Mr. Eleazer Williams, Rev. 
Wm. A. Clark and Rev. Ezekiel G. Gear. Baptism 
was administered by Rev. Mr. Clark to fifteen, and 
by Rev. Mr. Gear to four ox five. Mr. Gear con- 
tinued to preach frequently among the Onondagas 
so long as he lived at " the Hill " Indians fre- 
quently came there for public worship and brought 
their children to be baptized in presence of the 
congregation. Several couples were also married 
publicly in the church. Others, among whom was 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



27 



one principal chief, were publicly baptized, and 
these were all confirmed at Oneida, on some occa- 
sion when the church there was visted by Bishop 
Hobart. 

It was at the instance of Mr. Gear that a school 
was opened at Onondaga by one of their own people 
— Mary Doxtator, who had been educated by the 
Quakers at Philadelphia, and had opened an indus- 
trial school at Oneida, in which she taught the 
Indian women how to sew and spin and to weave 
blankets and coverlets. This lady was induced by 
Mr. Gear to attempt the same among the Onon- 
dagas, which she did with considerable success in 
1820. She died two or three years after the open- 
ing of her school, among the Onondagas, her own 
people. 

This Episcopal missionary work ceased among 
the Onondagas with the retirement of Rev. Mr. 
Gear, and they were without religious instruction 
till the Methodists founded a Mission at Oneida in 
1829, Occasional services were from this time 
held among the Onondagas with but little success, 
on account of the influence of the " Pagan Party." 
The head men of the nation were opposed to the 
establishment of schools and churches among them, 
and it was not until the year 1 841, that anything like 
a regular organization was formed. At this time 
nine members joined a class formed by Rev. Ros- 
man Ingals, who had been appointed a missionary 
to the Oneidas and Onondagas. The communion 
vv^as administered at Onondaga Castle after the 
form of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and from 
the 1st of August, 1842, the Onondagas had preach- 
ing every third Sunday. In 1842. the natives pro- 
cured and fitted up a building in which services 
were held till 1846, when the new school house was 
built and became also the sanctuary of religion. 
Rev. Daniel Fancher officiated, preaching three 
Sundays each month. After the commencement 
of Mr. Fancher's ministry, the number of com- 
municants increased rapidly. In 184S, at which 
time a new and commodious church was erected^ 
costing over a thousand dollars, there was not less 
than si.xty who received regularly the bread of life. 

In 1845, a very respectable lady. Miss Mary 
Hitchcock, was induced to open a school on the 
Reservation exclusively for Indian children. Her 
efforts were unwearied, and attended with measur- 
able success, the school being supported mainly by 
contributions of benevolent white patrons. She 
boarded herself and kept the school in the church 
building. In April, 1846, an act was passed by the 
Legislature authorizing the Indian Agent to cause 
to be built and furnished a suitable and sufficient 



school house on the Onondaga Reservation, at an 
expense not exceeding three hundred dollars. The 
sum of two hundred and fifty dollars was annually 
appropriated for a term of five years, for the pay- 
ment of teachers' wages and other expenses. The 
following year a school house was completed and 
school opened under favorable auspices by Mr. L. 
B. Whitcomb. In 1849, Rev. Rosman Ingals had 
charge of the school. The district officers were of 
the Indians, assisted by the Agent, Town Super- 
intendent and Teacher, who managed the school 
with benefit to themselves and credit to the nation. 

The Indian children are bright, and in many 
branches show as much aptitude to learn as Ameri- 
cans ; but the chief hindrance to their education 
lies in their unwillingness to attend school. Not 
more than half the number of suitable age are found 
in attendance. 

The Onondagas made the following treaties with 
the people of the State of New York : 

First — The treaty of Fort Schuyler (formerly 
Fort Stanwix) made by the commissioners on behalf 
of the State, His Excellency, George Clinton, 
Governor, William Floyd, Ezra L. Hommedien, 
Richard Varick, Samuel Jones, Egbert Benson, and 
Peter Gansevoort, Jr., — wherein the Onondaga 
nation ceded to the State of New York all their 
lands in said State, except the Reservation bounded 
as follows : Beginning at the southerly end of the 
salt lake, at the place where the river or stream, on 
which the Onondagas now have their village, empties 
into the said lake, and running from the said place 
of beginning east three miles ; thence southerly 
according to the general curve of said river until it 
shall intersect a line running east and west at the 
distance of three miles south from said village ; 
thence from the said point of intersection west nine 
miles ; thence northerly parallel to the second 
course above mentioned, until an east line will 
strike the place of beginning ; and thence east to 
the said place of beginning. 

The cession in this treaty was made in considera- 
tion of one thousand French crowns in money and 
two hundred pounds in clothing at the price which 
the same cost the people of New York. 

Second — A treaty made at Onondaga by John 
Cantine and Simeon DeWitt, November 18, 1793, 
wherein the Onondagas ceded to the State a por- 
tion of their Reservation comprised in two tracts 
described in the treaty (Clark's Onondaga, vol. i, p. 
353.) The State paid the Indians four hundred 
and ten dollars as a perpetual annuity for this por- 
tion of their Reservation. 

Third— K treaty held at Cayuga Ferry, by Phillip 



2a 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Schuyler, John Cantinc, David Brooks and John 
Richardson, July 28, 1795, wherein the above 
annuity was changed to a perpetual annuity of eight 
hundred dollars, and the Onondagas also ceded their 
right in the Salt Springs and one mile of land 
around the same, together with a half mile tract of 
land between the northern boundary of the Reserva- 
tion and the Salt Springs. In this transaction the 
State paid the Indians five hundred dollars for their 
right in the Salt Springs, and two hundred dollars 
for the half mile of land, with an annuity of one 
hundred bushels of salt to be delivered annually on 
the first day of June in each year forever. 

Fourth— Ai a treaty made at Albany, February 
25, 1817, the Onondagas sold and conveyed the 
following described lands, viz : "All that certain 
tract of land reserved for them in former reser\-a- 
tions known as the Onondaga Residaue Resenation" 
This land lies cast of the present Reservation con- 
sisting of twenty-seven lots of from one hundred 
and fifty to one hundred and sixty acres each, 
amounting in all to about four thousand acres. One 
thousand dollars was paid down, with an annuity of 
four hundred and thirty dollars and fifty bushels of 
salt. 

I-'i/lh— On the 1 ith of February, 1822, at a treaty 
held at Albany, they sold eight hundred acres more 
of their land, from the south end of the Onondaga 
Residence Reservation, for the sum of seventeen 
hundred dollars. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Migrations of the Onondagas — Location of 
TiiKiK Various Town Sites — Period of their 
RrsiDKNCK in Kach Locai.itv. 

GKN. JOHN S. CLARK, of Auburn, who has 
devoted much time to antiquarian research 
respecting the aborigines of this county, has shown 
conclusively that the Onondagas were a migratory 
people, and that they occupied tliffercnt portions of 
our territory at different periods, beginning with 
their most easterly settlement, just prior to the be- 
ginning of the historic period, or about the year 
1620, we shall follow General Clark in the inverse 
order of his argument, and note the points at which 
he locates the homes of the Onondagas at difl'erent 
periods. 

After crossing the valley of the east branch of 
the Limestone we find other town sites indicating 
an earlier occupation, but of like character and mag- 
nitude as those to the west. The jnost important 
of these is the one found on lot twenty-three, on the 



dividing line between Onondaga and Madison coun- 
ties. This contains about ten acres of land and 
was originally enclosed by a stockade. All the facts 
point unerringly to the conclusion, that this was the 
position occupied previous to that on Indian Hill, 
probably from about 1620 to 1650. This migratory 
line can be continued indefinitely, step by step, to 
the east and north, extending along the eastern ex- , 
tremity of Lake Ontario to the St. Lawrence. In \ 
Madison county we find the point apparently, whence 
the Oneidas branched oflf from the Onondagas, and 
swinging around by successive removals in an east- 
erly and northerly direction, finally settled down at 
Oneida Castle, at about the same period that the 
Onondagas were in the Onondaga valley. 

Another period of fifty years introduces us to a 
series of facts that cannot possibly be reconciled 
with a supposed residence in either the valley of 
Onondaga or at Jamesville. In 1750 we find their 
castle five miles from Onondaga Lake ; in 1700 we 
find it on the Ikitternut creek, and eight miles from 1 
Onondaga Lake. We rrow come to authorities in ' 
like manner making it twelve miles from the Mis- 
sion site of St. Mary of Ganentaha on the cast side 
of Onondaga Lake. We will examine a few of 
these facts, and, if possible, by going back to the 
period of 1650, solve this new difficulty. 

In 1654 the Onondagas were visited by Le Moyne 
by way of Techiroguen, at the foot of Oneida Lake, 
and by Chaumonot and Dablon in the succeeding 
year, by the same route Dablon returned the next 
March from Onondaga, crossed Oneida Lake on the 
ice, and thence took the usual trail to Salmon River. I 
A careful study of their journals develops the fact 
that Onondaga then was ten leagues or twenty-five 
miles from Techiroguen by way of regular trail ; 
was five short leagues or twelve miles from the 
mission site of St. Mary's, and was six short leagues 
from Oneida Lake, or about fifteen miles, according 
to Dablon's journal. 

In 1G77, while living in the same position, they 
were visited by Mr. Greenhalgh, an English trader, 
who finds them occupying a ver}' large town, con- 
sisting of about one hundred and forty houses, 
situated on a hill, with banks on each side, between 
which the town extended at least two miles, all 
cleared land and on which corn was planted. He 
also says they were thirty-six miles from the Onei- 
das' town and fifteen miles from Oneida Lake ; says 
the town was not stockaded, and makes no mention 
of a fort. Taking all these distances, and applying 
the scale to the map, we find that they cut each 
other at a point two miles south of the village of 
Manlius, on what is known as "Indian Hill," be- 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



29 



tween the west and middle branches of Limestone 
Creek. This position is fifteen miles from Oneida 
Lake, is twelve miles from St. Mary's of Ganentaha, 
and thirty-six miles from the residence of the 
Oneidas in 1677, and ten leagues or twenty-five 
miles from Techiroguen, at Brewerton. 

A careful examination of De Witt Clinton's, 
Schoolcraft's and Clark's accounts of this locality 
warrants fully the conclusion that here, in 1650, 
was the home of the Onondagas, and occupied dur- 
ing the period of their greatest prosperity. Here 
was the original site of the Mission of St. John the 
Baptist, afterward removed to their residence further 
west. Here it was, that Garakontie called the 
Hurons to prayers by the sound of a bell, the 
fragments of which a hundred and fifty years after- 
wards, were turned up by the plow to bear witness 
to the fact, that at this point the original pioneers 
of civilization first reared the cross in the midst of 
this barbarous people. Here Le Moyne, in 1654, 
with a single companion, courageously entered as 
an embassador to negotiate a peace, and speaking 
to the assembled sachems of the nation in their 
own tongue, much to their astonishment, mentioned 
them all by nations, tribes, families and individuals. 
Here Chaumonot the next year, with his fascinating 
Italian voice and fervid eloquence, carried the 
council bodily on a wave of unqualified admiration, 
that led them to declare that he was almost the 
equal of an Indian orator. In this valley as in the 
others, we find towns of minor importance extend- 
ing as far south as Delphi, of the same general char- 
acter as the main one at Indian Hill, all furnishing ar- 
ticles of glass, copper and iron, showing European 
intercourse, and from the general character of the 
relics showing a residence of about the same period, 
and by the same people ; but as compared with more 
western towns they show distinctly an earlier age 
of occupation, and a nearer approach to the pre- 
historic or stone age, the percentage of stone im- 
plements increasing, and that of metalic articles 
decreasing, as we move east. We here find speci- 
mens of pottery with beautiful designs of ornamen- 
tation, indicating that they had attained a high posi- 
tion in the ceramic arts. 

In going forward half a century, we find a condi- 
tion of historical fact, entirely inconsistent with the 
idea of a residence in Onondaga Valley ; all writers 
since about 1720, speak of them as being in the 
Onondaga Valley, and five miles from Onondaga 
Lake, while previous to that time they represent 
them as eight miles from the lake, or from Kaneenda 
at its southern extremity. Robert Livingston says 
in 1700: * * * "The Onondagas (who must 



leave their Castle speedily, the fire-wood that is 
near being consumed,") « * * ^^d "you 
cannot come nearer than sixteen miles of their 
Castle by water except you go around by Kane- 
enda," * * * and "that Kaneenda is eight 
miles from their Castle."* Here we have two dis- 
tances furnished from given points — one eight 
miles from Onondaga Lake, the other sixteen miles 
from Oneida Lake. Again, Robert Livingston and 
others, as commissioners, in their report in April, 

1700, "recommend the building of a fort at 
Kaneenda, a fishing place of the Onondagas eight 
miles from their Castle, their landing place when 
they came from hunting from Lake Ontario."! James 
Bleeker and others say in their journal in June, 

1 70 1, "The Onondagas would receive Mons. Mar- 
recour at Kaneenda, eight miles from their Castle." J 
Col. Romer, an English engineer, visited them in 
1700 to select a suitable place for building a fort, and 
made a map to accompany his report, which hitherto 
was supposed to have been lost, but fortunately, has 
lately been discovered in the British Museum, a 
copy of which I have ; on this map the main town 
is located on the east side of Butternut Creek as 
plainly as lines could designate it. 

J. Martin Mack, the Moravian Missionary here- 
tofore mentioned, while on his way to Onondaga by 
way of the Mohawk Valley, says, in his journal, un- 
der date of August 20, 1752, at " noon some In- 
dians, belonging to Onondaga, met us. We then 
came to a place where many posts were standing, 
from which we concluded that a town must have 
stood there formerly. The old Seneca told Brother 
Zeisberger, that when he was a child eight years of 
age, Onondaga stood on this spot, but was burned 
by the French. In the afternoon between four and 
five o'clock we arrived at Onondaga." 

Sir \Mlliam Johnson while on his way from the 
East to Onondaga in 1756, says in his journal, un- 
der date of June iS: "The Cayugas sent two 
messengers from Onondaga who met Sir William at 
the place where formerly the Onondagas lived about 
five miles from ilieir present habitation. Afterward 
arrived at Onondaga and from thence removed his 
camp to the site of Onondaga Lake about five miles 
from their Castle, for the convenience of being near 
his batteaux which brought the presents and provi- 
sions. "§ Many other authorities can be adduced, 
showing that the chief town or Castle, at this period 
was five miles east of their subsequent location in On- 
ondaga Valley, eight miles from Kaneenda, and si.x- 



*Col. Hist. ix. 649. 
f Col. Hist. iv. 655. 



J Col. Hist. iv. 891. 
J Col. Hist. vii. 133-4. 



30 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



teen miles from Oneida Lake, but those already pre- 
sented arc deemed quite sufficient to demonstrate be- 
yond the possibility of question that the main village 
at this period was in the valley of Butternut Creek 
south of Jamcsvilic. These distances center on the 
farm of Mr. O M. Atkins, east of the Reservoir on lot 
number three. An examination of Clark's History 
of Onondaga will show this to be the location of a 
very large Indian town, where relics have been 
found in great abundance, indicating Indian occupa- 
tion and Euroi>ean intercourse. The place was 
visited at an early date by DcVVitt Clinton, School- 
craft and others and fully described. The most im- 
portant fact developed was the remains of a stock- 
ade fort of singular construction in the form of a 
parallelogram, with bastions at the angles, enclosed 
by a double row of cedar palisades placed close to 
each other, and outside of these another row several 
feet distant, the whole enclosing about ten acres of 
land. A detached work was found some thirty rods 
distant to the northeast, on higher ground, probably 
used as redoubts, and connected by a covered way 
with each other. 

It will be remembered that Frontenac, in 1696, 
invaded the Onondagas' territory with a large army 
of French and Indians. He landed on the east side 
of Onondaga Lake, and after constructing his tem- 
porary fort for the protection of his batteau.x and 
supplies, he marched up the Onondaga Valley in 
two lines of battle, and on approaching the strong- 
hold of the Onondagas, found it abandoned and 
burned. Frontenac described the fort as " an ob- 
long, flanked by four regular bastions, with two rows 
of pickets which touched each other, and were of 
the thickness of an ordinary mast, and at six feet 
distant outside, stood another row of palisades of 
much smaller dimensions, but from forty to fifty feet 
high." Charlevoix describes the same as " a rec- 
tangle, with four bastions, surrounded by a double 
palisade, flanked by redoubts, with fence formed 
of poles from forty to fifty feet high." One evi- 
dently taking his view from the enclosed work, the 
other from the enclosing one, but both agreeing 
substantially with each other, and with the descrip- 
tions of Clinton, Schoolcraft and Clark. 

The dcscrijjtion of Frontenac and Charlevoix, of 
this very remarkable and peculiarly constructed 
work, so exactly in accordance with the remains 
found by the early settlers, if examined with care, 
cannot fail to convince any unprejudiced mind that 
on this identical spot stood the famous citadel of 
the Onondagas in 1696, abandoned and burned by 
them on the approach of the French. 

Here was the home of the Onondagas from about 



1680 to 1720, as history says they rebuilt on the 
same ground, and the ne.\t spring planted the same 
fields laid waste by their enemies ; this was the 
home of the great Dekannissore, the warrior, states- 
man and orator ; the equal of any of the great men 
of his race, living or dead. As in the Onondaga 
Valley, so in this, we find evidences of detached 
hamlets and small towns to the south, occupied 
when it was considered safe to settle at a distance 
from their stronghold. 

We next find the homes of the Onondagas in 
Onondaga Valley from 1720 to 1790. 

John Hartram an English trader, in company 
with Lewis Evans, visited the Onondagas in 1743, 
with Shikellmy and Conrad Weiser, as guides, 
coming from the south by way of Owego. Bishop 
Cammerhoff and David Zeisberger, Moravian mis- 
sionaries, visited them in 1750, coming from the 
south through the Cayugas' country. 

Zeisberger afterwards resided among them, 
learned their language, was adopted into the turtle 
clan, and was highly esteemed and honored by the 
Onondagas, and as an especial token of confidence, 
the Grand Council deposited its entire archives, 
comprising many belts of wampum, written treaties, 
&c., in the Mission House and constituted him sole 
keeper of those important records. Henry Frey, 
Godfrey, Rundt, and J. Martin Mack, were com- 
panions of Zeisberger, and accompanied him up the 
Valley of the Mohawk, the latter named gentleman 
writing the itinerary of the journey. Several of 
those gentlemen traveled from Albany to the Gene- 
see, and from Pennsylvania to Lake Ontario, and 
have left interesting and valuable accounts of their 
observations. 

Sir William Johnson visited tli^m in 1756, to at- 
tend a general council, and mentions the fact of the 
town being five miles from Onondaga Lake. He 
constructed a stockade fort for them in the same 
year, located about half a mile south of the village 
of Onondaga Valley, on the west side of the creek, 
the remains of which were still standing when the 
first settlers entered in 1790. All of these authori- 
ties agree in their general descriptions of the coun- 
try and its occupants, and describe the towns as 
consisting of a series of hamlets located on both 
sides of Onondaga Creek, and extending for three 
miles up and down the valley. Many of them con- 
tained two or more families, and rarely were more 
than four or five near each other, the intervening 
spaces being occu|)ied by great patches of high grass, 
bushes, fruit trees, peas, beans, and large fields of In- 
dian corn. The Council House, occupying a central 
point, was about eighty feet in length by seventeen 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



31 



in breadth, with a common passage way six feet in 
width through its center. Bartram, in 1743, as- 
cended both the east and west hills, and mentions 
the fact of their beitig covered with timber to the 
top, but makes no mention of an upper town, while 
Zeisberger in 1752 speaks of a lower town, and the 
upper town on Onondaga Hill. A small village 
(Tiatachtonti) was located about four miles south of 
the main town, where many apple trees were in 
bearing at that date. 

This condition of affairs continued without ma- 
terial change until the campaign of 1779, when all 
these towns were destroyed in the expedition of 
Col. Van Schaick. From about 1720 until the re- 
moval to the reservation, this valley was the home 
of this central nation of the Confederacy. Here re- 
sided Canassetago and Oundiaga and other illustri- 
ous names, who flourished during this period ; but 
their history is so well known and authorities are so 
accessible that it will be a waste of time to dwell 
longer on this part of their history. 

Such have been the homes or principal villages 
of the Onondagas ; other subordinate villages, mis- 
sionary, fishing and trading stations, existed in dif- 
ferent localities, as at an early day Techiroguen, an 
Indian fishing village, on the Oneida river, at the 
outlet of Oneida Lake, on the site of the present 
village of Brewerton. This was a regular crossing 
place of the great north and south trail. Le Moyne 
mentions it in 1654 as on the south side of the river, 
while Charlevoix indicates it by name as on the 
north side on his map published in 1744. In 1656 
the mission of St. Mary of Ganentaha was located 
on lot 106 in Salina, on the north shore of Onon- 
daga Lake. Here was erected the first Roman 
Catholic chapel in the State of New York, and here 
Frontenac, in 1696, constructed a stockade fort, for 
the temporary protection of his supplies and bat- 
teaux, while engaged in his expedition against the 
Onondagas and Oneidas. A fishing village or land- 
ing place, existed at the southern extremity of 
Onondaga Lake, called by the Indians Geneata, the 
same as the lake, but by the' English called Kene- 
enda ; I retain the English spelling and pronuncia- 
tion to distinguish it from the French Mission site 
called Ganentaha. 

It appears, from the foregoing statement of facts, 
abundantly conclusive that the Onondagas occupied 
the site of the Indian fort and village on Lot 23, on 
the dividing line between the counties of Onondaga 
and Madison from about 1620 to 1650 ; at " Indian 
Hill" between the west and middle branches of 
Limestone Creek, about two miles south of the 
village of Manlius, from 1650 to 1680 ; in the valley 



of the Butternut Creek south of Jamesville, on the 
farm of Mr. O. M. Atkins, Lot No. 3, from 1680 
to 1720; and in the Onondaga Valley, where they 
were found by the earliest settlers, from 1720 to 
1790. 

The Mohawks in like manner have drifted from 
point to point within the historic period and genera- 
tions previous, and no writer has been bold enough 
to attempt the indentification of any of the sites 
mentioned in our early history ; and yet it is not 
very difficult to unravel the tangled mysteries of 
their peculiar migrations. The Cayugas, also drift- 
ing in a generally southern direction, have left their 
footprints as easily to trace from point to point as 
are the tracks of the school-boy in the newly fallen 
snow. 

The Senecas also migrated on a definite line at 
an early day, and when the Fries were subjugated, 
carried their colonies to the extreme western limits 
of the State. At the time of Sullivan's campaign 
they were living in fine framed houses, had over- 
flowing granaries and immense fields of Indian 
corn. Their villages were numbered by the score, 
some of them of large dimensions, and containing 
great numbers of people. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Antiquities — Relics of European Intercourse 
WITH the Indians — The Monumental Stone 
OF 1520 Discovered in Pompey — Other Curi- 
ous Relics. 

IT is evident from relics discovered in various 
parts of this county that European intercourse , 
with the aborigines was much more general at an 
early period than history gives any account of, or 
than has commonly been supposed. One of the 
most noted places where these remains have been 
found is at " Indian Hill," some two miles south of 
the village of Manlius, on land formerly owned by 
Isaac P. Jobs, now the property of John Hatch. 
This is the place where Gen. John S. Clark, the an- 
tiquarian, locates the home of the Onondagas from 
about 1620 to 1650. The whole length of the ele- 
vation bearing evidence of having been inhabited, 
is nearly a mile, and the width from one hundred 
to one hundred and fifty rods. 

In 1 82 1, a brass medal was discovered near this 
place by Mr. John Watson. It was without date 
On one side of it was a figure of Louis XIV, King, 
of France and Navarre ; on the reverse side was 
represented a field with three fleur de lis sup- 
porting a royal crown, surrounded by the name of 



32 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Naif Lanfar & Co. It was about the size of a Span- 
ish pistarccn and had been compressed between 
dies. The characters and letters were quite dis- 
tinct. This relic passed into the possession of Hon. 
Samuel Mitchell. 

When this ground was first cultivated by the early 
settlers, gun-barrels, sword blades, hatchets, clay 
pipes, cop|)cr kettles, brass chains, beads of glass, 
pewter plates, finger rings, ear and nose jewels, lead 
balls, iron gate hangings, copper coins, tools for work- 
ing wood and iron, and many other articles used only 
by civilized men, together with human bones, were 
frequently found on or near the earth's surface. 

There was a circular fort here, from three hun- 
dred to three hundred and fifty feet in diameter, 
with one narrow gateway. 

In 1801, Mr. John Hatch plowed up three mus- 
kets and a blunderbuss. The stocks were decayed 
and the muzzles flattened, as if with the head of an 
ax. Nearly all the gun-barrels found had their 
muzzles thus flattened, indicating that it was prob- 
ably done to prevent them from being again useful 
in the hands of an enemy.* The guns usually 
found were of a heavy make, with bell-shaped 
muzzles, apparently of English manufacture. The 
copper coins were French, but so corroded that the 
marks and dates could not be deciphered. 

Clark, who published his history in 1849, says: 
" At every plowing something new is brought to 
light. Not long since a curiously wrought brass 
chain, two and a half feet long and one inch and 
a half wide, was found. Its appearance was as if it 
had recently been subjected to the action of fire, 
and the most prominent parts newly polished. A 
curious brass image was recently found there, 
probably a part of some Romish priest's collection." 

Contiguous to this place was an extensive bury- 
ing ground covered with graves of men, women 
and children. The skeletons were usually found 
buried in a sitting posture facing the cast, with 
some domestic utensil or weapon of war between 
the thigh bones. Trees of two hundred years 
growth once stood over these graves. 

Near David Williams', Pompey, one mile from 
" Indian Hill " was another place of considerable 
importance called "The Castle." In 1815,3 brass 
medal was here found, on one side of which was an 
equestrian image with a drawn sword, and on the 
other " William Prince of Orange," with a crest or 
coat of arms. The date was obliterated, but Wil- 
liam Prince of Orange flourished in 1689, and had 
been quite conspicuous in the aflairs of New York 
some years previous. This medal may have been a 

* CUrk'i Unoaitft, vul. i, p. 156. 



present by him to some distinguished Indian chief. 
In that neighborhood a basswood tree was cut down 
and an ineffectual attempt made to split the first 
twelve feet of it into rails. Upon examination a 
large chain was found encircling it, over which one 
hundred and seventy-eight concentric circles had 
formed, representing as many years' growth. A 
large hemlock tree was discovered with three distinct 
cuts of an ax imbedded beneath one hundred and 
seventy nine years' growth. Subtracting one hun- 
dred and seventy-eight from 1815, the time when 
these examinations were made, and we have the 
date 1637, as the time when these marks are 
supposed to have been made, at which time it is 
reasonable to suppose the neighborhood was in- 
habited by Europeans. 

David Williams at one time plowed up the skele- 
ton of a man, and found with it a small brass kettle 
filled with corn and beans in a tolerably good state 
of preservation. The kettle was used in his family 
for domestic purposes several years. 

Mr. Hinsdell, of Pompey, had at one time in his 
possession three vises, one of which was very large, 
the jaws alone weighing forty-one pounds. It 
was beautifully engraved all over with representa- 
tions of dogs, bears, deer, squirrels, fishes, birds, 
and was altogether a very beautiful specimen of 
workmanship. Another, a hand vise of excellent 
quality, was sold to Mr. Boylston, a silversmith, of 
Manlius village, who used it while he continued in 
business there. A ;//rj/ of brass kettles wasalso found 
by Mr. David Hinsdell, the largest of which would 
hold two pails full and the smallest about three 
pints. Some of the smaller ones, being well pre- 
served on account of the protection afforded by the 
larger ones outside, were used in Mr. Hinsdell's 
and Mr. Weston's families for several years. 

A case of surgical instruments, much corroded 
by rust, was found by the side of a human skeleton 
— probably the first physician and surgeon ever in 
Pom])ey. Among the relics positively known to be 
French, are several brass crescents bearing the in- 
scription " Hot de France et Dim" They were 
probably used for nose and ear jewels. Rows of 
large corn hills were abundant near all the places 
bearing evidences of occupancy, and were distinctly 
traceable by the early settlers. 

Most of the grounds mentioned had undoubtedly 
been scenes of hard-fought battles, of which the 
Indians had preserved unpleasant traditions, for such 
was their abhorrence of scenes enacted here that 
never, except in a few rare instances, could they be 
induced to visit the spot near the old fort and bury- 
ing ground. They turned from it with a sort of 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



33 



shudder, exclaiming, "Oie-qneh sa-he-eh ! — 'Tis the 
field of blood!' * 

The most singular and interesting relic yet dis- 
covered in this locality, is the monumental stone 
found by Mr. Philo Cleveland on his farm about the 
year 1820. It consists of a stone, apparently gran- 
ite, oval shaped, about fourteen inches long by 
twelve inches wide and eight inches thick, bearing 
the inscription of a tree in the center with a serpent 
coiled around it, and the words and date, Leo X De 
Lon VI, 1520. This stone is now in the Museum of 
the Historical Institute at Albany, and is universally 
admitted to be an authentic relic of antiquity. The 
date on it shows that it was three hundred years old 
at the time of its discovery ; fifty-seven years have 
since elapsed ; hence it carries back the date of the 
earliest European occupation of this locality to 
three hundred and fifty-seven years beyond our 
own time. That this stone was left by some Euro- 
pean who was a Roman Catholic, and had accurate 
knowledge of the history of that Church, is evident, 
and it is equally clear that it was left by some 
transient visitor, for a colony, or even several. per- 
sons residing in the place, would certainly have left 
other relics of a similar antiquity. 

The inscription has been interpreted — Leo X, by 
the grace (^or will) of God, sixth year of his pontfi- 
cate. The words De Lon, or initials L. S., as some 
read them, have been taken to be the name or initials 
of the person buried, as the stone is undoubtedly a 
sepulchral monument, placed there to mark the lonely 
grave of some one who died during an adventurous 
journey through the wilderness, a hundred years 
before the Jesuit missionaries found their way to the 
huts of the Indians. Whether the cross engraved 
on the stone is an Indian or a Roman Catholic cross, 
does not concern us, neither does the question as 
to his belonging to the Masonic fraternity, sup- 
posed by some to be indicated by a rude emblem 
on the right hand corner of the stone : the only 
points of importance being the date and the accuracy 
of the historical knowledge which it reveals. Pope 
Leo X was crowned pope in 1514, and hence 1520 
would be the sixth year of his pontificate. The 
most probable explanation of this ancient relic is, 
that some Spanish adventurers in quest of silver 
mines had penetrated this region from Florida, and 
one of them dying, his companions erected this 
simple memorial to mark the place of his burial. 
There is a tradition that the shores of Lake Ganentaha 
were covered with a bright substance that shone in 
the sun (crystalized salt) and that the Indians, then 
ignorant of the nature of this substance, reported 

* Clark's Onondaga, 2 vol., p. 263. 

s* 



this fact to the Spaniards, who, supposing it to be 
silver, came here in search of it and passed down 
the Oswego River. If they came here by the 
waters of the Susquehanna, as may be supposed, it 
is quite likely that they would ascend to the height 
of land to find the water courses in the opposite 
direction, or to discover the lake in the valley below 
them, which may account for their finding their 
way to Pompey. This is all supposition, it is true, 
but is quite as rational as any other, inasmuch as 
the Spaniards were the only Europeans at that 
period on the continent who could have left such a 
relic as this singular stone. 

Mr. William Raskins, who was the fifth inhabit- 
ant in the township of Pompey, on lot No. 13, (now 
in Lafayette) in 1792, informed Mr. Clark, that on 
first plowing the lands, almost every variety of im- 
plement used in agriculture and the common arts 
was found in that neighborhood. They consisted 
of knives supposed to be of French manufacture, 
axes, with the English stamp, gun-barrels, some of 
them with a portion of the stock remaining, quanti- 
ties of ship spikes, pump hooks, a spy glass, trammel 
hooks and chains. In one instance a large quantity 
of musket balls was plowed up by the side of a 
rock. The remains of a wheel-barrow, with the iron 
entire, also anvils and vises, unfinished gun-barrels 
and gun-locks, indicating that the art of making 
these had been carried on, hand saws, files and 
fragments of church bells. 

On this ground the graves were arranged with 
great regularity, side by side, in rows of ten or 
fifteen rods in extent. In the vicinity were other 
groups of graves, but not in regular order. Upon 
examination the bodies appear to have been enclosed 
in wooden or bark boxes. In one grave was found 
two glass bottles. In plowing, fragments of glass 
bottles, earthen and China ware, and a stone, cut in 
imitation of a watch, were found. 

On Butternut creek south of Jamesville in the 
town of Lafayette, (formerly lot 3 in the town of 
Pompey) on the farm of Mr. O. M. Watkins, are the 
remains of an ancient fort and burying ground. The 
land here formerly belonged to Mr. Isaac Keeler. 
When he settled here the site of the old fort was 
an opening of about fifty acres, bearing grass with 
clumps of plum trees and a few scattering trees of 
the natural forest. Mr. Keeler left some of these 
plum trees standing and cultivated them, and found 
that they yielded very excellent fruit. On this open- 
ing was paraded the first regiment of militia organ- 
ized in the County of Onondaga, commanded by 
Major Moses De Witt. At that time the outlines 
of the fort were distinctly traceable. It had been 



34 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



enclosed with palisades of cedar, and contained about 
ten acres of land. The plan was that of a plain 
parallelogram divided across the shortest way in the 
middle by two rows of palisades running east and 
west. The space bctsvccn the rows was about 
twelve feel At the northwest corner was an 
isolated bastion and embrasure. 

This spot has been idcnliticd by General Clark as 
the home of the Onondagas from 1680 to 1720. and 
the spot on which stood the famous citadel burned by 
the Indians on the approach of Frontenac's army in 
1696. After the French invasion they returned 
and rebuilt upon the same spot, and the next spring 
planted the same corn fields which had been laid 
waste by their enemies. The situation of this an- 
cient fort was on an elevation gradually rising for 
nearly a mile in every direction, and at the time of 
its occupancy several hundred acres of land in the 
vicinity must have been cleared ; giving to the gar- 
rison an extensive prospect. Says Clark in his 
Onondaga : " Here in ancient times have undoubt- 
edly been marshaled with nodding plume and rat- 
tling cuirass, the troops of the French side by side 
with the dusky Onondagas, singularly contrasting 
their polished European weapons with the hickory 
bows and flint arrows of their allies." 

Among the relics found upon the site of this 
fort and in its vicinity, was a portion of a brass 
dial plate, engraved in Roman characters with 
the numerals from one to eight, a brass compass 
bo.x minus the needle, another more beautifully 
wrought, having on one side a representation of our 
Saviour and on the other Mary, the mother of Jesus, 
a balance beam eighteen inches long, a lead, oval 
shaped crucifix, an iron horse shoe, steel corked, with 
three elongated nail holes on each side, the workman- 
ship, probably, of some Canadian blacksmith, a brass 
shield, sword blades, sword guards, fragments of 
sword blades, gun locks, saws, surgical instruments, 
bracelets of brass three inches broad and highly orna- 
mented, and many other relics indicating the pres- 
ence of the French and the Jesuit missionaries. In 
1813, Mr. Isaac Keeler felled an oak tree near the 
site of the fort in which was found a leaden bullet 
covered by a hundred and forty-three cortical layers, 
— probably lodged there from a gun as early as 1667. 
There are evidences that light cannon were used at 
this and other similar places of fortification. On 
the land of Mr. Samuel A. Keene was plowed up 
an iron bombshell about the size of a six pound 
ball, weighing two and three-fourths pounds. Can- 
non balls of small size have been found in the east- 
ern part of Pompey. 

In the town of Elbridge were numerous evidences 



of ancient occupancy by the French. On lot 81, 
originally the farm of Squire Munro, was a fort 
situated on the high ground back of Mr. Munro's 
house. This fort was square, except on the west 
side, where the line was curved a little outward, and 
when examined by the first settlers in 1793, the 
ditch and embankments were covered with heavy 
timber. It enclosed about an acre and a quarter of 
ground, having a gateway on the west side about 
twelve feet in width. A very singular fact was ob- 
served by the early settlers, viz: That the ground 
in this vicinity, and in some other parts of the town, 
was literally covered with pitch pine knots, which 
lay strewn on the ground apparently in the same 
order in which they had fallen with the trees. Hun- 
dreds of wagon loads of these knots have been 
gathered for the purpose of making torches for 
fishing in the Seneca River. This is singular, as 
but one pitch-pine tree was known to the early set- 
tlers to exist in the town, and that was left standing 
for several years on account of its singularity. 

Northwest from the fort above mentioned, about 
one mile and a half, on what has been called the Purdy 
lot, is situated Fort Hill, containing another of these 
ancient works of much larger dimensions, having an 
area of about four and a half acres and embank- 
ments, when first discovered, about three feet high. 
It is situated on the highest elevation in the town. 
On this ground was disinterred an oaken chest in a 
decayed state, which upon examination was found 
to contain a quantity of silk goods of various colors. 
The folds and colors were easily distinguished, but 
after a moment's exposure to the air, the fabrics 
crumbled to dust. Several copper coins were found 
with the silks which were deposited in some museum 
in Albany or New York The discovery of these ar- 
ticles occurred about the year 1800. On lot 84, farm 
of Mr. Caleb Brown, about forty rods south of the 
road, in the town of Elbridge, was a circular fort 
which covered about three acres of ground. Pieces 
of timber were found here having upon them marks 
of iron tools. In a well about fourteen feet deep, 
which bore evidence of having been timbered up, 
was found a quantity of charred corn of the variety 
called Virginia corn ; and in another fort on the site 
of Mr. Brown's house and garden, including a por- 
tion of the highway, were found evidences of a 
blacksmith shop, such as cinders, charcoal, &c. 
The French, undoubtedly, had a trading post or 
missionary station in this neighborhood at an early 
time, no written record of which has been preserved. 

In the town of Salina, on lot 106, is found the 
ruins of an old fortification, probably that established 
in connection with the Mission of St. Marys of 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



35 



Ganentaha, founded in 1656. When the white 
people came to settle in the neighborhood of Salina, 
this ground was covered with small trees, apparent- 
ly a second growth, which had sprung up after the 
mission was abandoned. Judge Geddes, as reported 
by Mr. Clark, says: "In the summer of 1797, 
when the Surveyor-General laid out the salt lots, I 
officiated as deputy-surveyor, and when traversing 
the shores of Onondaga Lake, I found between 
Brown's pump works and Liverpool, the traces of an 
old stockade, which I surveyed and made a map of. 
Our opinion was, from the truth of the right angles, 
and other apparent circumstances, that it was a 
French work. A fine spring of water rises near 
by." The map made by Judge Geddes is in the 
Surveyor General's office at Albany, but a cut of 
the fort appears in Clark's Onondaga, page 147, 
second volume. 

On this ground have been plowed up bras3 ket- 
tles, gun barrels, musket balls, axes, grape shot, and 
a variety of other relics. In 1794, the ditch was 
easily to be traced, and some of the palisades were 
standing. The work embraced about half an acre 
of land, and from its location was a place of beauty, 
convenience and strength. Cultivation and time 
have removed all traces of its existence. There 
was an ancient burying ground at Green Point. 

When the first settlers came to the town of Onon- 
daga the pickets of an old fort were still standing 
and places visible where others had stood. At 
the corners were evident marks of a chimney and 
fire places, and also the ruins of a blacksmith shop. 
Cinders and a variety of tools belonging to the 
trade have at different times been plowed up, among 
which was a large and excellent anvil. Major Dan- 
forth once received a letter from an old Frenchman 
stating that he would find in the bank of the creek 
not far from his (Danforth's) house, a complete set 
of blacksmith's tools. Search was made for them, 
but they have never come to light. 

In 1798, on the west part of the farm after- 
wards occupied by Gilbert Pinckney, in the town 
of Onondaga, could be seen a trench about ten 
rods long, three feet deep and four feet wide at 
the top, on the border of a steep gulf and par- 
allel with it, apparently a work constructed for 
defence. In this locality have been found every vari- 
ety of Indian implement — arrow heads, spear points, 
knives of flint, stone axes, etc., and here also several 
burial places were known to the early settlers. In 
1815, on the farm of Joseph Forman, at Onondaga 
Hollow, was plowed up an oaken pail containing 
about four quarts of leaden bullets, supposed to 
have been buried during the Revolutionary war. 



On the premises of Judge Strong there was an old 
French burying ground, and several bodies were 
exhumed in excavating for the cellar of the Judge's 
residence in 18 16. Webster told Judge Strong that 
the Indians had a tradition that in one of their bat- 
tles with the French in the Hollow, which had been 
protracted and severe, the French removed their 
wounded to this spot, and here buried such as died. 
Among the most interesting relics of antiquity 
discovered in this county is the Dutch medal, 
so called, described by Mr. Clark in the following 
passage : " In July, 1S40, was found on the farm ot 
Mr. William Campbell, by his son, on lot No. 3, La- 
fayette, a silver medal about the size of a dollar and 
nearly as thick. On one side is a device surmounted 
by an angel on the wing, stretching forward with its 
left hand, looking down upon those below with a 
resolute, determined and commanding countenance. 
Far in the background is a lofty ridge of moun- 
tains. Just beneath and away in the distance is 
seen an Indian village or town, towards which the 
angel is steadily and earnestly pointing. Above 
this overhangs a slight curtain of cloud or smoke. 
Between the village and the mountains are scatter- 
ing trees, as if an opening had just been made in 
the forest ; nearer are seen various wild animals 
sporting gaily. In bolder relief are seen Europeans, 
in the costume of jDriests and pilgrims, with staves, 
exhibiting by their gestures and countenances hilari- 
ty, gladness and joy, winding their way up the gentle 
ascent towards the mountain, decreasing in size from 
the place of departure, until lost from view. Among 
them are wheel carriages and domestic animals, 
intermixed. On the right is a fair representation 
of a cottage, and a spacious commercial warehouse, 
against which are leaning sheaves of grain. The 
whole is surrounded by the following inscription in 
Dutch : Gehe aus deinem Vatter land, i b. 
M., XII., v. I, and at the bottom across, Lasst Hier 
Diegvter. On the opposite side there is a figure 
of the sun shining in meridian splendor, casting its 
noontide rays over a civilized town, represented by 
churches, stores, dwellings, &c., with various domes- 
tic animals and numerous persons engaged in hus- 
bandry and other pursuits. In bolder relief stand 
Europeans in the costume of the fifteenth and six- 
teenth centuries, engaged as if in animated and 
joyful conversation and greetings, and by various 
attitudes manifesting happiness and joy. On the 
right is represented a section of a church, at the 
door of which stands a venerable man with head 
uncovered, with his hands extended as if welcoming 
these persons to a new and happy habitation. This 
side is surrounded by the following inscription : 



36 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Vkd Dv Soli-t Ein Seeges Seyn, i b. Mos.. xii., 
V. 2, and acruss the bottom as follows : Gott Ginr 
Siewiedek. 

The interpretation of the first side is : Get thee 
out from thy country and friends, thou shall be 
truly a blessing. On the reverse side, which should 
be read in connection : Leaving thy goods behind 
thee, God will restore them to thee again. The 
small letters and figures on the right refer to the 
I St book of Genesis, XII chap., verses ist and 2d, 
which inscription on the medal was taken from 
those verses in the Dutch Hiblcs. 

It is in this chapter that God callcth Abraham and 
blesseth him with a promise of Christ ; promiseth 
him the land of Canaan in a vision, to which he 
departed with his kindred and friends and servants 
and there builded an altar unto the Lord. 

• • • « • 

"This medal must have been none other than 
one given by his countrymen, in Fatherland, to a 
devoted missionary, with a party of followers, in- 
tending to spend their days in America, the land 
of promise, the fruitful Canaan of modern times, 
who in the goodness of his heart, bent on doing the 
work of his divine master, at some early day 
wandered into the wilds of the Ononilagas, set up 
the cross (the Bethel of Abram,i and left this 
memento of his mission in the hands of some 
Neophyte, which by some unaccountable circum- 
stances has been buried we know not how long, 
but now comes to light to prove to us that the 
aborigines of our country were a people whose 
spiritual welfare was regarded as sincerely by the 
Dutch as by their more ostentatious neighbors, the 
French. It is much to be regretted that on this 
and all other medals there is no date whereby to 
establish their particular-period of antitjuity. This 
is by far the most singular and interesting relic of 
the kind which has come under our notice, and goes 
positively to establish the hitherto doubtful point, 
to wit : The early establishment of missionaries 
by the Dutch among the Onondagas." 

The suggestion of Mr. Clark in a foot note that 
this medal may have been a relic of the Zeisberger 
Mission of 1750, is worthy of weight as being 
probably the true solution of the problem. 

Tlic presentation of medals to the Indians was 
undoubtedly a very common practice among the 
missionaries and traders.' A valuable cross of gold 
was several years ago found in the west part of 
Pompey, and was sold for thirty dollars. It had 
upon it the significant " I. H. S."* 

• Jciui Hominum Salvitor, or Jetui Savior of Men. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Internal Navigation — The Old Canal — Ori- 
gin OF THE Erie Canal — Part Taken in it by 
Eminent Men of Onondaga County — Its 
Completion and Advantages. 

THE old system of internal navigation origi- 
nated by Mr. Christopher Colles, of New 
York, in 1785, and completed under the auspices of 
the Western Inland Lock and Navigation Company 
in the year 1800, was a great work for its day. It 
consisted of the construction of a canal and locks 
around Little Falls on the Mohawk River, the open- 
ing of a canal from the Mohawk at Rome (then 
Fort Stanwi,\) to Wood Creek, connecting thence 
with Oneida Lake, and the improvement of naviga- 
tion in the Oswego and Seneca Rivers. The Com- 
pany, in order to complete this work, borrowed of the 
State in 1796, fifteen thousand pounds, and in 1797, 
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. What 
is now known as the " Old Canal" in some locali- 
ties is the remnant of this ancient improvement, 
which fell into disuse when the Eric Canal was built. 
It was in its day a very useful impro%ement and 
aided greatly in the settlement and development 
of the resources of Central and Western New York. 
Many a pioneer and his family were conveyed over 
that old thoroughfare to their new homes among 
the lakes and sylvan seclusions of the western wil- 
derness ; many a cargo of merchandise was shipped 
over it and freight of produce sent to market, till 
the growing population and commerce demanded 
ampler and more extended facilities for transporta- 
tion. 

From 1807 till after the war of 18 12-14, the pro- 
ject of a new canal connecting the navigable waters 
of the Hudson with Lake Erie was extensively agi- 
tated. The origin of the idea of this magnificent 
enterprise is attributed to Gouverneur Morris, who 
in a conversation with the Surveyor-General, Simeon 
DeWilt, in 1S03, remarked: " Lake Erie must be 
tapped and its waters carried over the country to 
the Hudson." 

So great was the interest of the people of Onon- 
daga in this proposed canal, that in 1807 they elected 
Judge Joshua F'orman to the State Legislature with 
express reference to his introducing the subject be- 
fore that body. He was a man eminently qualified 
for the work, and by his able and indefatigable sup- 
port of the measure from its very inception, did 
more than any other man to bring it to a successful 
consummation. While in the Legislature in Feb- 
ruary, 1808, he secured the passage of a joint reso- 
lution ordering a survey and the appointment of a 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



37 



joint committee of both houses, consisting of Messrs. 
Gold, Gilbert, German, Hogeboom and Forman, 
of the House, and Messrs. Taylor, Nicholas and 
Ward of the Senate. This committee being pre- 
disposed in favor of the Oswego route, left it op- 
tional with the Surveyor-General to either adopt 
that or any other route he might deem proper. The 
result was that tliree routes were surveyed and re- 
ported upon by the Engineer, Judge James Geddes, 
whose connection with the survey of this great en- 
terprise is briefly as follows : 

On the iith of April, 1808, a law was passed 
authorizing the Surveyor-General to draw upon the 
Treasury of the State for such an amount as might 
be required to prosecute the survey contemplated 
by the joint committee, not exceeding in the whole 
the sum of six Itiaidred dollars ; and this was all 
that was appropriated for the first exploration and 
survey of the grand Erie Canal ! Upon this the 
Surveyor-General appointed James Geddes, Esq., of 
Onondaga, to make, the survey, and in his com- 
mission and instructions to Mr. Geddes, makes 
these remarks : " As the provision made for the 
expenses of this business is not adequate to the 
effectual exploring of the country for this purpose, 
you will, in the first place, examine what may 
appear to be the best route for a canal from Oneida 
Lake to Lake Ontario, in the town of Mexico, and 
take a level and survey of it ; also whether a canal 
cannot be made between the Oneida Lake and 
OsYvfego by a route in part to the west of the 
Oswego River, so as to avoid those parts along it 
where it will be impracticable to make a good 
navigation. The next object will be the ground 
between Lakes Erie and Ontario, which must be 
examined with a view to determine what will be the 
most eligible track for a canal from below Niagara 
Falls to Lake Erie. If your means will admit of it, 
it would be desirable to have a level taken through- 
out the whole distance between the lakes." The 
Surveyor-General refrains from instructing Mr. 
Geddes to make an interior survey, because of the 
insufficiency of the appropriation for that purpose. 
Mr. Clark says in a note : " Mr. Geddes' expenses 
exceeded the appropriation by seventy-five dollars, 
which sum was afterwards allowed by the Legisla- 
ture, so that the whole engineer's expenses for this 
exploration cost the State of New York only six 
hundred and seventy-five dollars, an investment 
made by the State which, for profit and importance, 
will probably never be exceeded." 

Mr. Geddes entered with zeal and earnestness 
upon his duties, and in 1809 submitted his report 
of three different routes : the first, a communication 



between Lake Oneida and Lake Ontario ;, second, 
the Niagara River route ; and third, an interior 
route, without descending to, or passing through, 
Lake Ontario. 

In comparing the Ontario with the interior route, 
the report was strongly in favor of the latter. In 
addition, Mr. Geddes was directed to examine by 
inspection a canal route from Lake Erie to Genesee 
River, and thence to the waters running east to the 
Seneca River, and gather all the information in his 
power for the prosecution of the great work, should 
the Legislature think best to provide for it. The 
report was favorable on the practicability of an inte- 
rior route from Lake Erie ; and it is worthy of re- 
mark that Judge Geddes' plan and route were mainly 
followed in the final location of the canal* The 
country from the Seneca River, in the Cayuga Val- 
ley, to the Mohawk River at Rome, and thence to 
the Hudson River, was so well known as to leave 
no apprehension of insuperable difficulties. Thus 
by the operations of 1808, through the instrumen- 
tality of the true men of Onondaga, the fact was 
satisfactorily established that a canal from the Hud- 
son River to Lake Erie was not only practicable, 
but practicable with uncommon facility, f In Jan- 
uary, 1809, in company with William Kirkpatrick, 
then member of Congress from Oneida county. 
Judge Forman waited on President Jefferson and 
informed him that in view of his proposition to ex- 
pend the surplus revenues of the nation in making 
roads and canals, the State of New York had ex- 
plored the route of a canal from the Hudson River 
to Lake Erie, and had found it practicable ; and 
when Mr. Forman had laid all the estimates, plans 
surveys, descriptions and anticipated advantages 
before Mr. Jefferson, and portrayed its commercial 
prospects and the advantages which would accrue 
to the United States as well as to the State of New 
York, the President very coolly replied : " It is a 
splendid project, and may be executed a century 
hence. Why, sir," said he, " here is a canal of a few 
miles, projected by General Washington, which, if 
completed, would render this a fine commercial city, 
which has languished for many years because the 
small sum of two hundred thousand dollars neces- 
sary to complete it cannot be obtained from the 
general government nor from individuals ; and you 
talk of making a canal tliree hundred and fifty miles 
through a wilderness. It is little short of madness 
to think of it at this day."J 

The favorable and satisfactory reports of Judge 

* See Biography of Hon. James Geddes. 

\ Clark's Onondaga. 

\ Hosack's Life of Clinton, p. 347. 



38 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NKW YORK. 



Gcddcs secured in 1810 the appointment by the 
Legislature of a Hoard of Commissioners comjwsed 
of Gouvcrncur Morris, Stephen Van Rensselaer 
DeWitt Clinton. Simeon DeWitt. William North. 
Thomas Eddy and Peter H. I'ortcr, to whom were 
afterwards added Robert R. Livingston and Robert 
Fulton. These gentlemen were instructed to ex- 
plore the inland navigation route, and they reported 
favorably the next year. The next point was to 
obtain a competent engineer to lay out the Erie 
Canal. Where should they apply ? Supposing 
there was not a suitable man in America to accom- 
plish the great task, they applied through an 
American gentleman at London for the services of 
William Weston, then considered the most accom- 
plished engineer in Euroi^c. oflering as a maximum 
salary seven thousand dollars a year." F'ortunatcly, 
Mr. Weston's engagements were such that he 
thought proper to decline. In this dilemma James 
Gcddcs and l^cnjamin Wright, Esqrs., held a con- 
sultation and agreed to go before the Hoard of Canal 
Commissioners and ofi'er to survey the canal route 
jirovidcd they would give them their confidence. 
The proposition was accepted, and they were en- 
gaged on a salary of fifteen hundred dollars a year. 
" It may be considered," says Clark, " a fortunate 
circumstance that Mr. Weston did not accc])t the 
offer of the Canal Commissioners. Hecatisc, from 
the ostentation usually displayed by foreign engi- 
neers and the great expense attending their move- 
ments, the jieople of this frugal and republican 
country would have bccf>mc discouraged, and it is 
more than jjrobable the work would have been 
abandoned or at least indefinitely deferred. It is 
worthy of remark that the engineers employed on 
the lirie and Champlain Canals were Americans, 
except in two instances, where a French and an Irish 
gentleman were employed in subordinate stations 
for less than a year." 

After another ineffectual attempt to enlist Con- 
gress in the work, the Commissioners, in March, 
1 81 2, made a report "That tio7f sound jmlicy de- 
manded that the canal should be made by the State 
of New York on her own account." The war of 
1812 caused a susjicnsion of the project till the ses- 
sion of the Legislature in 1816, at which time a 
memorial was presented to tlie Legislature, signed 
by more than one hundred thousand jiersons from 
New York and the counties through which the pro- 
posed canals should pass, calling upon its members 
to pass laws to prosecute the work without delay 

* Mr. Wolon hid luncjrnl the route and lock* of (he Old Canal I'ur 
(he inland Lock and Navigatian Company around Little Fallt and from 
Fort Stanwii to Wood Creek, in I7tl. 



A large meeting ol the citizens of Onondaga county 
was held at the Court House on the 23d of February, 
1816. A preliminary meeting had been previously 
held at which Judge Forman had been appointed a 
committee to prepare a memorial to the Legislature. 
This memorial was read by Judge F'orman at the 
meeting, and approved by acclamation. A com- 
mittee was appointed to circulate it throughout the 
county, consisting of Daniel Kellogg, of Marcellus ; 
Gideon Wilcoxon, Camillus ; Jonas C. Haldwin, 
Lysander ; Ashbel Kellogg, Salina ; John Leach, 
Cicero; Sylvanus Tousley, Manlius; Harnet 
Mooney, Hannibal ; Daniel Wood, Pompey ; Marcus 
Adams, Fabius ; Ashel Rouiuly. Spafford ; Garret 
Van Hoesen, TuUy ; and Joshua Forman, of Onon- 
daga ; adding the chairman and secretar)' : Signed, 
James Geddes, chairman : Jasper Hopper, secre- 
tary. Over three thousand names were subscribed 
to this memorial. The memorial, which was drawn up 
with great ability, contemplated $io,cxX),ooo for the 
cost of the canal, covering all possible contingencies. 
Of this it charged the State of New York with 
$2,500,000 ; the United States with $2,500,000 ; 
the State of Ohio. §1,000,000; the City of New 
York and counties contiguous to the canal, $2,000,- 
000 ; and private stock holders, $2,000,000. 

The Legislature authorized a loan on the credit 
of the State of a million of dollars, and the section 
from Rome to the Seneca River was fixed upon as 
the first to be commenced. 

In 1816, Judge Geddes made another report of 
the state and general view of the country from 
Hlack Rock Rapids to the Cayuga Marshes, and 
Henjamin Wright, Esq , upon the same subject from 
the Cayuga Marshes to Rome, and thence through 
the Mohawk Valley to Albany. The attempt made 
to enlist Congress in 1817 again failed and the 
State of New York was thrown upon her own 
resources. A thorough examination was made of 
the route, and revised estimates placed the cost of 
the entire canal at five millions dollars. The route 
was divided into three sections. The levels and 
surveys of the previous year were reviewed In 
order to test their accuracy and correctness, Mr. 
Geddes started from a jjoint near the west end of 
Oneida Lake, and taking the lake on a still day as 
a level, carried a line of levels up to the canal line 
on the long level east of Syracuse, and thence 
working eastward laid off sections on the canal 
line. Mr. Wright, starting from a point cast for the 
east end of Oneida Lake, in like manner carried a 
level along the line of the canal westward, and the 
Commissioners remark, that when the level of Mr. 
Wright had been carried to the place where Mr. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



39 



Geddes had terminated his line, the levels of these 
two engineers, which embraced a distance of 
nearly one hundred miles, differed from each other 
less than one inch and a half This result exhibits 
in the engineers a degree of care, skill and preci-- 
sion never exceeded. 

The first contract was dated June 27, 181 7. The 
remaining part of the middle section was under 
contract soon after. The excavation was com- 
menced at Rome with appropriate ceremonies, July 
4, 1817. The first contract was given to Judge 
John Richardson, of Cayuga. " It is perhaps," re- 
marks Clark,* " a singular coincidence that the first 
movement in the halls of legislation relative to the 
Erie Canal, was made by a member from Onondaga, 
— that the first exploration was made by an engi- 
neer of Onondaga,— that the first contract was 
given to, and the first ground broken by a contrac- 
tor who had been several years a resident of Onon- 
daga, and all of whom had been Judges of our coun- 
ty courts and members of the Legislature from 
Onondaga County." 

Governor Clinton, in his annual message of 1820, 
reported ninety-four miles completed on the middle 
section from Utica to the Seneca River, including a 
lateral canal to Salina. By the opening of this por- 
tion of the canal, the resources of Onondaga County 
were more fully ascertained and developed. Her 
salt, gypsum and lime found their way to a ready 
market, and the produce of the agriculturist an 
outlet, affording more ample remuneration for labor ; 
a new and vigorous impulse was given to her 
advancement and prosperity, which placed her 
among the first counties of the Empire State — a 
position she is destined long to enjoy. Notwith- 
standing these favorable results there were not 
wanting narrow minded and selfish men actively 
engaged to defeat the further progress of the work. 
Many argued that the income of the whole canal 
would not equal the cost of the part already com- 
pleted. Local feelings had to be combatted, preju- 
dices overcome, indignities borne, and every species 
of contumely and perverseness encountered by the 
supporters of the enterprise. But with a devo- 
tion above all praise, the commissioners and advo- 
cates of the work faltered not, till finally, in Novem- 
ber, 1825 — a period of eight years and four months 
from the time of beginning — it was proclaimed 
to the world that the waters of Lake Erie were con- 
nected with those of the Hudson River, without 
one foot of portage, through one of the longest ca- 
nals in the world ; and the cost, according to the 
books of the Comptroller, including the Champlain 

* 2 Onondaga, p. 6i. 



Canal, was $8,273,122.66, and is considered one of 
the most stupendous and magnificent works of this 
or any age. 

If the canal has benefited the people of Onon- 
daga, the men of Onondaga were the principal pro- 
moters of the undertaking in all its incipient steps. 
It was Judge Geddes, of Onondaga, who traversed 
the wilderness of Western New York, and gathered 
all the materials and reported all the facts upon 
which statistics were based, and Joshua Forman, of 
Onondaga, who from the beginning was the uncom- 
promising, unflinching defender and eloquent ad- 
vocate of the great work ; and it was not until after 
these men had labored long and faithfully in the 
cause, that the giant intellect and master mind of 
DeWitt Clinton was aroused to a sense of the im- 
portance of this magnificent undertaking. These 
two men of Onondaga, from the beginning to the 
end, were intimately connected with the work, in 
fact, identical with it and indispensable to it. They 
labored faithfully and effectually throughout — 
Judge Geddes as an able engineer. Judge Forman as 
the unwavering promoter of its utility. These two 
men furnished more solid information relative to the 
canal than all others put together. Till they took 
hold of it, the whole matter was considered by most 
men but an idle dream, a delusion, a false, unfeasible 
project.* 

The fathers of this stupendous work should be 
forever venerated for their perseverance in over- 
coming the opposition they had to contend against, 
both from individuals and from the infancy of the 
country they had to penetrate and to depend upon 
for the means of making the enterprise a success. 
We must always admire genius struggling against 
fate, with a lofty and enthusiastic purpose which 
scorns all defeat, triumphs over all obstacles and 
conquers even fate itself, in the contest. A few 
miles of aqueduct constructed by the wealthy east- 
ern nations in the height of their prosperity have 
called forth our admiration as a great achievement. 
But what nation in its youth has ever had the 
courage to undertake three liundred and fifty miles of 
canal, without having even an engineer of their 
own till the event developed and brought him for- 
ward, equal to the great task .' It has been truly 
said that great occasions produce great men. And 
it was so in this case. When the work was to be 
done, and foreign assistance could not be procured, 
the men were found, on the spot where the enter- 
prise was to be undertaken, able and willing to carry 
it on to its grand consummation. 

The first ground broken on the Erie Canal in the 



* I Clark's Onondaga, p. 63. 



40 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



county of Onondaga, was by Mr. Elias Gumaer, in 
the town of Manlius. Oliver Teall, Esq., took 
several contracts in the eastern part of the county. 
Messrs. Northrupand Dexter, and Jeremiah Kecler, 
built a section or two through Syracuse. Hazard 
Lewis, of Binghamton. built the locks. The first 
locks were built of Elbridgc sandstone. Commis- 
sioners, builders and masons had no idea that the 
Onondaga limestone could be cut for facing stones 
for locks, so little was this valuable material then 
understood. 

After the water was let in, for a long time it 
would not flow farther east on the Syracuse level 
than the Stone Bridge It all disappeared in a bed 
of loose gravel. This difficulty, however, was after 
a while remedied, and all went well. The first boats 
used were the Mohawk boats, with wide walking 
boards for poling up the Mohawk River. 

Oliver Tcall was appointed the first Superin- 
tendent of the Erie Canal, and Joshua Forman, 
the first Collector ; office at Syracuse. 

The leveling instrument used by Judge Geddes 
in surveying the Erie Canal was the same one used 
by Abraham Hardcnburgh, under the superintend- 
ence of William Weston, the celebrated English 
engineer, when he surveyed the route of the " Old 
Canal "in 1788 It was made by David Ritten- 
house, of rhiladclphia, and is now in the possession 
of Hon. George Geddes, of Camillus. 

One circumstance which greatly facilitated the 
successful completion of the Erie Canal was the 
discovery, at an opportune moment, in this locality, 
of water lime, or American Hydraulic Cement. 
The first works of masonry on the canal had been 
done with common quicklime, which proved unsub- 
stantial on exposure to water, and was, therefore, 
unsuitable for culverts and aqueducts. A kiln 
sup|)osed to be of common limestone was burnt and 
some of the lime delivered to the contractors on 
the middle division of the canal. To their astonish- 
ment, they found on experiment, that it would not 
slake like ordinary quicklime This led to an in- 
vestigation which resulted in the discovery of the 
hydraulic properties of the lime, now so famous as 
an article of export from this county. To Mr. 
Canvass White, who spent much time and means 
in testing its qualities, is due the merit of bringing 
this valuable cement into general use. After 1819, 
all the mason work on the canal was laid in water 
lime. 

It may be well to record the fact that Mr. Obediah 
Parker, who resided on the old flat of Lodi, now in 
the Eighth Ward of Syracuse, received a gold 
medal from the American Institute for the applica- 



tion of water lime to the construction of cisterns 
about the year 1830. 

CHAPTER X. 

Okganizatios of Colkts — First Court of Com- 
mon Pleas — Courts Undf.r Herkimer Cou.ntv 
Jurisdiction — First Judges and Officers- 
First Grand and Petit Jurors — Erection of 
County Buildings. 

IN 1794. after the Military Tract had been set 
ofT from Herkimer, and organized into a coun- 
ty by itself. Courts of Common Pleas and of General 
Sessions of the Peace were established by law. 
These courts were ordered to be held alternately on 
the first Mondays in May and November in each 
year, at the house of Reuben Patterson, in the town 
of Manlius, and at the house of Seth Phelps, in the 
town of Scipio, commencing with the first named. 
Mr. Patterson then kept a tavern at Onondaga Hol- 
low, which at that tmie was a part of Manlius. 
These terms were to be held only for the space of 
one week. 

While Onondaga was included in Herkimer coun- 
ty, courts were held in the church at Herkimer 
\'illage till other provisions were made by the Legis- 
lature. Col. Henri Staring was appointed first 
Judge. He was a man of remarkable honesty and 
integrity, though of limited education. Many 
amusing anecdotes are told of his manner of ad- 
ministering justice Michael Myers was one of his 
associates, and filled many offices of note while the 
Military Tract was a part of Herkimer county. 

In 1793, one term of the court for Herkimer was 
directed to be held at Whitestown, at such place as 
the court should direct. The first court held under 
this provision was in the late Judge Sanger's barn, 
Judge Staring presiding, assisted by Judge White. 
The late Judge Piatt was then Clerk of Herkimer 
County, and the ShcrifT. Col. William Colbraith. the 
first SherilT who ever served a process in the Mili- 
tary Tract. He was a jolly, good humored man, 
and withal a lover of fun. He had seen some ser- 
vice in the Revolution, but had acquired his title as 
a militia officer subsequent to that war. 

Before a Court House was erected in Onondaga 
County, civil and criminal prisoners were ordered 
to be confined in the jail of Herkimer County until 
a jail could be provided in the County of Onondaga. 

The first court held in the County under the or- 
ganization was in General Danforth's corn house, 
first Monday in May, 1794. Present, Seth Phelps, 
first Judge; John Richardson, Silas Halsey and 
William Stevens, Judges. Moses De Witt, Esq.. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



41 



was appointed Judge of Onondaga Common Pleas ; 
not present. Thomas R. Gould and Arthur Breeze 
were the only lawyers then present, not one at that 
time having established himself in the County. 

The first Court of Oyer and Terminer for the 
County of Onondaga, was held at the house of Asa 
Danforth, Esq., (afterwards Reuben Patterson's,) on 
the 2 1st of July, 1794. Present, Hon. Egbert 
Benson, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of 
Judicature for the State of New York, assisted 
by Seth Phelps and Andrew Englis, Justices 
of Oyer and Terminer and General Jail Delivery 
for the County of Onondaga. Lawyers were in at- 
tendance at this court from Whitestown and Her- 
kimer. The grand jurors were as follows : Comfort 
Tyler, Isaac Van Vleck, Elias Fitch, Moses Carpen- 
ter, William Ward, Jonathan Wilkinson, Cyrus 
Kinne, Sieur Curtis, Victory S. Tousley, Amos 
Stanton, Henry Moore, James Geddes, Ryal Bing- 
ham, Reuben Patterson. " Judge Benson made an 
eloquent charge to the Grand Jury." The only bill 
of indictment found was against James Fitzgerald 
for assault and battery with intent to rob Andrew 
McCarthy. The Petit Jurors on this first criminal 
trial were : John Brown, William Linsley, Thomas 
Morgan, Henry Watkins, Benjamin De Puy, Nehe- 
miah Smith, Isaac Strong, John A. Thompson, 
Noah Olmsted, Isaac Bailey, William Stevens, and 
Thomas Ozman, who found the prisoner guilty. 
He was sentenced by the Court to two months' im- 
prisonment in the Herkimer jail. The Court fined 
nineteen petit jurors twenty shillings each, four grand 
jurors and two constables each the same sum. John 
Stowell, William Goodwin, Perry Brownell, justices 
of the peace, were each fined thirty shillings for ab- 
sence. 

The next term of the Circuit Court was held at 
the house of Seth Phelps in Scipio, 7th September, 
1795. Present Hon. John Lansing, Judge of the 
Supreme Court, Seth Phelps, John Richardson, W' il- 
liam Stevens, Judges of Onondaga County Common 
Pleas. The following absent justices of the peace 
were severally fined thirty shillings : John A. 
Sheaffer, William Goodwin, John Stowell, Cyrus 
Kinne, Hezekiah Olcott, Daniel Keeler, Ryal Bing- 
ham and Ozias Burr. John A. Sheaffer was indicted 
for forgery. He forfeited his recognizance, and left, 
(estreated.)* ! 

Hon. Egbert Benson held the ne.xt Circuit Court ! 
at the house of Reuben Patterson, June 14, 1797, 
assisted by Seth Phelps, William Stevens, Asa Dan- 
forth and Comfort Tyler, judges and justices of 
Oyer and Terminer for the County of Onondaga. ! 

* Clark. 1 

6* 



Grand Jury : Ozias Burr, foreman ; James Geddes, 
Ephraim Webster, Bethel Cole, Robert Earll, John 
Curtiss, Joseph Leonard, Levi Jerome, David Green, 
John Lamb, William Rice, Jonathan Coe, Joseph 
Cody, Peter Lawrence, William Cobb, Irad Smith. 
No bills of indictment found at this term. 

Hon. James Kent, judge, held the next Circuit 
at the house of Seth Phelps, Scipio, June 12, 1798, 
assisted by Seth Phelps, William Stevens, Seth 
Sherwood, judges of Common Pleas for Onondaga 
County. 

Cayuga County was set off in 1799. The first 
Court in Onondaga after this was held at the house 
of Reuben Patterson, June, 1799. Present, William 
Stevens, first judge, assisted by Elijah Rust, James 
Geddes, Orris Curtiss, James Keep and Jeremiah 
Gould, associates. 

Courts were held at different houses in Onondaga 
Hollow, viz : Asa Danforth's, Reuben Patterson's, 
Samuel Tyler's and John Adams' — from 1794 to 
1805, when the Court House at Onondaga Hill was 
so far completed as to allow of the Courts being held 
therewith the legislative provision for adjourning to 
any other house, if the weather was so inclement as 
to render it uncomfortable at the Court House. 

In 1 801, Elihu Lewis, Jabez Webb and Thaddeus 
M. Wood were appointed Commissioners for the 
purpose of erecting a Court House and Jail for the 
county of Onondaga. It was determined by vote to 
locate them at Onondaga West Hill. The Com- 
missioners commenced by contracting with William 
Bostwick of Auburn to put up the frame and en- 
close the house. This was done in 1802, and closed 
Mr. Bostwick's contract. Previous to raising the 
house the people of the Hill collected together and 
made a " bee " for the purpose of cutting away the 
trees to make room for the new building. The 
square was at that time covered with a heavy growth 
of timber. In order to have the use of the Court 
House, a temporary floor and seats were put in it 
and the courts held there till the commencement of 
1804. The county then began to feel able to finish 
the court room and jailor's dwelling. The Com- 
missioners contracted with Mr. Abel House to do 
the carpenter work inside, leaving out the cells, and 
with a Mr. Sexton, of New Hartford, to do the 
mason work; and Mr. Ephraim Webster was to 
furnish the brick for the chimneys. The court 
room and dwelling were completed during that sea- 
son. After a year or two, preparations were com- 
menced for building the cells of the jail. A con- 
tract was made with Roswell and Sylvanus Tousley, 
of Manlius, for the iron work, at a price of two shil- 
lino-s per pound. The cells were finished in 18 10. 



42 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



In 1804 the county of Oneida had completed a 
jail in the town of Whitcsboro, to which the 
criminals of this county were transferred till the 
Onondaga county jail was finished, the Legislature 
having previously passed an act granting this 
county the right to use the nearest jail. 

The jail at Onondaga Hill was a wooden building 
fifty feet square, two stories high, with a square 
roof pitching four ways to the eaves. It was not 
at first painted ; this finishing touch was done by 
subscription, some years afterwards, by the people 
of Onondaga Hill. The first story was appropri- 
ated for the jail and dwelling of the jailor, a hall 
separating them from each other. The cells were 
constructed of heavy oak jtlank, fastened together 
with wrought iron spikes. The doors were made 
of like material, having a rhomboidal aperture in 
the center through which to pass the food, and to 
give light to the prisoners. In the rear of the cells 
were grated windows. 

The court room was reached by a stairway lead- 
ing from the hall. The judge's bench was directly 
in front of the entrance to the court room and was 
constructed in a circular form. The whole cost of 
the building was Sio,ooo. This court house and 
jail were used for the purpose designed till the 
year iS.!9 The first jailor was James Beebc, a 
revolutionary soldier, and father of Mrs. Victory 
Birdseye, of Pompcy. His successor was Mason 
Butts, father of Horace Butts, who was jailor after 
the removal of the county buildings to Syracuse. 
John H. Johnson, Esq., also acted as jailor there for 
several years. 

In 1825, movements began to be made for the 
removal of the county buildings to Syracuse, which 
had grown to be the largest village in the county. 
The people of Onondaga Hill strongly opposed the 
measure, and in 1825 succeeded in getting a bill 
through the Legislature for the retention of the 
buildings at that place. The bill, however, was 
vetoed by Governor Clinton, but the project did not 
sleep. In 1827 a law was enacted authorizing the 
Board of Supervisors to erect a Court House and 
Jail within the corporate limits of Syracuse. In 
the summer of 1828, the Supervisors met, in pur- 
suance of law, at the Syracuse House to take into 
consideration the selection of a site for the proposed 
buildings, and to make the necessary arrangements 
for their erection. At the meeting there was a great 
deal of discussion and a wide difference of opinion 
relative to the site of the buildings. This was 
finally settled by taking a vote, which resulted in 
placing the county seat midway between the vil- 
lages of Syracuse and Salina, in consideration of 



the village of Salina presenting to the county a 
full and unincumbered title to the property, consist- 
ing of not less than three acres, and $1,000. At 
this meeting the Building Commissioners were ap- 
pointed : John Smith, Thomas Starr and Samuel 
Forman ; with power to cause plans and specifica- 
tions to be made and to contract for the erection of 
the buildings. The County Treasurer was also em- 
powered to borrow $20,000, in two annual install- 
ments of $10,000 each. In the spring of 1829, the 
bids were received, according to the plans and 
specifications of the Commissioners. Mr. John 
Wall obtained the contract for building the Jail, 
which was erected by him early in the year 1S29. 
The cells in this Jail were of the strongest kind. 
After it was taken down, they were placed in the 
basement of the new Court House on Clinton 
Square. L. A. Cheney and Samuel Booth ob- 
tained the contract for doing the mason work on 
the Court House, and David Stafford for doing the 
carpenter work. It was erected and enclosed in 
1829. The following year it was finished by Mr. 
Wall and ready for occupation by the courts. The 
cost of the buildings was upwards of $27,000. 

The Jail was of stone, fifty feet square and two 
stories high, with a hall and stairway in the center. 
The south half contained the jailor's dwelling, the 
north half the cells for prisoners, the second story 
above these being devoted to cells for debtors, 
witnesses, &c. The Court House was of brick, 
si.xty feet square and two stories high, fronted on 
the west side with a row of large columns. The 
first story was divided by halls into four apart- 
ments, one in each corner, for the use of grand and 
petit juries and other purposes. The Court Room 
occupied all of the second story, except the landing 
of the stairs and two petit jury rooms. The Judge's 
seat was on the south side opposite the landing of 
the stairway. 

The Jail was abandoned in 1850, after the erec- 
tion of the I'cnitentiary, and the removal of the 
jail prisoners to that institution. The materials 
were used in the construction of the work-shops of 
the Penitentiary and in the new Court House. 

New Coi;rt House. — Attempts were made 
from time to time to change the site of the Court 
House, but they all failed until after the destruction 
of the old building by fire, on the morning of the 
5th of January, 1856. The expectation that was 
entertained when the site between the two villages 
was selected, that business would naturally center 
around the Court House, was never realized, and 
hence it was not accessible to the public. The in- 
] convenience, however, was submitted to about 




COUffT HOUSE, SYRACUSE, Onond/ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



43 



twenty years, before any serious attempt was made 
to change the site. General Granger submitted a 
proposition to the Board of Supervisors to the 
effect that he would build a good court house on 
any lot in the heart of the city that might 
be designated, in consideration of the con- 
veyance to him of the old Court House site and 
^20,000 in cash. But his offer received little favor 
at the hands of the Board. During the session of 
the Board in 1853, the subject was again introduced 
by Hon. Sanford C. Parker, Supervisor from Van 
Buren, who proposed a resolution that the county 
should unite with the city in the erection of an 
edifice of sufficient dimensions for a Court House, 
Clerk's Offices, City Hall, &c. But the subject was 
not further considered till the meeting of the Board 
in December, 1855, at which time Mr. Midler, Super- 
visor from DeW'itt, moved a resolution to instruct 
the " Committee on Court House and Clerk's Office 
to examine and report to this Board the expense of 
building a new Court House, and what the premises 
where the old one stands will sell for." This reso- 
lution was adopted without objection. The com- 
mittee, consisting of T. C. Cheney, E. A. Williams, 
and Joel Fuller, proceeded to discharge the duties 
imposed upon them by the Board, and on the 7th of 
December submitted their report, recommending 
the appointment of a committee of three to exam- 
ine and report upon a suitable site for a new Court 
House, and plans and estimates for its erection. 
This report was laid on the table till the 14th of 
December, when it was adopted by a vote of fifteen 
to nine of the Board of Supervisors, and the follow- 
ing committee appointed : T. C. Cheney, Luke 
Wells and D. T. Moseley. Mr. Wells subsequently 
declined to serve, and Mr. Patten, of Salina, was 
substituted in his place. This committee was 
■divided, making a majority and a minority report ; 
the latter by Mr. Moseley, against a change of loca- 
tion, being adopted by the Board. Thus the matter 
stood, when the burning of the old Court House on 
the 5th of February, set the question of a new build- 
ing at rest. The Board was called together on the 
13th of February, and a committee consisting of 
T. C. Cheney, George Stevens and William F. Gere 
was appointed to report at the next meeting. The 
Board met again on the 14th of April, when a ma- 
jority of the committee — Messrs. Stevens and 
Cheney — reported in favor of changing the Court 
House site and the erection of a new building. Mr. 
Gere was in favor of the old site, and was sustained 
by the Board upon the vote being taken. On the 
following day the Board adopted a resolution offered 
by Mr. Chapman, of Onondaga, " that if an equal 



exchange (with Colonel Voorhees,) of the present 
Court House site for the lot on Clinton Square 
can be effected, this Board will order the exchange." 
Upon motion of Mr. Barrows, T. C. Cheney, Elizur 
Clark and Bradley Carey were appointed a commit- 
tee " to prepare plans, specifications and estimates 
for a Court House, and report at a future meet- 
ing." At a meeting of the Board on the 28th of 
April, the committee submitted their report, show- 
ing that they had made favorable terms with Col- 
onel Voorhees for the exchange of lots, and recom- 
mending a plan previously submitted to the Board, 
drawn by Mr. H. N. White, architect, of this 
city. They estimated the cost of the building, on 
the plan proposed, at §38,000, including old mate- 
rial. In preference to brick, they recommended 
Onondaga limestone, as " most appropriate and 
much more durable." This report was signed by 
the entire committee and favorably received by the 
members of the Board. The question of changing 
the site was then submitted in a resolution offered 
by Mr. Palmer, which was carried almost unani- 
mously, only one member voting in the negative. 
The plan of the building presented by the commit- 
tee was then adopted, and Messrs. Slocum, Johnson 
and District Attorney Andrews, directed to execute 
papers for an exchange of sites with Col. Voorhees. 
The next day Timothy C. Chene}', Luke Wells and 
D. C. Greenfield, were appointed a committee to 
superintend the erection of the building ; and Hora- 
tio X. \\'hite, architect. At a subsequent meeting 
of the Board in June, the proposals for the erection 
of the building, advertised for by the commission- 
ers, were opened, and the contract awarded to 
Messrs. Cheney and W'ilcox at $37,750, the con- 
tractors to have the material of the old court house 
and jail. Mr. Cheney thereupon resigned his place 
as Commissioner, and Elizur Clark was appointed 
to fill the vacancy. The cut stone work of the 
building was let by the contractors to Messrs. 
Spaulding & Pollock, the carpenter and joiner work 
to Messrs. Coburn & Hurst, and the iron work to 
Messrs, Featherly, Draper & Cole. The building 
was finished and occupied in 1857. It is a beauti- 
ful and substantial structure of Onondaga grey lime- 
stone, a credit to the county and an ornament to the 
city. 

The County Clerk's Office, a fire proof brick 
building, on North Salina street, corner of Church, 
was erected by the County in 1814. It contains 
rooms for the Surrogate, Supervisors, Superin- 
tendent of the Poor, etc., together with a large 
collection of valuable documents and records placed 
therein on file for preservation. 



44 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



CHAPTER XI. 

The Salt Springs— History of their Dis- 
covery — Early Manufacture of Salt — 
State Legislation on the Subject — The 
Salt Springs Reservation— Methods and 
Statistics of the Salt Works — Analysis of 
THE Water and Source of its Supply. 

The existence of salt springs at Lake Ganentaha, 
or Onondaga, was known to the Indians before the 
advent of the first Europeans, but it does not ap- 
pear that they knew the use of them till taught by 
the Jesuit Missionary, Father Le Moyne, in 1654. 
An allusion is made to the springs, or " salt foun- 
tains," by Father Jerome Lallamant, who visited 
the Onondagas in 1645, and who says : " The On- 
ondagas have a very beautiful lake called Ganentaha, 
on the shores of which are several salt springs, the 
borders of which are always covered with very fine 
salt." Father Le Moyne, in an account \of his 
return to Quebec, under date of August 16, 1654, 
says : " We arrived at the entrance of a small 
lake ; in a large half-dried basin we tasted the 
water of a spring of which the savages dare not 
drink, saying there is a demon in it which renders 
it foul. We found it to be a fountain of salt water 
from which we made salt as natural as from the sea, 
a sample of which I shall take with me to Quebec." 

This act of Father Le Moyne's exorcised the 
demon, to whose dominion the superstition of the 
natives had given over the salt springs, and thence- 
forth Onondaga salt came into use among the 
Indians of this region of country. Says Clark : 
" In 1770, Onondaga salt was in common use among 
the Delaware Indians, and by that time traders were 
in the habit of bringing small quantities to Albany 
along with their furs as a curiosity." At this period it 
was to be found in the huts of the Indians, the 
women manufacturing it and sending it to (.Quebec 
for sale.* 

Some years before this Sir WilHam Johnson had 
obtained a conveyance from the Indians of a tract 
of land one mile in width adjoining and including 
the entire " salt lake." On account of the loyalty 
of Sir William and his son, Sir John Johnson, to 
the English, this and his princely estate on the Mo- 
hawk were forfeited during the Revolutionary period. 
It was not until several years after the Revolution 
that the fame of these salt springs began to attract 
settlers, and that attempts were made by Americans 
to develop and utilize their resources. 

Comfort Tyler was the pioneer in this enterprise, 
which has since assumed proportions of such im- 

* Letter of Judge Bowker, quoted by Hon. George Geddes. 



mense magnitude. In 1788, he was shown the 
spring by the Indians, and in May of that year 
made in about nine hours thirteen bushels of salt. 
His account of his first visit to the springs is given 
as follows : " The family wanting salt, obtained 
about a pound from the Indians, which they had 
made from the springs on the shores of the lake. 
They oflTered to discover the water to us. Accord- 
ingly I went w^ith an Indian guide to the lake, 
taking along an iron kettle of fifteen gallons capaci- 
ty, which he placed in his canoe, and started out of 
the mouth of Onondaga Creek, easterly into a pass 
called Mud Creek. After passing over the marsh> . 
then overflowed by about three feet of water, and ' 
steering towards the bluff of hard land, since the 
village of Salina, he fastened his canoe, pointed to 
a hole apparently artificial, and said there was the 
salt." 

Thus was Mr. Tyler introduced to the salt springs. 
The same season he was joined by Major Asa 
Danforth, who carried a large iron kettle on his head 
from Onondaga Hollow to the springs at Salina, 
and the two together made salt, suspending the 
kettle by a chain to a pole supported by two crotched 
stakes driven into the ground. When they had 
made a sufficient supply, they hid the chain and 
kettle in the bushes, to keep them safely for future 
use. In this way all the salt was made which was 
manufactured during the first year at " Salt Point." 
In 1789, Nathaniel Loomis came by the way of 
Oneida Lake and River with a few kettles, and dur- 
ing the following winter made from five to six hun- 
dred bushels of salt, which sold for one dollar a 
bushel. 

The State acquired an ownership in the salt 
springs, in common with the Indians, and in the 
tract of land adjoining them, known as the Onon- 
daga Salt Springs Reservation, by the treaty of 
Fort Stanwix, concluded September 12, 1788. This 
treaty stipulated that the salt lake and the lands for 
one mile around the same, should forever remain 
for the common benefit of the people of the State 
of New York and of the Onondagas and their pos- 
terity, for the purpose of making salt. The two 
races thus became tenants in common of the salt 
springs property. The white men at once took 
possession at Salina and commenced the manufac- 
ture of salt. 

In 1794, Judge James Geddes constructed a 
" salt work " a mile or more to the southwest of 
that point, or what was properly the head of the 
lake. The Indians took exceptions to this, saying 
they owned one half of the water, and the white 
men the other half, and as the whites had taken pos- 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



45 



session on their side of the lake, they should keep 
away from what they called the Indian's side. This 
grew into a difficulty threatening an attack on the 
part of the Indians. Judge Goddes had proceeded 
too far with his work to be willing to give it up as 
a peace ofiering, to conciliate the wrath of his red 
neighbors. Presents were ofiered and conciliatory 
speeches made to them, to induce them to surren- 
der peaceably, but all seemed unavailing. The In- 
dians desired the presents, but at the same time felt 
unwilling to compromise what they considered their 
right to the side of the lake which the Judge had 
occupied. Finally, a happy method of solving the 
problem struck one of the chiefs : " Let us," said 
he, " adopt this pale face into our tribe, and then 
being one of us, he will have a right to make salt 
on our side of the lake." The proposition was 
unanimously adopted, and Judge Geddes had the 
name Don-da-dah-gwah conferred upon him, by 
which the Indians ever after addressed him. Thence- 
forth he made his salt in peace.* 

In 1795, the Indians not being satisfied with the 
arrangement whereby they held a common interest 
in the Reservation, entered into another treaty at 
Cayuga Ferry, in which they ceded their right ab- 
solutely to the sovereignty of the State of New 
York. This treaty was the foundation of the Con- 
stitutional prohibition against the sale of the Salt 
Springs, because it was regarded as a particular bar- 
gain and agreement on the part of the State of New 
York to so exercise its power over them as never to 
depart from its rights and interest in them, and to 
use them for the benefit of the entire people of the 
State. 

The bargain was consummated by giving the 
Indians S 1,000 in money, an annuity of S700, and 
150 bushels of salt annually. 

The Salt Springs Reservation, as delineated on 
the map, is about three and a half miles wide at the 
extreme south end, about three-quarters of a mile 
at the north end, including the lake within its 
boundaries, and containing about ten square miles. 
It takes in the city of Syracuse, the town of Geddes 
and the town of Salina, with the e.xception of nine 
and a half lots added to the town of Salina from 
the town of Manlius. 

The State took formal possession of it in 1797, 
sending a surveyor to run out a portion of it into 
lots, and placing it under a superintendent. William 
Stevens was appointed the first Superintendent, 
June 20, 1797, and held the office till his death, in 
the year 1801. The surveyor laid out the reserva- 
tion into marsh lots, pasture lots, salt lots, dwelling 

* Hon. Otorgc Gcddet, Report, 1859. 



lots and store lots. The State fixed the duty on 
salt at four cents a bushel, and for this tax gave, in 
the first place, a large lot running down close to the 
springs, for the purpose of putting the salt works 
thereon, and running up to the brow of the hill, 
with a frontage upon the bluff sufficient for a dwell- 
ing house and store. And to each owner it gave a 
fourteen acre marsh lot and a five acre pasture lot, 
under a lease for seven years, and a right to roam 
anywhere over the entire ten square miles for fuel, 
without any cost to themselves save cutting and 
hauling, for the manufacture of salt, or for any other 
purpose for which fuel or timber was desired. 

In addition thereto the State built a sort of wharf 
down on a little creek that comes into the lake, for 
the batteaux that should engage in the distribution 
of the salt to Oswego and other places. The State, 
also, in order to avoid the necessity of large works, 
which would be required by individuals to store salt 
in, while waiting for its sale, erected storehouses and 
stored the salt in them. All this was the equiva- 
lent which the State gave the manufacturers for the 
four cents charge of duties.* 

The Salt Springs Reservation, we have said, in- 
cluded the city of Syracuse and the towns of Ged- 
des and Salina. The amount of lands sold by the 
State out of this Reservation up to and including 
1846, was over $250,000 worth, the State reserving 
a royalty on the salt water. In outlying lands 
which would probably not be needed in the manu- 
facture of salt, the State has given the deeds reserv- 
ing this royalty. In addition thereto, the State has 
from time to time, under the Constitution of 1846, 
which says they shall not decrease the acreage which 
has heretofore been devoted to the manufacture of 
salt, exchanged lands which were not suitable for 
that purpose for lands which were adapted thereto, 
and have thus increased the acreage from 550 to 
1. 100 acres. The State at the same time has put 
into the treasury between S40,ooo and §50,000, as 
the difference in value in favor of the State arising 
froiTi such exchange of lands.t 

In 1S67, salt works were removed at a large profit 
to the State, to make room for the increasing popu- 
lation in the Third and Fifth Wards of Syracuse. 
Also, by an act of the Legislature in 1873, salt 
works were removed from the Third Ward of the 
city and other lands substituted for them. These 
lands are good property ; a considerable portion of 
them have been sold by the State, and should the 
balance be held till after the present financial de- 
pression, the State will no doubt realize a handsome 
profit on them. The Syracuse Solar Salt Company 



* Addren of Hon. Thomai G. Alrord, 1876. 



tIbU. 



46 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



and the late Onondaga Salt Company, in 1872, dis- 
posed of forty acres of vats to the State, situated on 
State lands in the Third Ward of Syracuse, in ex- 
change for lands under the hill, to which they re- 
moved their works. They arc holding about forty 
acres outside, granted them by the State, so that as 
the city encroaches ufjon their private land imme- 
diately under the hill, where their vats arc now situ- 
ated, they can eventually remove them to the lands 
held under the State grant. 

To return to our history of the manufacture of 
salt. In 1792, Thomas Orman, Simeon I'haris and 
William Gilchrist came to Salina. Mr. Orman 
brought the first caldron kettle for the manufac- 
ture of salt. Mr. Aaron Bellows came that year and 
established a cooper shop for the manufacture of 
salt barrels. The first kettles set in arches were 
used by Jeremiah Gould and William Van Vleck. 
The latter in company with Moses Dc Witt, in 1793, 
erected an arch with four kettles, and supplied the 
demand for the whole surrounding country. 

The " Federal Company " was formed in 1798, its 
members being Asa Danforth, Jedediah Sanger, 
Daniel Kcclcr, Thomas Hart, Ebcnezer Butler, 
Eli-sha Alvord and 1 lezekiah Olcott. This company 
erected a large building capable of containing thirty- 
two kettles set in blocks of four each. In this man- 
ner originated the term " block " which has ever 
since been applied to a salt manufactory where the 
water is boiled in kettles. Part of the " Federal 
Works" were subsequently hired by Dioclesian 
Alvord. The pump-house was then out in the water, 
and Mr. Alvord had to take a boat in order to reach it. 
The first laws regulating the manufacture of salt 
were passed in 1797, the State then assuming the 
control which it has never relinquished. The State 
demanded for the rent of land and the use of water, 
four cents a bushel for all the salt made, and re- 
quired that ten bushels, at least, should be made in 
every kettle or pan used. Provision was made that 
in case any lessee should not use all the water there 
might be on his lot, the surplus could be conveyed 
to his next neighbor, and so on, till all the water was 
used. The powers given to the Superintendent 
were full, and the law entered into minute details in 
regard to the whole business of making and packing 
salt. The maximum price was fixed at six cents a 
bushel to citizens of the State, and the manufacturer 
must either put the salt in the public storehouse, or 
if he kept it in his own building, he must surrender 
the keys to the Superintendent. No salt could be 
sold on the leased premises. One cent per bushel 
was exacted by the State for storage, and the Super- 
intendent was to take care to have always in store 



two thousand bushels the first year, and an addi- 
tional five hundred for each year thereafter, which 
was to be ready to meet the demands of citizens of 
this Slate. Theblock-house, which in 1794 had been 
constructed for defense, was converted by the State 
into a public store-house. Clark, in his history, 
says : " The Superintendent gave certificates of de- 
posit in the store-house, and these certificates passed 
from man to man like bank bills." 

The manufacture of salt continued to increase as 
the surrounding population became more numerous, 
some of it finding a market in Canada. The rivers 
and lakes connected with Onondaga Lake furnished 
facilities for transportation in summer, and in the 
winter, sleighs came from the counties to the south, 
bringing farm produce to exchange for salt. The 
time soon came when the Superintendent could not 
store all the salt made, and so in March, 1798,11 
was provided by law that the manufacturers might 
account on oath for the quantity manufactured ; and 
they were allowed to pay rent according to the 
capacity of their works, at the rate of two cents per 
month for every gallon of the capacity of their pans 
or kettles, and were released from the charge of 
four cents per bushel. Fifty six pounds was fixed 
upon as the weight of a bushel of salt. 

In 1799, another law was passed, going more into 
details, even determining the number of hoops on 
the barrels, the kind of timber they should be made 
of, the seasoning of the barrels, and directing that 
they must be water-tight. The Superintendent 
was to weigh, deduct the tare, then brand the 
weight and quality and put on the price per bushel 
which he judged the salt to be worth, and then 
brand the name on the wood. This salt, if it went 
away by water, was to be shipped from the public 
wharf, under a penalty of five dollars for every 
bushel not so shipped. The Superintendent was 
required to provide bins to keep each manufacturer's 
salt in, until it was inspected. 

These, or the like minute regulations, continue 
to govern, and when their rigor has been lessened, 
it has been due to the fact that the magnitude of 
the business has made it impracticable to enforce 
them. 

It is worthy of note that the almost absolute 
power conferred bylaw upon the Superintendent of 
the Salt Springs, has been the secret of its success in 
an economical point of view, as afTording a larger 
revenue to the State than any other State property, 
managed on difterent principles. The jiolicy of 
conferring the whole authority on the Superintend- 
ent and making him alone responsible for the entire 
management of the interest, has proved in the case 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



47 



of the Onondaga Salt Springs exceptionally suc- 
cessful, as compared with every other State in- 
terest. 

In 1817 the duties levied by the State were 
raised to twelve and a half cents a bushel, the de- 
sign being to apply the revenue thus derived to the 
extinguishment of the debt on the canals. This 
rate remained till 1834, when the duties were re- 
duced to six cents a bushel, and so continued till 
April 20, 1846, since when they have been one 
cent a bushel. This was intended to be sufficient 
to pay for superintendence, digging wells, pumping 
and conveying the water to the manufacturers, and 
other expenses of the works incurred by the State. 
Since the reduction of the duties to one cent a 
bushel, the following revenue has been derived 
from the manufacture of salt, and paid into the 
General Fund of the State : 

From 1 846 to i Z^^, net reve- 
nue $ 653,112 73 

Deficit in 1857, to be de- 
ducted $6,603 01 

Also expenditures previous 

to March i, 1857 7,000 00 

Total deduction and expendi- 
tures 13,603 01 

Net revenue above expendi- 
tures 639,509 72 

Revenue from 1825 to re- 
duction of duties in 1846. 3,402,971 49 

Expenditures for the same 

period 202,054 99 

Net revenue from 1825 to 1846 $3,200,916 50 

Total net revenue since 1825 3,540,22622 

In addition to the above direct revenue, the salt 
interest has paid to the State in canal tolls about 
three-fourths of a million dollars. In 1875, it paid 
over $70,000. The manufacture and handling of 
salt in various ways employs about four thousand 
men. 

The law of 1799 required the Superintendent to 
make an annual report to the Legislature. To this 
valuable provision we are indebted for much in- 
formation and many of the important improvements 
which have been made from time to time. We 
learn from one of these reports that in 1806, 159,071 
bushels of salt were made. About this time a great 
advance was made by the construction of a block 
of ten kettles by Hon. John Richardson. During 
Mr. Kirkpatrick's administration the well at Salina 
was dug out twenty feet square to the depth of 
thirty feet. Each manufacturer had his own pump, 
worked by hand, and water carried in spouts to his 
works. In 1810, water power was first used to raise 
the brine, Yellow Brook being brought in a canal 



to turn the wheel. This brook, through the enter- 
prise of Judge Forman and others, was conducted 
all the way from what is now the eastern part of 
Syracuse, to do service in the salt blocks at Salina. 
In 181 2 a law was passed requiring the Superin- 
tendent to lay out two acres of land and lease the 
same, free of duty if he thought proper, to induce 
an experiment to be tried for the production of salt 
by solar evaporation. This was the origin of a 
mode of manufacture which has since become 
general, and has exercised an important influence 
on the entire salt business. Hundreds of acres 
are now covered with vats for solar salt, and the an- 
nual product is between two and three million 
bushels. 

The salt interest of Syracuse, like many other 
manufacturing interests, has had its seasons of pros- 
perity and of comparative depression. It passed 
through its severest trial in 1857, when the general 
financial panic paralyzed the business of the country, 
especially of the West. Then, and for several years 
after, Onondaga salt suffered from the want of 
a regular and systematic method of putting it upon 
the market. Says Hon. Thomas G. Alvord : 
" Gentlemen from Buffalo and Oswego would come 
here and buy our salt. They would give us their 
thirty days, ninety days and four months paper. 
They would take the salt and use it for ballast on 
their grain vessels, and when they got to their 
destination, they would dump the salt on the dock 
and sell it for what they could get. If their venture 
in grain was a good one, we got our pay, if not, we 
were the losing parties. The result was that we 
were at the mercy of these men." The manufac- 
turers put their capital and their wisdom together 
and got out of the difficulty in i860 and 1861. 

The period of greatest prosperity was during the 
war of the Rebellion. The largest annual produc- 
tions of salt were, indeed, during the years from 
1867 to 1 87 1, being an average yield per annum for 
the four years of 8,612,865 bushels. But the prices 
were not equal to those ruling from 1862 to 1865, 
when, on account of the war, foreign salt was almost 
wholly excluded from the country. 

About the commencement of the war, salt water 
was discovered in abundant quantities in the valley 
of the Saginaw, about midway between the salt 
springs of Syracuse and the great West, which had 
become the principal market for Onondaga Salt. 
The latter, however, went on prospering for three 
or four years, the competition being scarcely suf- 
ficient to affect the market. During this time the 
volume of salt made here was largely increased ; 
many new manufacturers went into the business ; 



48 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NKVV YORK. 



prices ranged high, and all seemed in the full tide of 
prosperity. Hut just at this juncture the salt in- 
terest here met another impediment. The experi- 
ment of boring for oil at Godcrich, Canada, very 
much to the astonishment of the experimenters 
themselves, resulted in striking a fountain of salt 
water, the strongest and purest known in the 
country, standing 92 and 98 degrees of the sal- 
ometcr. In a short time they struck another well 
at Kincardine, twenty five miles north of Godcrich, 
850 feet deep, and found the same result. Then 
they sank a well at Clinton, twelve miles south of 
Godcrich. 1,200 feet deep and found water equally 
strong. They sank another well at Seaport, twenty- 
five miles south of Godcrich, 1,400 feet deep, where 
they have gone 101 feet into a solid mass of rock 
salt. 

Of course these discoveries, together with the 
the cheapness of labor and fuel in Canada and Mich- 
igan, have had a tendency greatly to depress the 
salt interest in this locality. For several years past 
the Canadian and Saginaw salt has been a formida- 
ble rival to Onondaga Salt in the Western markets, 
and have almost entirely excluded the latter from 
Canada, where before large quantities were sold. 
Since this competition, it has been the eflort of the 
Onondaga manufacturers to not only improve the 
quality and condition of the salt put upon the 
market, but also to cheapen the cost of its produc- 
tion, so as to be able to conijiete with the Saginaw 
and Godcrich salt, and to find markets where the 
transportation will be most favorable to the salt 
manufactured at Syracuse. This, by the energy, 
jjcrscvcrance, and wise management of the com- 
panies, has been in a great measure accomplished. 
Hy the combination of capital and the reduction 
of the cost of labor and fuel, there has been 
of late years a great saving in the manufacture of 
salt.' 

As to the source of the supply of these salt wells 
much speculation has existed. Hon. Thomas Spen- 
cer, former Superintendent of the Salt Springs, in a 
letter to Hon. George Geddcs, published in 1859, 
says : " We only know that we penetrate the earth in 
alluvial deposits at various points bordering upon 



Onondaga Lake, to the depth of from qne hundred 
to four hundred feet, and find the brine in a deposit 
of gravel resting upon a hard pan, (impervious to 
water,) which seems to form the floor or bottom of 
our salt basin. All beyond this is mere conjecture. 
Eminent geologists, who have devoted much time 
to the investigation of this subject, have, I believe, 
uniformly arrived at the conclusion that the source 
from which our brine is derived is buried deep be- 
neath the mountains or hills south of us, and con- 
veyed to the points where we find it by subter- 
ranean currents of water which have passed through 
the salifcrous material and dissolved it." This is 
the general opmion, but Mr. Spencer himself was 
of the belief that there is deposited nnmcdiately be- 
neath Oiwndaga Lake a solid mass of rock salt 
which is being gradually dissolved and flows to the 
points where we find our brine. He alludes to the 
analogy between these and the salt springs in the 
valley of the Holston, in Southwestern Virginia, 
and those in the valley of the Weaver, near Liver- 
pool, England, in both of which the brine is found 
in immediate contact with the salt rock. Kut his 
chief reason for adopting this theory is the peculiar 
formation of the shores and bottom of the lake, 
which is worthy of notice aside from any solution 
it may afl'ord of this problem. 

On all sides from one-eighth to one-fourth of a 
mile from the shores the water of the lake is quite 
shallow. At this distance there is uniformly a bold 
and precipitous bank where the water is from fifteen 
to twenty feet deep. Beyond this the water deepens 
very gradually till you reach the center of the lake, 
which is about sixty feet deep. This precipitous 
bank at such a uniform distance from the shore, 
seemed to Mr. Spencer unaccountable unless it 
marks the outline of a bed of rock salt, which, as it 
is gradually dissolved, allows the loose and alluvial 
deposit above it to settle down, and in this way the 
abrupt bank is formed and preserved. Otherwise, 
the sediment which has been accumulating for ages 
would be deposited in a uniform manner from the 
shore to the center of the lake. Hon. George 
Geddes has given us from the soundings of this lake 
the following report : 



> The t'ollowing itaicmcnt ihowi where (he Onandj|a lali hat found iti market lince 1867 : 













i«67. 


|W«. 


1169. 


IbTO. 


1»71. 


l«7i. 


i«7|. 


l»74- 


1875. 1 


Of the mm-rnirnt \\t= 
l,«l 1,171 




Sctii 


,. n™ 


York 


dly 


.. ....1 1,407. JOO 

v.. ■-••.4-. 

lonhcni 
i 1.197.150 


1,065,110 
8,(i66.ril6 


1.940,615! 




l.Oli.llJ' 
IB4,IS« 
71,190 

i,90o,(i( 


l,)lo,lo6 
il4.<X>S 

>,JI4l976 
1,660,57* 

1.517,041 


i.<//.,941 


915,011 
107,416 


410,651 
191,981 


1,117,115 
|0«,|l6 


HiirinK 


V. 


K;0,llo' 
1,110,190, 
1,601,110 

1,700,7(1 






.*- 






•,*75,654 
1,1171.944 

'.053,190 


1,191,690 
1,157,195 

1.577,013 


1,091,891 

1,474.' 17 

I.75«.')6« 


710,695 

(,o8l,5T7 

1.940.541 




S; 


r.rtal. 









T.SvJ.J*-! 


«,«>i,ti: 


S,74«,ll| 


»,r4,itii 


7, 5*^719 


7,4A0,I57 


6,019,118 


7,179,446 





\ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



49 



At 500 feet from shore. ... 3.5 feet depth 

" 700 " " " 6 

" 740 " " " 23 " " 

" 760 " " "... 25 " " 

" 800 " " " 27 " 

" 860 " " " 32.5 " " 

" Q20 " " " . . . . ''Q ^ " " 

In the middle of the lake. .55 " " 
Opposite a point two miles from the east end of 
the lake, the water is sixty-five feet deep in the mid- 
dle. At Liverpool, three miles from the east end, 
the depth is fifty-five feet, and many soundings prove 
this to be the general depth. Once away from the 
foot of the abrupt bank, and the bottom is so level 
that the deepest place exceeds the shallowest by 
only ten feet, and this depression is approached very 
gradually. Ten or fifteen feet of the bottom of this 
lake is marl, which has been precipitated from the 
water, and this marl lies on sand and clay with some 
strata of gravel. Every boring that has been made 
within this basin gives this general result, the only 
variations being in the thickness of the several 
strata, not in their character. The well near the 
road that crosses the beach at the head of the lake 
was intended to be the middle of the valley. The 
tube was sunk 414 feet through the following strata : 

White and beach sand 34 feet. 

Blue clay 100 " 

Light-colored clay 48 " 

Sand, coarse enough for mortar. . 209 " 

Clear gravel 6 " 

Quick sand 11 " 

Cemented gravel 2 " 

Red clay 3 " 

Red clay (hard) i " 

The bottom of this well is nearly fifty feet below 
the surface of the sea. At 134 feet a cedar log was 
encountered in a state of perfect preservation. This 
is not only a deep but an ancient valley. The fact 
of finding timber in this deposit goes to show that 
a large part of the excavation has been filled since 
the general emergence of the sea, and that a large 
part of the alluvium has been taken by the present 
water courses into the valley. This timber and the 
many other specimens encountered from time to 
time by the drills, were probably brought into the 
lake by some of its tributaries. However this may 
be, the marl and clay which lie above the timber 
have been deposited by the waters of the lake.* 

Mr. Spencer supposes that the fact that it has now 
a level bottom surrounded by steep banks of marl, 
clay and sand, is only to be accounted for by a sub- 
sidence of a large part of the bottom, and that such 
subsidence is caused by the gradual dissolving of 
salt that lies under it. It is certain that water hold- 

*Hon. George Geddes, Report, 1859. 
7* 



ing in solution earthy matter, never deposits it'in 
the form we now find the bottom of this lake. 

Convenience has thus far caused all the drilling 
for salt water to be made around the lake, and the 
lesson taught by every experiment has been that 
there is no strong salt water to be found out of the 
alluvium in the valley. And the thicker the allu- 
vium the better the prospect for strong water. 

We take the following extract from the Report of 
Dr. F. E. Englehardt, Chemist for the Onondaga 
Salt Springs, made in 1877: 

" The natural sources of all salt supplies are 
either rock salt, salt springs, salt lakes, or finally, 
the ocean. At Syracuse we have derived all our 
salt since 1797 from salt wells, amounting up to the 
present time to 250,000,000 bushels ; to which we 
must add at least 50,000,000 for loss incurred in the 
various manufacturing processes by leakage, making 
a grand total of 300,000,000. The number of wells 
sunk from time to time to produce this large amount 
cannot be less than 200, at an e.xpense of at least 
;$750,ooo. The question therefore naturally arises, 
and it is a most important one, in regard to our salt 
industry, from whence does this large amount of 
salt come, which would cover over a surface of 
120,000,000 square feet one foot high with solid 
salt .■* It certainly was not stored up in the ancient 
valley of erosion, below our feet, in the form of 
brine. Therefore it must occur in the solid form as 
a bed of rock salt. Up to date very few attempts 
have been made to ascertain the actual source of 
our brine. The first was made in 1838, when the 
State sank a well at Salina 600 feet deep, of which 
the Superintendent in his report for 1839 says : 
' Passing through the immense mass of red and 
blue shales and the limestone (Niagara) below, it 
terminated in the protean group (Clinton.) What- 
ever may be its source it is well observed by the 
learned geologist of this district, in his last annual 
report, that it is only to be sought in a southern 
direction from which all the waters naturally flow.' 
The Salt Company of Onondaga sank, in 1867, a 
well at Liverpool 715 feet deep, which, according to 
Prof Goessman, passed through 82 feet of alluvium, 
279 feet of red and green shales, 33 feet of calcari- 
ous shales, 106 feet of limestone formation, and 
finally 215 feet of various veins of shales. These 
are the only two attempts ever made to solve this 
question." 

Dr. Englehardt then considers the opinions of 
geologists entitled to the greatest weight, on ac- 
count of their scientific acquirements, in reference 
to the question touching the source of the Onon- 
daga salt, and finds them generally agreeing that 
the supply is derived from a mass of fossil or rock 
salt, situated under the hills to the south of the 
lake basin, and asks : " Would it not, therefore, be 
more economical on the part of the State to have 
this subject thoroughly examined by the State 
Geologist, and if found correct, dig a test well for 



so 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



the purjx)sc of either finding the salt rock, or at 
least saturated brine, thus avoiding the necessity 
of sinking new wells year after year, in proportion 
as the older ones become useless ? • • * 
Our salt works with an abundance of saturated 
brine, could produce at least 15,000,000 bushels of 
salt, which would in less than ten years return to 
the State in duty all the expense incurred in such 
an undertaking. Our salt industry would revive ; 
we could then successfully enter our old markets 
and compete with our rivals." 



CHAPTKK XII. 
Salt Springs Continued — Process 01 Manu- 

FACTLKE CONSTKUCTION OK THE VVeLLS — 

Pump Works — Solar Salt — Dairy Salt — 
Table Showing the Amount of Salt Made 
Since 1797. 

THE salt works of Onondaga are divided into 
four districts, viz : Syracuse, Salina, Liver- 
pool and Gcddcs. The amount of salt inspected 
in each and the aggregate amounts for the year 
1S76 are shown in the following table : 



PUco. 


Solar. 

210,199 

313.859 
158,568 
651,115 

>, 353,841 


Fine. 


Solar 
ground. 


Fine 
ground. 


Aggregate 
butheU. 


S\ricuie... 

Sjllnj 


457,^61 
1,684,915 

3'5.773 
178,611 

1,736,761 


384.307 
77,860 

396,' 54 
96.517 

954,838 


».97« 


1,065,046 

1,086,634 

870,495 

1,370,501 


Livcfj^ool.. 
GcJdcl . . 




344.159 




347,137 


5.391.677 



The strength of the brine in the four districts, 
including the old and new wells, from 1865 to 1876 
inclusive, is shown as follows, except for 1868, of 
which there appears to be no record : 

Due. Syracuie. Salina. Literpool. Geddef. Average. 

1865 66.17 66.47 60.65 66.17 64.86 

1866 65.90 65.81 58.34 65.90 63.98 

'867 64.44 64.35 64.35 63.95 64.27 

1869 60.98 60.36 60.36 59.02 60.88 

1870 59-49 5894 5894 5934 S922 

1871 63.00 62.35 62.35 63.82 62.88 

1872 65.10 66.00 66.00 66.20 65.82 

1S73 63.43 6543 6543 67.52 65.45 

1S74 63.80 66.15 66.15 67.15 65.81 

1S75 63.88 66.38 66.38 69.50 66.54 

1876 66.75 67.70 67.70 69.33 68.15 

The process of manufacturing salt by artificial 
heat has changed very little except in its methods 
and appliances ; the principle, that of evaporation 
under the power of heat, remaining the same. 
The first " salt works " was Comfort Tyler's fifteen 
gallon kettle suspended upon a pole across two 
crotched stakes ; then came the four kettle " block," 
then the ten kettle, and so on, up to twenty and 
forty kettles. Finally, Hon. Thomas Spencer 



erected a block containing one hundred and eight 
kettles. This, however, was thought to be too 
extensive for the most advantageous and economical 
manufacture, and usually the preference has been 
given to blocks of about fifty or sixty kettles. The 
kettles are mostly of the capacity of one hundred 
and twenty gallons, in form a half sphere, diameter 
four feet, made of cast iron and weighing from six 
hundred to one thousand pounds. These are sus- 
pended in two contiguous rows on brick walls, with a 
suitable furnace or fire bed at one end and the chim- 
ney at the other. The whole is covered with a suit- 
able building, with bins extending the entire length 
on both sides, to store the salt in and protect it from 
the weather until it is ready to be packed in barrels 
for market. The law requires it to lie in the bins 
fourteen days before it is considered suflficiently 
dry for packing. 

Wood has been heretofore chiefly used for fuel, 
but now the principal fuel is cosl. A cord of the 
best hard wood and a ton cither of anthracite or 
bituminous coal will produce about the same 
amount, that is, fifty bushels of salt, the evaporation 
being eight pounds of brine to one pound of coal. 
A block consisting of fifty kettles will require about 
five tons of coal every twenty-four hours and will 
therefore produce about two hundred and fifty 
bushels of salt daily. The cost of such a block 
with its appendages, is from five to six thousand 
dollars. 

There is, or should bc, attached to each block 
three cisterns, each of sufficient capacity to hold as 
much brine as may be required for two days' use. 
This is necessary for the purpose of aftbrding suffi- 
cient time to precipitate the impurities by chemical 
agents before it shall be supplied to the kettles. 
Caustic lime was at one time used for the purpose 
of cleansing the brine from a portion of its impu- 
rities, but it was used in such quantities in 
many instances by the operatives that it produced 
an impurity more injurious to the salt than that 
which it expelled, and its use had to be prohibited. 
Alum is now generally used in the place of lime. 

The simplest method for testing the impurities in 
salt, is to take pure water and saturate it with the 
salt to be tested, which for any given quantity of 
salt will require twice and half its weight of water, 
stir till the salt is fully dissolved. If the salt is 
combined with impurities, the solution will at first 
have a milky appearance, but after remaining at rest 
a few hours, the impurities will settle to the bottom 
of the vessel ; if the salt is pure, the solution will 
be transparent, and there will be no sediment. 

Salt is a solid that melts at a bright red heat 



I 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



SI 



and passes off without being decomposed. It is 
without odor ; color white or transparent. It crys- 
talizes in cubes from its solution in water, and when 
formed by rapid but quiet evaporation from the sur- 
face, it forms hopper-shaped crystals. Hot and 
saturated solutions, when cooled, frequently give 
long, slender, square prisms. Formed in hot solu- 
tions, agitated by boiling, the crystals are very small 
and broken into irregular shapes. When rosin, 
soap, butter, or any oily substance is added to the 
brine, it will not form crystals, but by evaporation 
deposit the salt in exceedingly fine grains. Salt 
usually attracts moisture from the air, but when 
pure this attraction is very slight. 

The process of manufacture consists in removing 
the water by evaporation, and at the same time get- 
ting rid of the impurities held in solution. In the 
boiled salt this is accomplished by first precipitating 
the oxide of iron in the cisterns connected with the 
works. Unless this o.xide is removed, the salt will 
have a reddish color. The alum used for its pre- 
cipitation improves the grain of the salt, making it 
finer and causing it to drain well. The sulphate of 
lime is precipitated as the point of saturation is 
approached, by pans placed in the bottoms of the 
kettles into which it falls and is lifted out during the 
boiling of the water. The bitterhigs, as they are 
called, which are thus removed, are almost pure 
gypsum. 

In the year 1830 the first iron tubes were sunk 
with a view to procure water from a greater depth. 
At sixty feet brine was found from twenty-five to 
thirty per cent, stronger than at the old wells. Very 
soon many tubes were sunk, and for a long time all 
the salt water was raised by pumps through these 
tubes, and then forced up and accumulated in res- 
ervoirs from which it flows in wooden pipes to the 
various manufactories. These pumps are driven by 
water taken from the canal, or in cases where the 
water power cannot be applied, by steam engines. 
For many years the State was paid by the bushel 
for pumping the water, but afterwards all the expen- 
ses were merged in the one cent a bushel. Several 
companies at present own private wells and do their 
own pumping. 

The manner of drilling and tubing salt wells 
has been somewhat as follows : The old tubes 
used by the State were made of sugar maple logs, in 
sections of eight feet long, eight inches calibre, and 
turned in a lathe to a uniform thickness. These 
sections were cut off square, at the ends, and a recess 
turned into the timber on the outside to receive a 
band of iron ten inches wide and one- fourth of an 
inch thick, which is to rest on and confine the ends 



of the two sections when they are joined together. 
A circular dowel of cast iron, three inches wide is 
let into the ends of the sections, holding them 
together firmly, and excluding all water from the 
joints. In the first place a cast iron tube, three 
feet in length, is joined to a wooden section. This 
piece of iron tubing is sharp at the lower end, hav- 
ing the inside enlarged for a few inches up, leaving 
the outer diameter fourteen inches, to correspond 
with that of the wood. These sections are set up 
perpendicularly, and by a press forced into the soil. 
When a tube has sunk down far enough for another 
section to be added, the press is withdrawn and the 
section put on, and again the press is applied. This 
process is continued as long as the tube can be sunk 
without removing the earth that is inside. When 
this point is reached, which is sometimes sixty or 
seventy feet below the surface, the drills are intro- 
duced, and by first cutting the earth fine, a bucket 
made of iron, with a valve at its lower end, will 
take hold of and lift the contents of the tube to 
the surface. When hard material is met, sharp 
drills are used to cut it up. The shape of the lower 
section made of cast iron is such that at the very end 
of the tube its calibre is nearly equal to the outer 
dimensions, and by using drills which have springs 
placed on one side of their stems and edges which 
point outwards from the springs, holes may be cut 
through rock large enough to allow the tubes to 
pass. Various tools are called into requisition to 
reach down and grasp the substances and to over- 
come the obstacles encountered, which would require 
drawings for their illustration. 

The press that is used is simple : heavy pieces 
of timber supported by strong posts, connected 
with a platform through which the tube passes. 
This platform is loaded with stone, so that it will 
not lift when the heavy iron screws passing through 
the beam are turned down on the yoke which 
presses the tube. The rods to which the drills are 
attached are made of iron in sections of convenient 
length connected by screws. These drills are lifted 
by ropes worked by a steam engine, and let fall by 
means of a simple device, cutting and crushing by 
their weight whatever is in their way. 

A well thus obtained is connected by wooden 
tubes with a pump which sucks up the water. 
Formerly it was pumped directly from the bottom 
of the well to the distributing reservoir. But the 
difficulties in the way of having perfectly tight 
suction pipes were hard to overcome, and the 
method of "flooding" the pipes allowed the suction 
to draw in fresh water at every leakage, reducing 
the strength of the brine. A remedy for this evil 



52 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



was suggested by Mr. Gcddes in an elaborate article 
on the salt interest, published in the Transactions of 
the New York State Agricultural Society for 1859. 
" Now," says Mr. Geddes, " every stroke of the 
reciprocating, double-acting force and suction pumps 
has to overcome the inertia of the whole column of 
water from the bottom of the well to the distributing 
reservoir. This inertia is so great in long pipes that 
the pumps produce a vacuum at every stroke, and 
thus there is an inward pressure of the atmosphere 
of fifteen pounds to the square inch, which drives air, 
or when the pipes arc flooded, water into every pore 
and crevice of the pipes. Lifting pumps at the 
wells, moving slowly, with long strokes, would do 
away with much of the strain of the machinery, 
and remedy the present evil." 

This suggestion of Mr. Geddes is now pretty 
generally carried out. Rotary and plunge steam 
pumps have been placed at most of the wells, by 
which the brine is lifted to the surface, whence it is 
drawn through the pipes to the distributing reser- 
voirs by the pumps stationed at the pump houses. 
This improvement was inaugurated under the 
administration of Hon. Vivus W. Smith, first at 
Salina, and has since been generally adopted 
throughout the salt works. 

Iron tubes for sinking wells are now used in place 
of wooden ones. They arc made in sections often 
or twelve feet in length and screwed together by 
bolts through sockets at the ends of the sections. 
The apparatus for sinking them is nearly the same 
as that formerly emjjloyed for wooden tubes. 

By an act of the Legislature, embodying a few 
new provisions, passed April 15, 1859, all the pre- 
vious laws relating to the manufacture of salt on 
the Onondaga Salt Springs Reservation, were con- 
solidated and codified. The act of April 25, 1866, 
made some amendments to the provisions of the 
act of 1859, relating chiefly to the duties and 
salaries of subordinate officers and conferring upon 
the Superintendent the power to administer the 
oath to his deputies and employees. 

The Legislature of 1873, passed an act appropriat- 
ing $20,000 to be expended in sinking new wells, 
so as to furnish a better quality of water. The 
Superintendent in pursuance of thislawsank in 1875 
and 1876, seven wells in the locality which seemed 
to indicate the strongest water. These are good 
wells yielding brine of 71 and 72 degrees of the salo- 
meter. It was hoped that an appropriation would be 
made to enable the Superintendent to render these 
wells useful by connecting them with the pump 
house, and thus supplying the works with improved 
water, but a bill for that object and for general 



repairs was vetoed by the Governor. The Legisla- 
ture then, at the instance of the Superintendent, 
appointed a joint committee to visit the salt works 
and report upon the condition and wants of the salt 
interest. This committee met in Syracuse on the 
17th of February, 1876, and after a thorough inves- 
tigation, with a view to recommending such action 
by the Legislature as might be deemed most advis- 
able, unanimously reported in favor of a special 
appropriation to the amount of $23,000, to furnish 
a new water wheel, and the necessary machinery 
and fi.\tures to bring into use the new wells which 
had been sunk. These wells are now in operation 
furnishing a superior quality of brine. 

Of the 316 blocks on the Reservation, only 106 
were in operation during the year 1876, showing 
that the present capacity for manufacture exceeds 
15,000,000 bushels annually. It is no exaggeration 
to say that this limit may be reached with proper 
effort on the part of the manufacturers and a wise 
patronage on the part of the State. 

The Salt Manufacturers of Onondaga have in 
fixtures alone an investment of not less than four 
millions of dollars, and the business in addition to 
this, requires a working capital of fully half that 
sum to carry it on successfully. 

SoL.AK Salt is the name given to that which is 
made without the use of artificial heat. A law was 
passed in 181 2, authorizing the Superintendent of 
the Salt Springs to lay out two acres of land and 
lease the same, free of duty if he thought proper, 
to induce an experiment to be made for the produc- 
tion of salt by solar evaporation. This was prob- 
ably the first movement in the direction of the solar 
salt works, but nothing practical seems to have re- 
sulted therefrom till 1822, when Judge Forman pro- 
cured the passage of a law authorizing the erection 
of fixtures and awarding a bounty of three cents 
per bushel for all salt made by solar evaporation for 
a given number of years. Judge Forman in com- 
pany with Isaiah Townsend, Esq , went to New 
Bedford to investigate the method of manufacturing 
solar salt from sea water as it was then carried on 
at Cape Cod. They brought Mr. Stephen Smith, 
an expert in this kind of manufacture, with them to 
Syracuse, and he was made the agent of the Onon- 
daga Company, and Judge Forman of the Syracuse 
Company, and the two proceeded to erect the 
necessary fixtures for the manufacture of coarse or 
solar salt. 

At this time the Salina Canal terminated at the 
south edge of the village of Salina. Judge For- 
man took Governor DcVVitt Clinton to Salina to ex- 
amine the situation, and to see how the canal might 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



S3 



be extended to Onondaga Lake and made available 
as a water power to drive machinery at the salt 
works. The following year this plan was carried 
into successful operation. This grand improvement 
in the method of elevating brine was made at the 
expense of the Onondaga and Syracuse Salt Com- 
panies, under the direction of Judge Forman ; but 
the fixtures, aqueduct, &c., were afterwards bought 
by the State. 

The structures for the manufacture of solar salt 
consist of long parallel rows of shallow wooden 
vats, sixteen or eighteen feet wide and supported by 
many small posts. The rows of vats are divided 
into what are called deep rooms, lime rooms, and 
salt rooms. They are arranged in various ways, as 
the shape of the ground or the fancy of the owner 
may dictate. In the works of the Solar Salt Com- 
pany, the water is drawn directly from a distribut- 
ing reservoir into the deep rooms which are about 
a quarter of a mile long. The water runs the 
whole length of the " string," and is then carried 
into the next parallel string by wooden pipes. 
It runs the whole length of this string back to 
opposite the place where it was introduced ; then 
again it is sent into another and another of these 
strings, and having been thus exposed to the 
sun and wind, in a shed of perhaps ten inches deep 
and sixteen feet wide, for a whole mile, it has rid 
itself of its o.xide of iron, has increased its strength 
from 70 to 84 degrees of the salometer, and is ready to 
be carried into the lime room, where it deposits its 
sulphate of lime. It is kept running along these 
rooms in a thinner sheet till the small cubes of salt 
are seen forming. Saturation is now complete and 
all the impurities are precipitated that can be. The 
water thus concentrated and freed from the lime 
and iron, is drawn into the salting rooms, where 
pure salt is rapidly deposited, having a coarse 
crystalization in the form of hoppers and cubes. 
There yet remains in the brine after the salt is re- 
moved impurities more soluble than the salt, viz : 
the deliquescent chlorides. About one-third of all 
the vats are required for precipitating the im- 
purities. The whole field is expected to yield fifty 
bushels to the cover of sixteen or eighteen feet. 
The word " cover " is derived from the moveable 
roofs which in fair weather are shoved off on lateral 
ways to allow the sun to reach the water. These 
covers have been adopted as the standard of meas- 
ure, and in speaking of a salt field, it is said to have 
so many covers. Space is required for the covers 
when off the vats and also for roads between the 
strings to cart away the salt. An acre of land re- 
quires sixty covers, costing about $30 each. Thus 



the cost is about Si, 800 an acre, which in an 
ordinary season will yield about 3,000 bushels of 
salt. The cost and space required are disadvantages 
which are fully met by the cheapness of the manu- 
facture when once the works are in operation. 

Formerly this salt was kiln-dried and ground in 
common flouring mills for dairy purposes, at con- 
siderable expense, but more recently mills have been 
invented which grind it with'out any drying by fire. 
Well drained in the store-house, it is put through 
the mills and ground to any desirable fineness for 
dairy or table use at a cost of not more than one 
cent a bushel. In a document presented to the 
Constitutional Convention in 1S67, Hon. George 
Geddes, then Superintendent of the Salt Springs, 
reported six mills for the grinding of salt, owned 
and valued as follows : 

James P. Raskins' Mill, estimated to be 

worth $40,000 

John W. Barker & Co's Mill 40,000 

Henry B. & Wilmot E. Burton's Mill 16,000 

Timothy R. Porter's Mill 16,000 

Ashton Salt Company's Mill 16,000 

H. White's Mill 10,000 



Total, $138,000 

The first, fourth and fifth are the only ones 
now used for grinding dairy and table salt. The 
Haskins Mill, enlarged to four times its origi- 
nal capacity, is operated by the Excelsior Dairy 
Salt Company. This and the Ashton Company's 
Mill, and that owned and operated by Mr. Timothy 
R. Porter, are of sufficient capacity to grind all the 
dairy salt required for the market. 

The " Factory Filled," or Dairy Salt, is made 
from both solar and common salt by a patent ma- 
chine process whereby not only mechanically mixed 
impurities are removed, but also the small quanti- 
ties of obnoxious chlorides of calcium and magne- 
sium are decomposed in a very careful manner. 
The largest factory filled establishment, the property 
of the Excelsior Dairy Salt Company, is at Salina, 
and known under the name of " Excelsior Mills." 
They consist of two immense wooden structures 
with about five acres of flooring. 

The salt is crushed between two sets of stones to 
the proper size, and gradually fed into two patent 
washing machines, wherein the salt moves in the 
opposite direction to the chemically prepared salt- 
brine employed, and becomes, by repeated washing 
with the fresh salt-brine, perfectly purified. 

After proper drainage the salt is dried in large re- 
volving iron cylinders. A powerful blast of hot air 
carries the moisture into the chimney. The ex- 
haust steam from the hundred-horse power engine 



54 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



serves for concentrating the salt-brine employed in 
washing the salt. The dried salt is now elevated 
10 the upper floors, where five sets of stones are in 
constant motion grinding it to the desired fineness, 
while a suction blower removes the dust. 

There is one other mill of about the same capaci- 
ty situated in Gcddae, owned by the Ashton Dairy 
Salt Company, in which the salt is made in the 
same way as in the " Excelsior Mills." 

The purity of the various salts made at Onondaga 
is unquestioned, reference being made to many an- 
alyses furnished from time to time under the direc- 
tion of the General Government and other author- 
ities. In regard to the dairy salt, the tests made by 
the Butter and Cheese E.xchangc of New York 
prove the superiority of the F. F. salt made at 
Syracuse over any other, as is shown by the fol- 
lowing uiaUrsis : 

English. Onondaga. 

VVatei _ 0.7880 0.6280 

Insoluble matter 0.0564 0.0264 

Sulphate of lime. 1.2272 O.7217 

Sulphate of magnesia 00769 

Chloride of calcium 00473 

Chloride of magnesium 0.0591 0.0346 

Sulphate of soda 

Chloride of sodium 977598 98.5242 



99.9674 999822 

The Superintendent of the Salt Springs, Hon. 
A. C. Powell, appends the following remarks : 

"This report is of especial interest at this time 
when the old prejudice against the use of home 
salt is beginning to give way, because it emanates 
from an association which has never been accused 
of any special partiality for Onondaga salt, but, on 
the contrary, from their local and commercial 
training, have been inclined to defend the use of 
the foreign article. In fact so far have their preju- 
dices governed them that in making contracts with 
dairy farmers for their butter and cheese, they have 
frequently inserted a clause binding them to the use 
of the Ashton salt. This entailed upon the farmer 
an additional expense of from one to one and a half 
dollars upon each sack used. Many of the farmers 
doubting ihc necessity of these requirements and 
restive under their enforcement, unless there was 
good reason for it, demanded of the association an 
authoritative opinion as to the comparative value of 
the ditVerent brands used by them. The only reli- 
able proof was the scientific test, and the matter 
was accordingly given in charge to two analytical 
chemists of high standing in the city of New York, 
who entered upon their duties without any confer- 
ence with parties at Syracuse, and without any 
knowledge of the localities where the several 
samples were prepared. These were given them by 
numbers and not by name, and the result was the 
above report, which I have copied in their own 
language and figures. This report is certainly 



gratifying to the friends of the home article, as 
showing a larger percentage of the pure chloride of 
sodium or salt, and a less aggregate of impurities 
in the two samples of Onondaga salt than in either 
of the eight samples of foreign salt analyzed." 

The following is a statement of the number of 
bushels of salt made at the Onondaga Salt Springs 
since June 20, 1797, which is the date of the first 
leases of lots, with the Superintendents and their 
respective terms of ofBce : 



<8J4. 
!!■<(. 

1''!-. 
1 ' ( - . 

ISiV. 
IS'. 

ly.i. 

■ Mil. 

■ 861. 
iMh. 

■ 86s. 
iM/i 
iSft;. 
iS/jX. 

■ 869. 
I»7C. 
I»TI. 

•8:«. 

1871. 
IB74. 
1875. 
•»7*i 



Dale. 


Superinlcndentt. 


■ T 


William Steven*. 


179». 


do 


"7W- 


do 


ISoo. 


do 


ISOI. 


Sheldon Loan, 
AUL Danfortn, 


1801. 


iSo). 


do 


1804. 


do 


1805. 


Wm. Kirkpllrick, 


1806. 


do 


ISO?. 


P. H Riri^nm, 


1808. 


Nr 


1809. 


^v. . ,.; 


IS 10. 


1811. 


do 


1811. 


do 


1811. 


do 


iSi*. 


do 


I8l(. 


do 


1S16. 


do 


1817. 


do 


1818. 


do 


1819. 


do 


1810. 


do 


18x1. 


do 


isxa. 


do 


iSll. 


d.i 


'"^4 


do 


li-ii. 


d<; 


IS if.. 


do 


1 8 17. 


do 


I818. 


do 


ISK;, 


do 


1810, 


do 


l!l|l. 


N. H. E*rU, 


iSll. 


do 


181). 


do 


1814. 


do 


18|!. 


do 


18)6. 


Rial Wright, 


18)-. 


do 


18|8. 


do 


IS);. 


do 


184^. 


rhomas Spencer, 


1841. 


do 


1S4». 


do 


184I. 


Rial Wright, 


1844. 


do 


1S4(. 


Enoch .Marks, 


isV.. 


do 


"^4". 


do 


IS4». 


Robert Gere, 


1*4* 


do 


1 8 JO. 


do 


iSjI. 


do 


18$V 


Hervey Rhoadet, 


185). 


do 



SoUr. 



Fine. 



Vivus W. .*iniitli. 



do 

do 

do 

do 

do 
I do 

George Geddes, 
I do 

do 

do 

do 

do 
John M. Sironc, 

do 

do 
(A. C PoweU, 
I do 

I do 



Total lince 1797. 






"N.4"4 
4 .-.in 



41,B69,J98 



» 5.474 
4».7<H, 



75.000 
90,000 
100,000 
i$4.07i| 

«»».J77 
i7S.f4«' 

)I'>,6l8 

lis, 181 

4SC,QOC 

aoo,ooo 
111,011 
116,000 
195,000 1 
!>it05» 
14«,665 
«0«.(S6$ 
4«*,54o; 
54».I74| 

516,049! 

481,561 

7»6.j«8 

8lN6|4 

757,»1 

811,01] 

9*1.410 

l,l«o,i8« 

1,119, 18c 

1,415,446 

1,514.017 

1,651,085 

■,818,646 

■ <94l.>5a 

1,109,867 
i,9ii,8$9 

1,167,1*7 

i,ns.o)i 
1,864.718 



i.N'rt.Is- 

4.:i(.i;; 



5- . 

4.1 

5>i' .. 

7,07.-, bSi, 

6.504,7171 
5,407,711 
4.499.170, 

5,l8o,)lo 

5,in.'.~i 

6.' 

t. 

6,: .. 

5,V1",4'/* 

6,048,111 

5,768,998 
4.!*1.9!» 
4.5i],49i I 
).o8),99«' 



A(gtente 
bukheli. 

iS.4-4 

5'^V" 

41.7<:4 

50,000 

61,000 

75.000 

90,000 

100,000 

154.071 

•11,577 

175.448 

)io,6ih 

118,181 

45C.OOO 

100,000 

111,011 

116,000 

195.000 

I11.C58 

,4S,«,, 

40S,'/.! 

4rf'.S4C 

548,174 

45«.1>9 

516,049 

481,561 

716,988 

816,6)4 

757.10) 

811,01) 

918,410 

1,160,888 

1,119,180 

1,415.446 

l,514.°)7 

1,651.9*5 

1,8)8,646 

1,941,151 

l,109,V,- 

l,9ll,>i!8 

1,167.1s- 

1,575.<:|) 

1.864.-IS 



(.-'■i.HS 
!.*!>. S!l 
),v5I.i55 
4,"l-.'l'' 
S.cS),!'i9 
4,168.919 
4.''I4,117 

4. yll.CI I 



4,)ll,ll6 

- II. 119 
1, 171 

;.i4- 

. -,)91 
9.-^5 1,S74 
7.941. )8 1 
7.)78.814 
6,J«5.VK 
7,15«.<) 



b,)-4,',i'' 
7.9K.VJS 
7'46<:.I5- 
6.C19,)C.: 
7.'7V.44'> 
5.)9'.'J-7 



108,017,667 , 149,887,165 



* Preirioui 10 1841 the >oUr salt wat not reported leidrate, but included in ib« 
aggregate production. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



55 



T 



CHAPTER Xni. 

Topography of Onondaga County. 

HE county of Onondaga is nearly in the 
geographical center of the State. It is 
bounded north by Oswego, east by Madison, south 
by Cortland, and west by Cayuga county. Its 
general form is that of a rectangular parallelogram, 
having its lines in conformity with the cardinal 
points of the compass, the northeast corner being 
somewhat rounded by Oneida Lake and the south- 
west by Skaneateles Lake. From north to south 
the average width is thirty miles, from east to west 
twenty-si.x miles ; having an area exclusive of lakes 
of 459,229 acres. The county is divided into the 
towns of Lysander, Clay, Cicero, Elbridge, Van 
Buren, Salina, DeWitt, Manlius, Camillus, Geddes, 
Skaneateles, Marcellus, Onondaga, Pompey,' Spaf- 
ford, Otisco, LaFayette, Tully, Fabius, and the City 
of Syracuse. 

Most of the surface of this county slopes to the 
north and is drained into the River St. Lawrence, 
but the summit of the highlands that divide the 
waters that flow north from those that run south, 
and find their way by the Susquehanna River to the 
sea, is within this county, though near the south 
boundary ; but a small part of the whole area being 
drained to the south, and that chiefly in the towns 
of Fabius and Tully. 

About two-fifths of the whole surface of the 
county is flat and barely rolling enough to permit 
drainage. This flat land constitutes a part of what 
is known as the " great level," which extends along 
the south side of Oneida Lake to the base of the 
slope of the spurs of the Alleghany Mountains. 
The Erie Canal runs along the south side of this 
level land. That part of the county lying south of 
the canal, constituting about three-fifths of the 
whole, is embraced within the northernmost spurs 
of the mountain ranges, being uneven and com- 
paratively broken in its surface. A traveler cross- 
ing Onondaga county from east to west, or from 
west to east, if his route is on the plain, north of 
the highlands, will meet only slight hills and 
hollows, or rather mere undulations crossing his 
course, and streams that have their surface nearly 
level with the surrounding land. But if his route 
be across the line of the hill slope, he will descend 
into deep valleys, whose dividing ridges are many 
miles apart, and he will have one constant succes- 
sion of toilsome descents and ascents, enlivened 
and rendered pleasant by ever-recurring points of 
observation, from which the most splendid scenery 



lies pictured before him. Hillside, mountain top, 
wide valleys, lakes framed with forests and fields 
of living green, meet his gaze from the top of every 
eminence he passes. If he sees little of the grand- 
eur of rock-ribbed mountains, he is greeted with 
landscapes more mild, and of a softer tone, that 
bespeak more fitting residences of men, and he is 
delighted with the reflection that, of all he sees, 
there is nought but combines the useful with the 
beautiful. 

The slope of the highlands is divided into five 
distinct ridges, all having a general north and south 
direction. The most eastern of them enters the 
town of Manlius from the east and extends north to 
the Erie Canal. The second ridge lies between 
Limestone and Butternut Creeks, and forms the 
highlands of Pompey, part of those of Manlius, 
LaFayette and DeWitt. The third range, between 
Butternut and Onondaga Creeks, comprises the 
highlands of the central part of LaFayette, the 
west part of DeWitt, and the east portions of Tully 
and Onondaga, and extends to the city of Syracuse. 
The fourth range, between Onondaga and Nine 
Mile Creeks, comprises the highlands of Otisco, 
the west part of Tully, LaFayette and Onondaga, 
and the east parts of Marcellus and Camillus. The 
fifth range, lying between Nine Mile and Skan- 
eateles Creeks, and Otisco and Skaneateles Lakes, 
comprises the highlands of Spafford, the west parts 
of Marcellus and Camillus, and the east parts of 
Skaneateles and Elbridge. 

The summits of the valleys between these 
ranges are in the towns of Pompey, Fabius and 
Tully, or south of the county line. The highest 
peaks of the ranges of hills are in Spafford, Pom- 
pey, Otisco and and LaFayette. The streams that 
drain these valleys to the south, are the head 
branches of the Tioughnioga River, one of the 
tributaries of the Susquehanna. Limestone and 
Butternut Creeks unite their waters and flow into 
the Chittenango, a few miles before that stream en- 
ters Oneida Lake. Onondaga and Nine Mile 
Creeks run into Onondaga Lake. The Skaneateles 
crosses into Cayuga county just before it discharges 
its waters into the Seneca River. Seneca River 
enters the west part of the county from Cross Lake, 
flowing between the towns of Elbridge and Lysan- 
der, and along the northern bounds of Van Buren 
and Geddes, to within less than half a mile of On- 
ondaga Lake, where it receives the outlet of that 
body of water ; then turning north, it runs along 
the west line of Clay to Three River Point, where 
it receives the Oneida River. At this place the 
combined waters take the name of Oswego River, 



56 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



which empties into Lake OnUrio in the city of 
Oswego. 

These various streams and bodies of water, with 
their tributaries, arc so evenly distributed over the 
surface that the whole county is wonderfully well 
supplied with water for use and with power to drive 
machinery. Seneca River has a dam giving a fall 
at Haldvvinsville of eight feet, and another at 
Phoeni.v. either of which would give sufficient 
power for a large manufacturing town. The several 
streams that flow through the valleys in the south 
part of the county, fall, on an average, not less 
than eight hundred feet ; after they arc of sufficient 
size to be useful in driving machinery, and at the 
northeast corner of the county, the united waters 
of the Limestone, Butternut and Chittenango make 
the valuable water power at Bridgeport. Many 
beautiful waterfalls are formed by the branches 
of the principal streams as they flow down the 
sides of the ranges of hills to the valleys. The 
most noted of the cascades is known as Pratt's 
Falls. 

Such is a general outline of the county of Onon- 
daga. When it was first .seen by the race of men 
who now cultivate its soil and manage its vast in- 
dustries, it was covered with one dense forest of 
giant growth, excepting the few fields that the 
natives had subjected to their rude cultivation. 
What a series of struggles with the wilderness and 
with savage unsubdued nature, is implied in the 
contrast between that primitive condition and the 
present cultivated state of the country. 

"Through the deep wilderness where scarce the sun 
Can cast his darts, along the winding path 
The Pioneer is treading. In his grasp 
Is his keen ax, that wondrous instrument, 
That like the talisman transforms 
Deserts to fields and cities. He has left 
The home in which his early years were passed, 
And led by hope, and full of restless strength, 
Has plunged within the forest, there to plant 
His destiny. Beside some rapid stream 
He rears his log-built cabin. When the chains 
Of Winter feller Nature, and no sound 
Disturbs the echoes of the dreary woods, 
Save when some stent cracks sharply with the frost ; 
Then merrily rings his ax, and tree on tree 
Crashes to earth ; and when the long, keen night 
Mantles the wilderness in solemn gloom, 
He sits beside the ruddy hearth, and hears 
The fierce wolf snarling at the cabin door. 
Or through the lowly casement sees his eye 
Gleam like a burning coal."* 

* Alfred B. Street. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Geologv of the Cou.ntv — Ci-iNTON Group — 
Niagara Limestone — Onondaga Salt Group 
—Water-lime Group — Oriskanv Sandstone. 

ONONDAGA presents more features of inter- 
est to the geologist than any other county 
of the State, or, perhaps, any like extent of country 
in the United States. Its rocks range east and 
west ; the order of succession being constant ; the 
lowest being at the northeast corner of the county, 
and the most recent at the southwest. 

Of the New York system of rocks, there outcrop 
in this county, the Clinton Group, Niagara Lime- 
stone, Onondaga Salt Group, Water-lime Group, 
Oriskany Sandstone, Onondaga Limestone, Corni- 
ferous Limestone, Seneca Limestone, Marccllus 
Shales, Hamilton Group, Tully Limestone, Genesee 
Slate, and the lower measures of the Ithaca Group. 

These rocks are best observed by commencing 
at the northeast corner of the county and moving 
to the southwest, crossing their outcrop nearly at 
right-angles and in line of the greatest dip of the 
stratification. The starting point will be Oneida 
Lake, where the Clinton Group outcrops ; the end 
of the journey, Skaneateles Lake. The elevation 
of the starting point above tide is 369 feet ; the 
highest point passed over, Ripley Hill, the summit 
between Skaneateles and Otisco Lakes, and the 
highest land in the county, being 1,982 J feet above 
tide. The distance, in a direct line from Oneida 
Lake to Ripley Hill, is thirty-two miles. 

The dip of the system of rocks in this direction, 
is very nearly twenty-si.\ feet to the mile, giving 
for the distance 852 feet. It is very uniform, and 
is greatest in a line a little west of southwest, while 
the general line of the outcrop is nearly cast and 
west. These rocks were deposited in that vast sea 
that once overspread this part of the Continent, all 
of them being sedimentary and filled with evi- 
dences of an abundant animal life. When they 
were lifted above the sea by those vast internal 
forces that were constantly changing the form of the 
crust of the earth, they were tilted from the level 
position in which they had been deposited. The 
point of greatest upheaval being far to the northeast 
of this county, only part of one of the slopes comes 
under our observation. 

The hills rise in a direction opposite to that of 
the dip of the rocks. The surface rising, in the 
thirty-two miles, over si.xtecn hundred feet, the bot- 
tom of our lowest rock falling in the same distance 
more than eight hundred and fifty-two feet, a sec- 
tion of these formations would show a wedge 2,465 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



57 



feet thick at the southwest end, regular on the lower 
side, but on the upper broken by unequal steps, due 
to the varying thickness of the different strata. 
The surface waters run northerly, while those un- 
derneath flow in the opposite direction. Springs 
are not to be looked for along the unbroken line of 
the outcrop of the rocks, but in the sides of the 
various valleys that cut this slope, at, or nearly at, 
right angles, or on the north sides of such valleys 
as are parallel with the line of the outcrop. Any 
attempt to procure water by flowing artesian wells 
would probably prove unsuccessful. 

The rocks that outcrop in this county once extended 
over the present surface far to the north, but by the 
action of glaciers and water, they have been broken 
down, ground up, and strewn along the valleys that 
have been scored out across the line of their present 
outcrop, and those with which they connect, far 
beyond the southern limits of the county and State. 
This point will be more fully discussed hereafter, a 
description of the rocks being first necessary. 

Clinton Group. — The northernmost and lowest 
rock is known as the Clinton Group. It is seen in 
the counties east and west of this, underlies the 
whole north line of this county, and appears on both 
sides of the west end of Oneida Lake. " This 
group is characterized by its iron ore beds and its 
marine plants."* The iron appears in this county, 
only in small quantities, the rock being covered with 
alluvium except at a few points. The best place to 
observe it is near the west end of Oneida Lake, at 
Brewerton. There the shale appears along the bank 
of the outlet and in the hill in the village. The 
north part of the towns of Lysander, Clay and 
Cicero lies on this rock, and the soils of these towns 
are to some extent made up of the materials of 
which it is composed. Prof Emmons says of it that 
its most interesting feature " consists in the rapid 
changes in the strata which enter into its formation, 
and which taken together form a most heterogene- 
ous assemblage of materials ; for this reason the 
group was called in an early stage of the survey, 
the Protean Group. The formation consists of 
layers and beds composed of green, blue and brown, 
sandy and argillaceous shales, alternating with 
greenish brown sandstones, conglomerates on peb- 
bly beds, and oolitic iron ore. These different kinds 
of material rapidly succeed each other. The parts 
of this formation which are most persistent are the 
green shales, whose color, however, inclines more 
to blue than green where they have not been exposed 
to weathering. The sandstone, which is rather 
harsh, in consequence of the preponderance of 

* Vanuxum. 
8* 



sharp, angular grains, is also greenish or greenish 
gray."* It rests on the Medina sandstone, which 
in turn rests on the gray sandstone of Oswego, 
" which," according to Emmons, " is identical with 
the gray, thick-bedded sandstone of the Hudson 
River series." These rocks furnish the material for 
much of the drift which covers the north part of 
the county. 

The Clinton Group is found in Ohio, Pennsylva- 
nia and Canada. In this State, according to Mr. 
Hall, it is not more than eighty feet thick. 

Niagara Limestone.— Resting on the Clinton 
Group, and next in order, we find the Niagara 
Limestone, so called from its being the rock which 
forms the famous cataract of that name. In Onon- 
daga this is a thin rock, thinner at the east side 
than at the west. It crosses the east line of the 
county at Bridgeport, forming a bar across Chitten- 
ango Creek and thus creating a valuable mill 
power. It outcrops at various places in the town 
of Cicero, and on Mr. Whiting's farm, where it is 
extensively quarried for the valuable building stone 
it aftbrds, it presents a surface of fifteen acres, 
but thinly covered with soil. It has been used to a 
limited extent for burning into lime. The layers 
are respectively fourteen, seven, three and four 
inches thick. Below these the courses are thin and 
of no value. The whole thickness at Whiting's is 
three feet. The seams are frequent, making the 
quarry easy to work. 

This stone has been quarried at several other points 
along its outcrop to the west line of the county. 
The most important openings are north of Bald- 
winsvilleand near the northwest corner of the town 
of Lysander. This rock contains " some geodes, 
lined with rhombic crystals of carbonate of lime, 
and gypsum, in small globular accretions, at Whit- 
ing's quarry."! " It differs so much in its appear- 
ance here from the western geodiferous limestone of 
the lower falls of the Mississippi that it would hard- 
ly be recognized as the same rock, if it could not 
be traced almost uninterruptedly in its western 
route ; but it marks the termination of the Ontario 
division, of the State Reports, and is the upper 
measure of a distinct era in geological history, 
whose importance cannot be well estimated. "J 

The Onondaga Salt Group rests on the Niagara 
limestone. The lower part of this formation is the 
Red Shale, upon which, and in some cases ming- 
ling with it is placed the Green Shale, the two con- 
stituting the whole group. Embraced within the 
Green Shale are the Gypsum beds, and the ver- 
micular, or porous lime rock. This group is very 



* Emmons. 



^ Vanuxum. 



\ Emmons. 



58 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



extensive, reaching from near the Hudson River 
quite across the State. Ail the Gypsum masses of 
Western New York are found in it, and from it 
flows all the salt water used for making salt in On- 
ondaga ami Cayuga counties. 

The Erie Canal runs near the line of division 
between the Red and Green Shales for the whole 
width of the county. The level district north of 
the canal and south of the Niagara outcrop, is 
nearly all based on the Red Shale, while the slope 
reaching from the canal to the Water-lime range^ 
on the south, is principally made up of the Green 
Shale. The average width of the Red Shale is 
about seven miles, that of the Green about three. 
The Red Shale, as computed from the dip and 
elevation, is three hundred and forty-one feet thick 
at the line of the Erie Canal south of Onondaga 
Lake ; the surface of that lake being very nearly 
three hundred feet above the Niagara limestone. 
It is generally covered with drift, composed of lime, 
gravel, sand, and small stones, made up mostly of 
the Medina sandstone, and the gray sandstones of 
Oswego county, with occasional beds of clay. 

The RtuI Sha/c is described by Prof Emmons as 
properly a rcti marl, soft throughout, except a few 
thin strata of sandstone near the top, but even these 
fall to pieces and cannot be employed at all for pur- 
poses of construction. Wherever it crops out it is 
covered with its own debris. He determined that 
one hundred grains of the most sandy part, and the 
same amount of the softer kinds, were combined 
in the following proportions : 

Sandy. Marly. 

Sile.x -.6S.25 68.86 

Pero.xide of iron and alumina 625 1498 

Magnesia 5.75 0.40 

Carbonate of lime 10.25 O-So 

Phosphate of alumina, and phos- 
phate of peroxide of iron 0000 0.14 

Organic matter 6.CX3 4.50 

Water i.oo O.48 

99.50 99.25 

In some places this Red Shale is so soft that it is 
extensively manufactured into brick ; in others, the 
sand is in layers, having thin strata of clay between 
them. " Nowhere has a fossil been discovered in 
it, or a pebble, or anything extraneous, except a few 
thin layers of sandstone and its different colored 
shales and slate."* 

Owing to whirls and eddies in those surges 
which beat down and ground up these rocks, 
numerous conical shaped hills, generally somewhat 
longer from north to south than from east to west, 
and differing in sire from a few acres to several 

* Vanuium. 



hundred, have been dotted over the surface of the 
western part of this formation like hay cocks in a 
meadow. The largest one is north of the valley of 
Nine Mile Creek. The Erie Canal passes around it 
on the south and the Central Railroad on the north. 
It is two hundred feet in height, containing about 
a thousand acres of drift, and so level is the plain 
on which it stands, that a canal without a lock 
might surround it. These drift hills also abound 
in the district embraced by the Green Shales, but 
the transported stones which cover them have a 
greater proportion of granite boulders of large size. 

Gypseous or Green Shales, Containing the 
Beds of Gvj'SU.m. — Immediately upon, and united 
with the Red Shales, we find the plaster-bearing. 
Green Shales. The line of division is not well 
determined, — the red, green, and yellow colored, 
with some of a blue cast, intermingle for a few feet 
in thickness. The color of this upper measure of 
the salt group is variable through its whole thick- 
ness, being sometimes nearly white, then drab, but 
it has received its name from the prevailing green. 
A better name would be the Gypseous Shales, as the 
term Green Shales is sometimes applied to portions 
of the Clinton Group. In the Gypseous Shale large 
masses are found that Prof Eaton called vermicular 
lime rock. This rock is essentially calcarious, strong- 
ly resembling porous or cellular lava. In color, 
it is a dark gray or blue rock, perforated everywhere 
with curvilinear holes, but very compact between 
the holes. These holes vary from microscopic to 
half an inch in diameter. They are generally very 
irregular, and communicate in most instances with_ 
each other. 

The resemblance of no small part of the rock to 
lava is perfect ; but the structure of the cells leaves 
no doubt as to their mineral origin. The cells show 
that parts of the rock were disposed to separate 
into thin layers which project into cells, evidently 
the result of the simultaneous forming of the rock, 
and of a soluble mineral, whose removal caused the 
cells in question. This view is confirmed by the 
discovery in this rock of those forms which are due 
to common salt, showing that a soluble saline min- 
eral had e.xisted in it, had acquired shape in the rock, 
and had subsequently been dissolved, leaving a cav- 
ity or cavities."* There are two masses of this 
vertniciilar rock — one low down, of about twenty feet 
in thickness, appearing on James street, Syracuse, 
and at various other places ; the upper mass is thin- 
ner ; but its thickness is not uniform. In tne lower 
mass, on James street, are some specimens of crys- 
talline character, being serpentines, the action of 



Vanuxum. 



II 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



59 



crystallization having been local, producing selenite 
sometimes erroneously called mica. 

Between the two layers of vermicular limestone 
are the hopper-formed masses. Perhaps these hop- 
per-formed rocks possess more interest for the geol- 
ogist than any other part of the group; because they 
are supposed to furnish proof of the origin of the 
salt water, of so much importance to the industry 
of this part of the State. These forms are pro- 
duced, it is asserted, by the crystallization of salt 
before the hardening of clay. The supposition 
being that while the whole mass was in the form of 
mud, having a large quantity of dissolved salt mixed 
with it, the salt, (in precisely the same manner 
observable in the process of the manufacture of 
solar salt,) was attracted particle to particle, and 
assumed the form of a hopper, the mud filling 
it up; then, by the action of water falling 
on the surface and percolating through the mass 
that had become full of cracks in the pro- 
cess of drying, the salt was dissolved and carried 
down upon the more compact strata below, and by 
the dip of the strata carried into rather than out of, 
the hill. No other common soluble mineral present- 
ing similar forms, and the fact that all our saltwater 
is found below, and near these hopper-formed rocks, 
give great force to this theory. The absence of 
salt around these hopper-formed rocks is accounted 
for by their being so near the surface that the rains 
must long ago have carried it away. If an e.xcava- 
tion were made further south, where the overlying 
rocks are thick enough to protect the salt-bearing 
rocks from the action of water, undissolved salt 
might be found. 

Prof Emmons gives the composition of the hop- 
per-formed masses as follows : 

Water of absorption .56 

Organic matter 500 

Silex .__„ 34-5<5 

Carbonate of lime 43 06 

Alumina and protoxide of iron 13-36 

Sulphate of lime i.oo 

Magnesia 2.17 



99,71 



Besides the minerals described as being in, and 
belonging to this shale, we have yet to mention the 
beds of gypsum. This valuable mineral is found in 
various places in the upper parts of the Salt Group, 
throughout the whole county. It is extensively 
quarried in the towns of Manlius, DeWitt, On- 
ondaga, Camillus and Elbridge. The largest 
openings are in the town of DeWitt, north east 
from Jamesville. It is here found in masses 
more than thirty feet thick, of an excellent 



quality, and is sold on the bank of the canal, some- 
times, at less than one dollar per ton. Some very 
valuable quarries are worked in the town of Camil- 
lus. The railroad cutting along the valley of Nine 
Mile Creek exposes large masses. The whole thick- 
ness of the gypseous shale is 295 feet. 

One hundred grains in six ounces of rain water, 
yield, of the debris of the shale, 6.53, of which 1.03 
is vegetable matter, and 5.50 saline. Prof Emmons 
gives an analysis of the water of Mr. Geddes' well 
at Fairmount, which receives its water throuch a 
seam in the vermicular lime rock, as follows : 

One quart evaporated slowly to dryness, the last 
part of the process being performed in a platinum 
capsule, gave 

Solid matter S.72 

Organic matter 1.44 

Saline 7.25 

"The water of the Hydrant Company, which 
supplies Syracuse, contains forty grains of saline 
matter to the gallon. It consists of thechlorides of 
sodium and calcium, sulphates of lime and alumina, 
with some organic matter."*^ The springs that are 
discharged from these rocks deposit tufa. Only a 
few fossils are found in the upper part of the 
Gypseous Shales. Prof Hall assigns the rocks 
composing the salt group to a mud volcano that 
was " charged with saline matter and corroding 
acids which would alone destroy all organism." 
Vanuxum says that the salt group as a whole 
presents the same order of saline deposits, includ- 
ing iron, observed in the salt vats where solar 
evaporation is carried on. The first deposit in the 
vats is ferruginous, being red oxide of iron, and 
staining of a red color whatever it falls upon ; the 
next deposit which takes place is the gypsum ; the 
third is the common salt, the magnesian and cal- 
cium chlorides remaining in solution. The group 
shows first a thick mass, colored red with iron, be- 
ing its Red Shale ; above which are the gypseous 
masses ; towards the upper part of which are the 
salt cavities ; the sulphate of magnesia exists above 
the whole of these deposits, its existence there be- 
ing manifested by the needle-form cavities. 

Water lime is the name given to the next group 
of rocks. It rests on the Gypseous S/iales, and is in 
all 127 feet thick. The lower measures are irregu- 
lar in their formation, having uneven beds, with 
layers of varying thickness. This part of the rock 
is used mostly for farm fences, to which purpose it 
is well adapted, resisting the action of frost, and 
being so thin as to require little skill in laying, mak- 
ino- it the most durable fence known. That 

^ Emmons. 



Oo 



HIST DRY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



part used for making cenicnt is on the top, and con- ' 
sists of two layers from three to four feet thick. 
" Color drab, dull in its fracture, and com|X)sed of 
minute grains with usually but few lines of division. 
The up|)er of these courses burns more easily than 
the lower. When burned, it is ground fine and 
mixed with sand — one part of lime to from two to 
six parts of sand, according to its quality and the 
speed with which it is desirable the cement should 
set. Owing to its proi)erty of preserving its form 
and hardening under water, it is used with stone or 
brick in the construction of cisterns, and without 
any other substance but sand, for i)ipcs for conduct- 
ing water from springs. Such is its strength that a 
cylinder of pure cement and sand, six inches in diam- 
eter, of one inch calibre, buried three feet in the 
ground, after some years became closed at the lower 
end, and the pipe sustained the pressure of a column 
of water forty feet in height. The best practical 
tests for persons unskilled in judging of the quality 
of this lime for cement, are : The stone when burned 
must not slake on the application of water ; when 
ground, the cement must set quickly on being wet ; 
keep its form under water, and harden till it becomes 
as hard as a well burnt brick. It is sometimes in- 
jured by being burned too much, and very often it 
is not ground fine enough. Mr. Delafield says of 
water lime: "If it contains twenty per cent of clay, 
it will slake, but will also cement. If it contains an 
amount of clay equal to thirty per cent it will not 
slake well, nor heat, but forms an excellent cement." 
Sanzin, in his work on Civil Engineering (p 20) says : 
" Being master of the proportions of hydraulic lime, 
we can give any degree of energy required Common 
lime will bear even twenty per cent of argile ; medium 
lime — that is, that which is a mean between com- 
mon and meagre lime — will take from five to fifteen 
per cent of argile. When we augment the quantity 
to forty parts of clay to one hundred of lime, the 
lime does not slake, the mixture is pulverant, and 
when moistened, it becomes solid, immediately, when 
immersed into water." The Onondaga Water-lime 
is simply an impure lime, having clay enough in it 
to make it resist the action of water. Large quan- 
tities of hydraulic cement arc manufactured from 
our rocks and sent in barrels wherever required. 

There are some courses of this group known by 
the local name of blue lime, which being too pure in 
lime for cement, are burnt for quick lime, and are 
also used (or building purposes. Six varieties of 
fossils found in it, are represented in the State Re- 
ports. 

Localities. — About three-fourths of a mile south- 
west of the village of Manlius, this rock forms the 



"falls" in Limestone Creek. "The lower layers 
contain a large proportion of ordinary lime, free 
from all accretions of a silicious nature, and there- 
fore make a first quality of lime." The most exten- 
sive exposure of water-lime is about a mile south of 
the village of" Manlius, at Brown's saw mill. But- 
ternut Creek, below Jamesville, near Dunlop's mill, 
exposes it in large quantities. It is also found in 
Onondaga Valley and Split Rock quarry, where it 
appears in the face of the precipice all along for 
miles. The only additional localities necessary to 
mention are the crossing of Nine Mile Creek and 
Skaneateles Creek, over the rocks. The width of 
surface underlaid by water-lime varies constantly ; 
small outliers, in some places, extend over the gyp- 
seous group, but in many places the outcrop is pre- 
cipitous. On the whole, perhaps, the average width 
of land on the outcrop is not more than a quarter 
of a mile. 

Okiska.w Sandstone. — This rock, which lies 
next above the water lime, is of variable thickness 
in this county, owing to the uneven surface upon 
which it was deposited. At Manlius it is but a few 
inches in thickness, while to the southwest of the 
village of Onondaga Valley it is seven feet, and at 
Split Rock there is only a trace to be seen. Again it 
thickens, and on the road from Elbridgc to Skane- 
ateles it is about thirty feet thick. This sandstone, 
with some exceptions, consists of medium sized 
quartz sand, such as is derived from the primary 
rocks. The fossils are interesting, and may be 
found represented in the State Reports. Some of 
this stone from the Skaneateles quarries was used 
in constructing locks when the Erie Canal was first 
made, and was found to wear very well. It is used 
in the vicinity of the quarry for various structures. 



CHAPTER XV. 
Geologv Continued — Onondaga Limestone — 

COKNIFEKOUS LiMKSTONE — SeNECA LIMESTONE 

— Makcellus Shales — Hamilton Group — 
TuLLV Limestone — Genesee Slate — Ithaca 
Gkoup. 

ONONDAGA LIMESTONE.— The next in 
the ascending order is the Onondaga lime- 
stone, reaching in a well defined wall across the 1 
county, and easily traced from the Hclderberg near 
Albany to Lake Erie. This rock may be easily 
recognized by its many fossils, its gray color, crys- 
talline structure and toughness. " It abounds in 
smooth encrinal stems wiuinites lavis) which is 
found only in this rock in the State ; some of these 



II 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



6i 



stems are about an inch in diameter, and usually 
they are over half an inch. In almost all cases 
they are replaced by lamellar carbonate of lime."* 

At Split Rock, where it is extensively quarried, 
it is twenty-four feet thick. Its power to resist the 
action of air, water and frost ; its strength and 
ability to sustain great weight without crushing ; 
the ease with which it may be worked ; its evenness 
of texture and soundness, giving it capability of be- 
ing worked into elaborate mouldings, (the Court 
House in Syracuse presenting a sample of this 
quality ;) render it the most valuable stone for 
building of any known in this country. The Roch- 
ester Aqueduct and other principal structures on 
the enlarged Erie and Oswego Canals in this 
vicinity, have been made from this stone. It is used 
as a marble, bearing a hfgh polish, and presenting a 
beautiful appearance when so polished as to bring 
out the fossils perfectly. It is generally nearly pure 
lime, and when burned, will, in the process of slaking, 
so increase in bulk that two parts become five. 

Its analysis by Lewis C. Beck, gives 

Carbonate of lime 99-30 

Oxide of iron .20 

Insoluble matter, (sillica and alumina.) .40 

99,90 
The slaked lime is of purest white. This rock 
forms terraces in some places, in others it presents 
perpendicular walls for its whole thickness. The 
two most marked precipices are, the one at Split 
Rock, and the other northwest of Jamesville, near 
one of the Green Lakes. The top of the precipice 
at Split Rock is 810 feet above tide. Very little of 
the surface is exposed, the overlying rock in most 
places covering, and extending to, and forming part 
of, the perpendicular precipice before referred to. 
The local name is gray lime. The directions of the 
vertical joints of this rock are N. 33 to 35 degrees 
E.,and S. 55 to 57 degrees E., dividing the benches 
into convenient size for working. The surface 
shows slight scratches, running north and south. 
" The lower ledges of the limestone frequently con- 
tain black pebbles whose water-worn character 
admits of no doubt. When fractured they show 
identity with the sandstone nodules or accretions 
found in the Oriskany sandstone."* 

CoRNiFEROUs LiMESTONE. — Next above, and ly- 
ing on the Onondaga, are the Corniferous and 
Seneca Limestones, which are divided in the State 
Reports merely because the upper measures have 
a fossil \ Stmphoinena Lincata) not found below. 
The line of division between the Helderberg series 
and the next above is determined by these fossils. 

* Vanuxum. 



Corniferous is the name given to this limestone 
by Prof Eaton in his survey of the Erie Canal, 
from its containing flint or horn stone in nodules 
arranged in parallel layers. The lime furnished by 
this rock is not pure, especially the lower layers ; 
the upper, or what is called Seneca limestone, is 
extensively quarried at Marcellus, showing vertical 
joints and giving nearly square corners. The 
courses at the top of the quarry are about seven 
inches thick and lie immediately below the Black 
Shales ; lower down they are thicker. The Corni- 
ferous limestone may be traced by its outcrop all 
the way through the county, the top of the rock 
sometimes barely covered with earth, presenting 
plateaus which slope to the south and west in the 
direction of the dip. Near Manlius village, west of 
Jamesville, and north of Onondaga Hill, these plains 
are widest. The general width of this exposure of 
Corniferous and Seneca Limestone is less than half 
a mile. At Split Rock it is 849 feet above tide, 
and is forty feet thick. With it terminates the 
Helderberg division. 

Marcellus Shales is the name given to the 
black rock that rests on the Helderberg range. " It 
is characterized by its color and by exhaling a 
bituminous odor when rubbed. It is a slate, thin- 
bedded and easily broken, and disintegrates rapidly 
under the action of water and frost. The silico- 
argillaceous matter predominates over the calcari- 
ous. There is sufficient lime to effervesce with 
mineral acids. The lower part of the rock is more 
highly charged with lime than the upper."* It 
contains small particles of coal, and many excava- 
tions have been made in it in the hope of finding 
this valuable mineral in sufficient quantities to 
make the mining profitable. These excavations are 
no longer made, and the general spread of geologi- 
cal knowledge has taught the public' that there is 
no hope of finding coal in this rock in remunera- 
tive quantities. Its peculiar fossil is the Marce/ltis 
Goniatite, which, with some others, is represented 
in the State Reports. It also abounds in oval bodies 
called Seftaria, which are impure limestone, the 
materials of which were deposited along with the 
shaly matter ; but, in consequence of the play of 
affinities, the calcarious part separated from the 
oreat mass of shaly matter, and the molecules com- 
bined to form the bodies under consideration. Dur- 
ing the process of drying, the argillo-calcarious 
matter shrinks and cracks, forming thereby septa, 
which are subsequently filled by infiltration, either 
with calcite or the sulphate of barytes or stron- 
tian."t At Manlius, a black limestone, from five to 



*Emmons. 



\ Emmons. 



62 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



ten feet thick, is found in the midst of the shales. 
It is weathered out into extremely rough masses, so 
that the persons who worked it usually called it 
"chawtd rock'.' Its composition docs not difl'er ma- 
terially from that of the Septaria, and w ill increase in 
value and im()ortance when it is known that these 
masses make the true Roman Cement.* 

There is a /iiii/( in the rock about a mile west of 
Manlius village. It is quite local. At Marcellus 
numerous sink holes exist in the underlying stones, 
into which portions of the upper masses have fallen. 
This shale is said to be thicker in Onondaga County 
than anywhere else, forming throughout the base of 
the next group, between which and the one now 
under consideration no well defined line of division 
has yet been observed. The Marcellus Shales, in 
addition to lime, contain carbonate of magnesia. 

The line between the rocks denominated in the 
State Reports Marcrllus and Hamilton Shales, is not 
easily determined except by an examination of the 
fossils. As we ascend the sloj)e the rocks become 
more sandy, lose their color and slaty character, 
until we find ourselves upon those which arc in the 
main silicious. containing very little calc.irions or 
magnesian matter. 

IIamii,to.v Group. — "This group abounds in fos- 
sils, such as shells, corals, trilobites, fucoids, and a 
few plants resembling those of marine origin. In 
organic remains it is the most prolific of all the New 
York rocks. (The characteristic ones are repre- 
sented in the State Reports.) It extends from near 
the Hudson to Lake Erie, and consists of shale, slate 
and sandstone, with endless mixtures of these ma- 
terials They form three distinct mineral masses as 
to kinds, but not as to superposition or arrangement, 
though generally the sandy portion is in the middle 
of the group."* This rock, with the Marcellus 
Shales, covers a large part of the county south of 
the Helderbcrg range, appearing in the towns of 
Manlius. Pompcy. Onondaga, Marcellus, Skane- 
atcles, SpalTord, LaKayette, Otiscoand Tully. The 
thickness of the Marcellus and Hamilton Shales, 
by computing the dip, is fy()\ feet. The top of the 
group, at a point east of and near Skaneatclcs Lake, 
is 1 , 1 1 1 feet above tide. The two points from which 
this calculation is made, — one of them being near 
the north east corner of lot 83 of the town of On- 
ondaga, the other on the east side of Skaneatclcs 
Lake, — are distant from each other sixteen and a 
half miles in a direct line. The whole surface em- 
braced in this distance is cut into deep valleys run- 
ning nearly north and south, and at the crossing of 
every stream that flows down the slopes, the rocks 

• Vinuium. 



are exposed in steep precipices. In many places 
they are denuded of their own debris, and as a result 
vegetation is comparatively stinted. 

The Tfi.LV Limesto.nf. rests on the Hamilton 
Group and marks the line of division between it and 
the Genesee Slates. This rock varies from fourteen 
to twenty feet in thickness. It is an impure, fine- 
grained limestone, "dark or blackish blue, breaking 
into irregular fragments, owing to the particles of 
carbonate of lime separating from a mixed mass of 
innumerable points. It makes a good but not white 
lime."* It is the most southern mass of limestone 
in the State. There are two fossils wholly peculiar 
to it — the Cuboidal Atrypa, and the Tully Ortliis — 
which are represented in the State Reports. This 
rock is seen on the west side of the Delphi \'allcy 
and at Tinker's Falls, near the county line, " where 
the water flows over the rock about fifty feet, which 
projects ten or fit'teen feet beyond the shale beneath 
it. The usual fossils are present." It also appears 
at various points in the town of Tully, from which 
it takes its name. On the west side of the valley 
of Onondaga Creek and in the vicinity of Vesper, 
it has been burned for lime. It underlies nearly the 
whole of the town of Otisco. The valley of Otisco 
Lake cuts it, the outcrop being seen on both sides 
of the lake. About a mile south of Horodino, in 
the town of Spaflbrd, it presents a bold wall from 
which stone for lime and building has been taken. 
The line of the outcrop is easily traced along the 
east side of Skaneatclcs Lake, from this point till 
the county line is passed. This rock probably 
underlies and makes the floor of Cortland Valley for 
a great distance south. The most northerly point 
at which it appears is in the northeast corner of the 
town of Otisco ; but from the elevation of the town 
of Pompcy, it must underlie a considerable portion 
of that town, although it is so covered with soil that 
it cannot be seen. The Tully limestone terminates 
all those deposits in which calcarious matter forms 
an essential part. 

The Ge.nesee Slate resting on the Tully lime- 
stone, underlies and forms the hills and most of the 
soils in the south part of the towns of Pompcy, Fabius, 
Tully, Otisco and Spaflbrd. Vanuxum says of the 
rock.that it is an argillaceous fissile mass, which, with 
great propriety, might be termed in English local 
geological phraseology, a »iud rock. The few fossils 
it contains are represented in the State Reports. 
It may readily be known by its black color, slaty 
formation and position, — being between the Tully 
limestone and the sandstone flags of the base of 
the Ithaca group. 

• Vanuxum. 



II 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



63 



The Ithaca Group is the last formation that 
requires a description in giving the geology of 
Onondaga county. But a small portion of the soil 
is formed from it, as it merely appears on the tops 
of the highest hills. Vanuxum describes it as " a 
mass of hard, coarse shale and sandstone, dark in 
color, often brown after exposure, owing probably 
to manganese." A characteristic fossil is found 
near, but south of the cou^ity line, at Scott's 
Corners, the Intcrsiriate Strophomena, which is 
represented in the State Reports. Above these 
rocks, but beyond the limits of this county, rise 
the Chemung, Catskill, Old Red Sandstone. Con- 
glomerate and Coal Measures, all representing a 
northern outcrop, and having a dip that goes to 
show that the whole belongs to one upheaval from 
the sea, in which these rocks that furnish the 
material for our soils were formed during those vast 
periods of time which the Supreme Being has 
employed in storing up these resources for supply- 
ing the comforts that now surround man's happy 
dwelling places. 

Marl and Tufa. — " Marl is a carbonate of lime 
which has separated from its solvent in water, the 
latter preventing its particles from cohering 
and allowing them to subside in the state of calcari- 
ous mud. • It is in many cases constantly depositing 
from water holding lime in solution."* On the 
north side of the Helderberg range there are exten- 
sive beds of marly tufa that are due to the dissolv- 
ing of the calcarious rocks of that group. On the 
south side marl is found in various places, due to 
water percolating through limestone gravel that has 
been transported from the Helderberg group. The 
southern deposits are inconsiderable when com- 
pared with the great northern beds which extend, 
nearly unbroken, from east to west across the coun- 
ty. The principal localities of marl, due to drift de- 
posits, are in the towns of Fabius and Tully. In 
both these towns marl has been fashioned into the 
form of brick, dried and burned into lime, making a 
very superior article for finishing walls, and selling 
at about twice the price of lime burned from the 
common limestone. The lakes of Tully are con- 
stantly depositing marl. The waters that supply 
these lakes run through pebbles of limestone and 
are thus charged with calcarious matter, which in- 
crusts every twig or obstruction that it meets. 
Cicero Swamp is a bed of lake marl. Onondaga 
and Cross Lakes have many feet of it all over their 
beds. The railroad, as it approaches the tunnel east 
of Syracuse, exposes, by the excavation, a section 
of great interest, " showing in the ditch, clay. End 

* Vanuxum. 



two deposits of marl, which separate three deposits 
of muck, with stumps and roots chiefly of tamarack 
and balsam."* Southeast of the village of DeWitt, 
in excavating for the canal feeder, stumps were 
found some feet below the surface, showing that a 
forest had been destroyed by some rise in the water, 
caused perhaps by a dam of driftwood. The trees 
died and decayed to the surface of the water, the 
stumps being preserved by the water. In time 
the pond filled up with alluvium, and again there 
was a forest of cedars. In the swamp north of the 
canal, in the town of Van Buren, there is an ex- 
tensive deposit of marl, and it is found in various 
other places, in some cases pure enough to make 
valuable lime, and in others so mixed with earth as 
to be merely a calcarious clay. 

There are many places south of the Helderberg 
range where the springs deposit calcarious matter 
in the form of tufa. These masses are constantly 
increasing as the water flows over them, and casts 
off" leaves and parts of trees around them. Cal- 
carious tufa is found all along the base of the 
Helderberg range wherever a spring flows out. 
Below the gypseous rocks it is seen in large masses. 
These rocks being permeable to water, this fluid 
becomes charged with lime, and when it appears on 
the surface the tufa is deposited. The deposits 
are numerous in the towns of Manlius, De Witt 
and Camillus. " Along Nine Mile Creek it has 
the crystalline character of alabaster, showing suc- 
cessive layers also, and in quantity suitable for the 
smaller purposes for which that beautiful substance 
is used when polished."! Ferruginous tufa, stained 
with hydrate of iron, is found two and a half miles 
northeast of Syracuse in quite an extensive deposit, 
on land formerly owned by Mr. Wheeler. There 
is another and similar one on Nine Mile Creek 
below the village of Marcellus. These deposits of 
ferruginous tufa, and a small one of bog ore, on 
the Oneida River, are due to the decomposition of 
rocks containing iron, or are derived from the soil 
by the agency of decomposing vegetable matter. 
In the town of Fabius, on Limestone Creek, there 
is . a large quantity of tufa, showing the three 
varieties, — the earthy, solid or horsebone, as it is 
called, and the ferruginous. 

Peat, or Muck, is found in great abundance in 
the swamps and low grounds. The conditions nec- 
essary for its production, are permanent moisture, 
with a subsoil of either clay or marl, impermeable 
to water. It is formed of successive growths of 
vegetation which have died and become brown or 
black. It is spongy and retentive o f water, and by 

* Vanuxum. t ^'''<'- 



64 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



successive growths has raised its bed, so that it 
appcats in mounds and hillocks. In some localities 
this is aided greatly by deposits of tufa constantly 
forming beneath it. Usually the surface is soft, 
yielding to pressure and trembling when walked 
upon. In the town of Clay, in this county, are 
extensive beds of peat, which, judging from experi- 
ments recently made by Mr. James M. Hart, promise 
to be of great importance as fuel. An analysis 
of a si)ccimcn of compressed peat, from the works 
of Mr. Hart, made by Francis E. Engclhardt, I'h. D., 
Chemist for the Salt Company. Syracuse, in March, 
1877, gave the following result : 

Moisture cxjx:llcd at 212 Fah't — 12.17 

Volatile matter - -- 52.84 

Fi.xed carbon — 2462 

Ash. 10.37 



100.00 
The sjiecific gravity was found to be, after the es- 
cape of the moist air, above 1,300. 

Of the peat c/iarcoal, also made at the works of 
Mr. Hart, Ur. Engelhardt gives the following 
analysis : 

F'i.xed carbon .- 67.20 

Moisture, volatile matter and ash 32.80 

100.00 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Agkiculturk — Classiiication of Soils — Cli- 
mate— Timber — Clearing Land— Picture of 
Pioneer Life— Productions of the County. 

THE soils are the basis of agriculture, and 
therefore require first to be considered in any 
treatise on that subject. North of the Erie Canal, 
in Onondaga county, the sandy and clay soils prevail. 
The sand predominates in some districts, in others 
the clay, while in larger areas they arc mi.xcd in the 
proportions best calculated to keep the soil from 
being too heavy and tenacious, on the one hand, or 
too loose and friable, on the other. This desirable 
combination is known as loam, and is the character 
of a large portion of the drift soil in the northern 
part of the county. 

In a belt lying along the south side of the canal 
and extending to the Marccllus Shales, there is less 
of drift and the soil is more directly due to the de- 
comiwsition of the underlying rocks of the salt 
group and the I Icldcrbcrg range. These soils come 
under the head of clayey loams. The rest of the 
county to the south is divided by valleys and ranges 
of hills, whose general course is north and south. 
The valleys are covered with drift and alluvium, 



while the hills have soils formed principally from 
the decomposition of the shales that underlie them, 
constituting a soil that would best be classed as 
loam. 

The drift of the northern part of this county is 
derived from the rocks which outcrop here and 
from those which are seen farther to the north. 
The Medina sandstone contributes largely to the 
soil, in which we find also considerable portions of 
granitic rocks. The decomposing feldspar and mica 
of the granite give alkalies to the soil, which arc so 
combined with silica that they are comparatively 
unafl'ected by the water, and are retained in the soil 
for the use of plants The lime of the Helderberg 
range constitutes the principal part of the drift of 
the southern valleys, and therefore wheat is pro- 
duced in them with profit. The late David Thomas, 
in a letter to Dr. Emmons, says : 

" Generally it is good wheat land as far south as 
the detritus from our limestone formations has been 
abundantly spread. The current thai swept over this 
country took a southerly direction, and wherever the 
slate rocks were exposed to its action, a portion of 
them became mixed with the soil ; thus, near such 
localities, the soil is less calcarious and less favorable 
to wheat. The drift from our rocks grows less and 
less as we go south, and as it grows scarcer, the 
fragments have become more worn and rounded in 
their progress, giving a less and less proportion of 
the diluvial formation. About twenty miles south 
of the Pennsylvania line every trace of our rocks 
disappears. The people residing on the Susque- 
hanna used to supply themselves with lime by gath- 
ering and burning small fragments of rounded 
stones from the shores, much of them not larger 
than gravel, and which doubtless were swept from 
this district." 

Of the formation of soils Dr. Emmons says : 

" The composition, liability to solution, the struct- 
ure and position of rocks, have an important bearing 
on the discussion of the formation of soils. Each 
of the groups respectively impart to the overlying 
soils some of their distinguishing characteristics, 
and in a good measure make them what they are. 
Transporting agencies modify them by interming- 
ling soils that have originated from rocks that are 
to be found at a distance. Unless the beds of drift 
are deep, it will be found that the underlying rocks 
give a stronger character to the soft materials than 
is usually supposed. Limestones are liable to a con- 
stant loss of materials by the solvent properties of 
rain water, which holds carbonic acid in solution. 
This is favored by rough and uneven surfaces on 
which water will stand. Polished surfaces are acted 
on but little. The shales and slates disintegrate 
rapidly- water and frost arc the agents." 

Of the wearing down of silkious limestone, or 
calcarious sandstones, he says : 

"The lime dissolves out, leaving the sand on the 
surface, which falls ofiand leaves a new surface, from 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



65 



which the lime is dissolved and the sand falls. The 
dissolved lime, however, does not all pass into and re- 
main in the soil, but is carried down and forms, very 
frequently, with other materials, a hard pan, or pud- 
dling stone, or concretions, the lime acting as a 
cement. In other instances it percolates into and 
through the rocks and forms stalactites, veins or 
other deposits. Lime is removed from the soil in 
the same manner that it is from the rocks Thus 
this element is removed by vegetation and the 
ordinary action of rain water." 

These extracts, with what else has been said as 
to the formation of soils, it is judged will be suffi- 
cient for a general description of the soils of Onon- 
daga county. The composition of the rocks from 
which they are formed being given in the Geology, 
it is thought that a careful study of their constitu- 
ents, with some practical discrimination on the part 
of farmers, with reference to drift and alluvial forma- 
tions, will enable them to know, with sufficient 
certainty, what their lands are composed of, with- 
out special analysis. 

The Climate of the county is favorable to the 
growth and perfection of the fruits, vegetables and 
cereals usually cultivated, although considerable 
difference of temperature is shown in the same sea- 
son within the limits of the county, on account of 
different degrees of elevation. The differences, for 
example, between the average temperature of Pom- 
pey Hill and that of Onondaga Valley, has been 
shown by observations taken at the academies of 
the respective places, during a period of sixteen 
years, to be 4.34 deg. Fah't. The difference in alti- 
tude between the two places being 1,343 feet, the 
effect of elevation on temperature would be equal 
to one degree of the thermometer to each 309J 
feet, which agrees substantially with what has been 
claimed by Coffin and others. 

The effect of this elevation was practically illus- 
trated on the 15th day of September, 1859, the 
coldest day for the season ever known here. Every- 
thing throughout the high portions of the county 
was destroyed by frost, while it was observed by 
those descending into the valleys that tobacco and 
corn were comparatively uninjured. The frost is 
not always as severe on Pompey Hill as the tem- 
perature would indicate, on account of the free cir- 
culation of air, which sometimes prevents damage 
to crops when those in the valleys are touched and 
injured. The year referred to above was an excep- 
tional year, and yet little damage was done to crops 
except in the highest portions of the county. 

" In the town of DeWitt," says Mr. Geddes, " it was 
found that the leaves of unharvested tobacco showed 
slight injury, which grew less and less as the eleva- 
tion diminished. Below the Helderberg range the 



effect of the frost was trifling. The outer ends of 
the corn leaves were touched as by a breath of fire, 
but the husks of the ears were safe, and the crop 
went on to maturity. On the great level north of 
the Erie Canal, except in a few localities, the crops 
were scarcely affected, and the ameliorating influ- 
ence of Oneida Lake, combined with diminished 
elevation, was a perfect protection to vegetation on 
its borders. Every other large body of water did 
good service to the farmers that morning. In the 
vicinity of Skaneateles Lake, lima beans were the 
only vegetables touched. A month elapsed before 
we had another such a cold night. 

" The length of the summer season in the State 
generally, reckoning from the first blooming of the 
apple trees to the first killing frost, is 174 days. 
In Onondaga it is 17410 180, thus giving us three 
more summer days than the average of the State, 
while Long Island has twelve and a half more, and 
St. Lawrence twenty-two days less than the average 
of the State." 

Unlike the pioneer settlers of the broad and 
already cleared prairies of the great West, the first 
farmers of Onondaga county encountered a forest of 
giant growth, from whose dominion a portion of 
the soil had to be redeemed by hard and persistent 
labor, with many accompanying privations, as pre- 
liminary and necessary steps to making it yield them 
and their families a subsistence. At least one gene- 
ration was worn out in this sturdy battle with the 
giant forest, in felling the trees, burning them as 
cumberers of the ground, splitting them into rails, 
and in making clearings and improvements suffi- 
cient for comfortable homes for the next generation. 
The men who encountered the forest were the 
heroes of that age — the pioneers of civilization, 
the founders of new States. It required a hardihood 
and a perseverance which we of this generation 
can hardly appreciate. In some portions of this 
county the timber never would have been cleared 
away — never could have been — but for the fish in 
the waters and the game with which the woods 
abounded. These aided the pioneers and afforded 
them subsistence till they could raise a living from 
the soil. 

Let us follow the pioneer as he selects his home 
in the wilderness and erects his rude log cabin. 
The opening made in the woods at first is such only 
as is necessary to supply the logs for his cabin and the 
browse for his cattle. He has come a long journey 
with an ox team, and brought with him a cow, a 
couple of pigs and a few sheep. These, with a 
bed, two or three chairs, a pot and a kettle, and a 
few other indispensable articles for house-keeping, 
few and scanty, constitute his outfit and the bulk 
of his worldly wealth. The roof of his house is of 
peeled elm bark ; his scanty window is oiled paper, 



66 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



for glass is a luxurj- which has not yet found its way ' 
to the new settlement. The floor of his cabin is of 
halves of split logs, the door is made of three hewed 
plank ; no boards are to be had, for no saw mill 
is within accessible distance. There arc yet no 
roads, no bridges across the streams. Miles and 
miles away through the dense forest is his nearest 
neighbor. This is the spot which the pioneer has 
chosen in which to car\-e out his future fortune. 
Against what fearful odds is he battling .' The 
trees which cover his estate with the growth of 
centuries arc to be attacked and cleared away, and 
the land is to be paid for. The task surely is a 
herculean one, but he has a stout heart and a strong 
arm. 

A year or two pass away and we see the im- 
provements which have been made. Our pioneer 
has chopped down and cleared a few acres. The 
front is fenced with a new rail fence, and a brush 
fence protects the ends and the rear. Near the 
house is a small patch cleared for a garden. Here 
he has raised some vegetables during the season, 
which have supplied the first delicacies to his cabin 
tabic. A crop of corn, pumpkins and potatoes has 
been raised among the charred and blackened logs, 
but the distance is so great to a mill, the quantity of 
corn so small that he can carry on horseback, or the 
the time consumed in going with his oxen and sled 
so great, that he has extemporized a contrivance for 
converting his corn into coarse meal. A mortar 
has been dug out in a hard wood log, and a pestle 
suspended to a spring-pole, and in this the corn is 
being pounded to supply the needs of the family, 
except on extraordinary occasions when wheaten 
bread, from the small amount of flour procured at 
great cost, is used as a luxury. 

But look again at our pioneer. Ten years are 
supposed to have passed away. The premises, late 
so rude, begin to have the appearance of careful 
management,- thrift, and even comfort. Various 
crops arc growing on many acres of cleared land. 
A payment has been made on the property. lie 
has a neat framed barn built, a well, provided with 
curb and sweep, and a garden enclosed by a picket 
fence. A look into his fields shows a large increase 
in his stock. The improvements of his neighbors 
have reached his, so that he can now look out with- 
out looking up. A school district has been organ- 
ized, and a comfortable log school house appears in 
the distance. A framed bridge spans the stream 
in place of the primitive one built of logs. Our 
pioneer, we may venture to assume, is either Colonel 
or Captain of militia. Supervisor of the town or 
Justice of the Peace. 



Take another view of him. Forty-five years are 
supposed to have elapsed since we saw him first 
commencing his wilderness home. Not only is his 
home, but the homes of his neighbors around him, 
are in a well cultivated and rich section of farming 
country. His lands and tenements are free from 
debt. He has added to his primitive possessions, 
and secured lands for his sons, if not at home, in 
some one of the Western States, where they are 
also to become pioneers of new settlements. He 
has flocks and herds. The surplus produce in his 
granaries he is able to sell or keep, as he chooses. 
He is a forehanded, independent farmer, having 
founded and worked out his own fortune by long 
years of patient and persevering industry. As 
things have changed on his premises and in his 
home, so have they improved in the whole neighbor- 
hood around him. There are fine cultivated fields, 
thrifty orchards, tasty and substantial farm build- 
ings and neat cottages. The farms are well fenced 
and neatly kept. The steel plow, the cultivator, 
the mower and reaper, have taken the place of the 
old implements with which the pioneers began farm 
life. A prosperous hamlet has sprung up near by, 
where there are schools, churches, telegraph, express 
and post offices. This hamlet, moreover, is a rail- 
road station, affording a market, and through which 
trains pass daily to and from the great cities and 
centres of commerce and intelligence. 

Such has been pioneer life and progress in the 
State of New York generally, nor is the sketch we 
have drawn less truly a picture of early settlement 
in Onondaga county. 

The forests which the farmers in a few genera- 
tions have thus subdued, were originally dense, and 
the timber generally heavy. Large forests of white 
pine grew in the north part of the county, the 
stumps of which, on account of their resinous 
properties, last for ages in the soil. This disadvan- 
tage, however, to clearing the land, is compensated 
for in iinother direction. The soil of the pine 
lands is usually so light and porous on the surface 
that the stumps may be lifted out of their beds in 
a perfectly sound condition by means of a stumping 
machine. This valuable invention enabled the peo- 
ple of Cicero and the northern portion of the coun- 
ty to clear their otherwise valuable and beautiful 
farms of the persistent incumbrance of pine stumps 
which for years had rendered them unsightly and 
seriously interfered with their cultivation. For 
many years the road between Syracuse and Brewer- 
ton was lined on both sides with these stumps set 
up on edge for fences. Since they have been dis- 
posed of, the people of that section have as fine and 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



67 



beautiful farms as are to be found in any portion of 
the county. 

The area of the pines in Onondaga county was 
chiefly in the northern portion, although they were 
found along the base of the Helderberg range, and 
a few scattering trees grew even above the cornifer- 
ous limestone. White cedar abounded in the 
swamps north of the Helderberg range, and in 
small quantities among the pines in the southern 
swamps. Hemlock was very plenty in almost every 
part of the county, but most abundant in the north- 
ern half This valuable timber has been extensive- 
ly used for building, fencing, for making salt barrels 
and the construction of plank roads. Tamarack, 
two varieties of spruce, hickory, white-wood, bass- 
wood, maple, beech, and white and black oak, have 
been prevailing timber in this county. 

Along the south side of the Gypseous shales 
were some pine trees of uncommon dimensions. 
Near the northeast corner of the town of Camillus, 
one was cut down that measured 230 feet as it lay 
on the ground ; another near it gave 154 feet of 
saw logs. They grew on land owned by Wheeler 
Truesdell. 

Some very large white oaks were found in the 
low lands north of the canal, and scattered among 
the scrub oaks of the Gypseous shales. One of 
them at Fairmount was saved when the other 
timber was cut away, but deprived of its surround- 
ings, it soon died, and of consequence was cut down. 
The stump was five feet in diameter, and forty feet 
above, where the trunk was somewhat eliptical, the 
respective diameters measured four feet six inches, 
and three feet ten inches. 

The progress of improvement has swept away 
nearly all the original forests, so that not enough 
now remains to meet the demands for fuel. The 
coal mines of Pennsylvania are now largely drawn 
upon, not only by the manufacturers of salt, and 
inhabitants of the city of Syracuse and adjoining 
villages, but also by the farmers. 

From the first settlement of the county the " oak 
lands," as they have been called by the farmers, 
have been proverbial for their ability to produce 
wheat. All that tract of land once covered with 
oak and hickory, is the true wheat land ; the beech 
and maple lands are best adapted to pasturage, and 
the pine lands are generally well suited both to grain 
and grass. 

We have not space to introduce here the interest- 
ing discussion of the clover plant as related to the 
agriculture of the county, the analyses of clover 
and clover ash furnished by Prof. Emmons and 
others ; but refer the reader to Transactions of the 



New York State Agricultural Society for 1859, in 
which the subject is elaborately treated by Hon. 
George Geddes. 

Wheat.— Previous to the year 1846, Onondaga 
county produced wheat of the best quality, and in 
such quantities that it was the great staple and the 
crop from which the farmers expected to realize 
their profits. In that year the midge destroyed the 
crop, and opened the eyes of the farmers to a dan- 
ger they had not anticipated. The first remedy 
was the substitution of a variety of wheat then lit- 
tle esteemed, the Mediterranean, which, on trial, es- 
caped the ravages of the insect. At once this 
wheat was in demand for seed, and has since come 
into general use. It has gradually improved on the 
natural wheat soil of the county, till the flour made 
from it is perhaps equal in quality to that of the red 
chaff" wheat formerly raised. Since the ravages of 
the midge began, more spring wheat has been raised 
than formerly. A portion of the lands of the coun- 
ty, the upper measures of the Hamilton group and 
the Genesee slates, represented in the town of 
Spaffbrd, are best adapted to spring wheat, while 
Camillus and the lands situated on the shales of 
the Salt group, are best adapted to the production 
of winter wheat. 

Meadows and Pastures.— Over thirty per cent, 
of the improved lands of this county are devoted to 
pasture, and over eighteen per cent, to meadow. 
Red clover, timothy, and red-top are sown and cul- 
tivated for pasture and hay. It is very rare that 
any other grass seeds are sown, but in most of the 
meadows and pastures which have stood a few 
years, white clover, spear grass, Kentucky blue 
grass, orchard grass, &c., make their appearance. 
In ordinary seasons, good farming will secure not 
less than two tons of hay to the acre, and this can 
be cut and properly taken care of for about $2.00 
per ton. 

Tobacco. — The cultivation of tobacco as a crop 
was commenced in this county by Chester Moses 
and Nahum Grimes, both of the town of Marcellus, 
in 1845. They joined in hiring a man from Con- 
necticut who was skilled in the culture. In 1846, 
Col. Mars Nearing, then of the town of Salina, 
raised ten acres, and soon others were engaged in a 
small way in raising this crop. The census of 
1855 shows that in the preceeding year 471 1-8 
acres were raised in the county, yielding 554,987 
pounds, or an average yield of 1,178 pounds to the 
acre. It is thought that this crop pays a better 
profit, on suitable ground, and when skillfully 
handled, than any other raised here. The produc- 
tion in 1859 was estimated by Mr. Benjamin Clark 



68 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



of Marcellus, as amounting in value to $150,000, of 
which $25,000 worth was produced in Marcellus, 
$10,000 worth in Skancateles, $20,000 worth in 
Van Buren, $10,000 worth in Lysander, $8,000 
worth in Manlius, $5,000 worth in Camillus, $4,000 
worth in Geddes, $8,000 worth in Salina. §6,000 
worth in Elbridgc, $8,000 worth in Onond»ga. and 
the remainder divided among the other towns. 

In 1870. the census gave 1,255.400 pounds of 
tobacco raised in the county, distributed among the 
towns as follows : Camillus. 51.770 : Cicero, 7,638 ; 
Clay, 123.039; DeWitt. 38,016; Elbridge, 2,808; 
Geddes, 3,900 ; LaP'ayettc, 475 ; Lysander, 465.585 ; 
Manlius, 1 22.1 51 ; Marcellus. 45.293 ; Onondaga, 
10,500; Pomi)ey, 37,295; Salina, 31.550; Skanc- 
ateles, 33.150; Van Hurcn, 266,640. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Comparative Statistics — Influential Aoki- 
cuLTUKisTs — County Agricultural Socie- 
ties— Thk Present Joint Stock Company — 
General Agricultural Statistics of the 
County. 

ONONDAGA is one of the five counties of 
the State having farms of the highest cash 
valuation, the aggregate value of her farms being 
$37,251,541. This is exceeded only by Monroe, 
Oneida, Westchester, and St. Lawrence counties, 
whose farms are valued respectively at §42,047,759, 
$40.21 1.650. $39o05.S35. and $38.3W.743- 

The county of Onondaga has the largest' amount 
of money invested in farm buildings other than 
dwellings, the aggregate being $4,798,545. The 
counties which come nearest this amount arc re- 
spectively, Dutchess, $4,718,928 ; Orange, $4,631,- 
345 ; Oneida, $4,571,453 ; and St. Lawrence, $4,- 
222,099. 

The gross sales of all the farm products of the 
State in 1875 were $121,187,467. Of this amount 
Onondaga county contributed $3,667,933. while she 
was the fourth in the number of acres plowed, 
namely, 1 19.340 acres. She was the fourth county 
also in Indian corn, her product being 894,723 
bushels. In the yield of oats she was only exceeded 
by four counties in the State. 

The counties cutting the largest number of 
fleeces of wool in 1875 were Steuben. 80,617 ; Liv- 
ingston, 68,832; Washington, 63,359; Ontario, 
60,219; Genesee, 47.779; and Onondaga, 41,956. 
All these counties cut fewer fleeces than in 1855, 
although the weight of the fleeces in each county 
is increased. 

This county had among its early citizens some of 



the leading agriculturists of the State, both theo- 
retical and practical. None took an earlier or 
more prominent part than the President of the first 
Agricultural Society of the county — Hon. Dan 
Bradley, of Marcellus. He was a graduate from 
Vale in the class of 1798, and received the degree 
of M. A. at the age of twenty-three. He was a 
native of Haddam, Conn , where he was born June 
10, 1767. The date of his settlement in Marcellus 
was September, 1795, after having spent several 
years as a minister of the gospel, in New Hartford, 
Oneida county. Mr. Bradley devoted himself to 
a scientific study of farming theoretically, as well 
as following it practically as a pursuit, and it is 
claimed that the improvement of agriculture in the 
county, and in this whole section of the State, is 
due more to his influence than to that of any other 
man. Indeed, this may be sakl of the State at 
large, inasmuch as he was chiefly instrumental in 
securing the passage of the law for the benefit of 
agricultural societies in 1819. He contributed some 
of the ablest papers and articles of his day to the 
State Agricultural Reports and the leading agricul- 
tural journals.* 

Mr. John Ellis, father of James M. Ellis, Esq., 
of Syracuse, was the first to introduce merino 
sheep into the county. In 1796 he settled on Lot 
103. in the town of Onondaga. About 1802 or 1803, 
he purchased of Col. Humphrey, of Connecticut, two 
bucks and two ewes, of the pure merino stock 
which Col. Humphrey had imported from Spain, 
paying $1,500 for the four head. Mr. Ellis bred 
these sheep extensively on his farm and laid the 
foundation of wide improvement in the stock of 
fine wooled sheep throughout the country. After 
his death, Mr. James M. Ellis continued to breed 
fine flocks of these sheep on the farm formerly 
owned by his father, till 1854. 

Mr. Davis Cossitt, of Onondaga Hill, has also 
been an extensive breeder of merino sheep, and 
has at present a very fine flock. 

Timothy Sweet was one of the earliest and best 
known farmers of the county. He emigrated to 
Pompey in 1794, reaching what is now the " Old 
Homestead " on the 28th of January, where within 
eight days Kneeland Sweet was born. Within 
three months after his arrival Mr. Timothy Sweet 
was elected to the office of fence viewer, and at the 
next town meeting to the office of Commissioner 
of Highways. In this capacity he labored for many 
years, and assisted in laying out most of the roads 
in the original town. He soon became a promi- 
nent, if not the leading, farmer in the town, and 

* See Hiitsrjr of Mucellui. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



69 



one of the first in the county. In 1803, he pur- 
chased of Dr. Mordecai Hale, of New York City, 
two cows of Mr. Livingston's importation. These 
were of the best short-horned stock of that day. 
From 1800 to 1817 he was the most prominent ' 
farmer in the county, tilling more land and produc- 
ing the most grain, cattle, horses and sheep. About : 
this time he divided his property among his children 
and retired from active life.* ] 

Hon. George Geddes, of Fairmount, has been | 
among the leading agriculturists of this section of 
the State. He has devoted much attention to the 
subject both practically and scientifically, having j 
contributed articles on various branches of agricul- \ 
ture to the Country Gentleman, the New York Tri- 
biine, and other journals. His able report, includ- 
ing the result of his survey of the county, pub- 
lished in the Transactions of the State Agricultural 
Society for 1859, contains a more complete view of 
the topography, geology and resources of the 
county, together with the methods and history of 
its agriculture, than can be found elsewhere. Mr. 
Geddes as a member of the State and local Agri- 
cultural Societies, has ever been an earnest and 
efficient worker in behalf of all measures calculated j 
to promote the agricultural interests of his county 
and State. 

Enoch Marks, of the town of Camillus, was for 
many years prominently connected with agricultural 
matters, and had much to do with the introduction of 
improved stock. In the fruit and nursery business, 
the name of Alanson Thorp is as prominent as any ; 
in the county. He founded the nurseries on West ' 
Genesee street, known as the Syracuse Nurseries. 

The rich soil of Onondaga and the enterprise of 
her citizens stimulated movements for the benefit 
of agriculture at an early period. The first Agri- 
cultural Society of the county was formed at Onon- 
daga Hill in the spring of 18 19. During the ses- ' 
sion of the Legislature of the preceding winter an 
act had been passed by which a large fund was ap- 
propriated for the benefit of agricultural societies 
throughout the State. Onondaga county became 
entitled to 1^300 of this fund on condition that she 
should raise an equal amount and form an agricul- 
tural society. The first meeting was held on the 4th 
of May, 1819, at which a constitution was'adopted 
and the following officers chosen, viz : Dan Bradley, 
President ;^Squire Munro, Martin Cossitt, Augustus 
Wheaton, Vice-Presidents ; Job Tyler, Recording- 
Secretary ; George Hall and A. Yelverton, Corres- 
ponding Secretaries ; Leonard Bacon, Treasurer ; 
H. L. Granger, Auditor ; L. H. Redfield, D. W. 

* Re-union and History of Pompey, p. 353. 1 



Forman, O. W. Brewster, Committee on Publication. 

The first Fair was held at Onondaga Valley, 
November 2, 1819; an address was delivered by 
the President, and premiums amounting to over 
^200 were awarded. Fairs continued to be held 
with more or less success for about six years, when 
the society fell into decay, and was soon practically 
abandoned. 

On the 9th of April, 1838, the Legislature passed 
an act (Chap. 179) for the reorganization of the 
" Onondaga County Agricultural Society" The 
Trustees named in the act were, James L. Voor- 
hees, David Munro, Harvey Baldwin, Sanford C. 
Parker, George Geddes, Willis Gaylord, Henry F. 
King, Grove Lawrence, Aaron Burt, Oliver Teall, 
George Pettit and Rufus Cossit. 

Thus reorganized, the society continued to exist, 
but did not meet the expectations of its founders. 
In 1 84 1, it received an appropriation of $\%o from 
the State. 

In 1 85 3 a new law was passed, allowing county 
agricultural societies to purchase and hold real es- 
tate to an amount not exceeding $25,000, and per- 
sonal property not exceeding $1,000, for the pur- 
poses set forth in their articles of incorporation, and 
for no other purposes. Town and other societies 
might hold real estate to the amount of §10,000, and 
personal property to the amount of $3,000. Each 
county and union society should have at least one 
director or manager for each town ; and each town, 
village or city society should have not less than ten 
directors, who should be elected annually by ballot. 
Upon application of two-thirds of their members to 
the Supreme Court of their district, these societies 
might also obtain an order for the sale of a part or 
the whole of their property. An amendment to 
the act was passed April 13, 1855, by the provisions 
of which the number of directors was changed to 
si.x, two of whom were elected each year for a term 
of three years. Any person could become a life 
member by the payment of a sum not exceeding 
$10, and the officers were jointly and severally 
liable for all debts due from the society contracted 
while they were in office, if suit should be com- 
menced within one year of the time when due. 
Each society formed under these acts was obliged 
to report annually to the State Agricultural So- 
ciety. 

Under these acts the Onondaga County Agricul- 
tural Society was reorganized on the 25th of Janu- 
ary, 1856. The following report is taken from the 
Daify Standard oi January 28, 1856: 

" Agricultural Society. — The Annual Meet- 
ing of the Onondaga County Agricultural Society 



70 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



was held at the City Hall in Syracuse, January 25, 
1856. The President, Mr. Wotxlruff. called the 
meeting to order, and appointed Messrs. Seth 
Hutchinson, V. V. Nottingham and B. J. Cowles a 
Committee to examine applications for Premiums 
on farm crops. * * * ' " 

The Committee on Reorganization reported that 
they had prepared the necessary papers, &c.,and 
the Society proceeded to the election of the follow- 
ing officers : 

Prtsiiifnl. — Sc[\nrc M. Hrown, Elbridge. 

\sf I'tce-Ptesitiait. — Vcrry H. Hinsdcll. Clay. 

2ti \'icc-Presiiiait. — H. J. Cowles, Otisco. 

Secretary. — H. D. Didama, Salina. 

Treasurer. — VV. R. Strong, Syracuse. 

DIRECTORS. 

One Year. — Danvin L. Pickard, Thomas W. Hill. 
Two Years.—]. G. Kendall, Alfred Cobb. 
Three Years. — Morris Beard, John R. Strong. 
Delegates to the State Society at Albany, Febru- 
ary 14, 1856 : 



Horace White, 
J. M. Munro, 
E. Marks, 

C. A. Baker, 

J. C. Woodruff, 
J. S. Davis. 
S. M. lirown, 
E. D. Cobb, 
Luther Baker, 

D. C. Munro, 
N. H. Noyes, 
W. D. Stewart, 
I. Garrison, 

N. P. Eaton, 
J. M. Strong, 
George B. Sceley, 
John Moschcll, 



Vivus W. Smith, 
J. Dean llawicy, 
H. D. Didama, 
M. Compton, 
Moses Summers, 
J. G. K. Truair, 
J. Toggitt, 
P. H. Hinsdell. 
Smith Ostrom, 
Thomas Hutchinson. 
J. G. Hinsdcll, 
Hamilton White, 
Charles W. Ilovey, 
Caleb Brown, 
George Atwell, 
B. J. Cowles, 
Joseph Breed, 
Richard Adams. 



D. T. Mosely, 

The above Society, although it purchased Fair 
Grounds east of the Onondaga Creek adjoining the 
plot of Danforth,and expended considerable money 
in fixtures and premiums, was never a financial 
success. The F"air Grounds were sold January 19, 
1866, by James Munro, trustee and agent for the 
subscribers to the fund, and have since been cut up 
into lots. 

The Annual Fairs of the State Agricultural So- 
ciety were held at Syracuse in 1841, in 1849 and in 
1858. 

The present County Agricultural Society was 
organized on the 9th of February, 1878. It is a 
joint stock Company, incorporated under the general 
law with the following Board of Trustees : 

Joseph J. Glass, W. H. H. Gere. William II. 
Gifford, John Wells, Earl B. Alvord, Sidney Lewis. 

The capital stock of the Society is Sicx3,cxx), di- 
vided into shares of 5 10 each. 

The Trustees of the Society met Feb. 9, at the 



rooms of the Milk Association. Present — Joseph 
J. Glass, E. B. Alvord, W. H. H. Gere, Sidney 
Lewis, and John Wells. Absent — Wm. H. Gifford. 

Mr. Glass was, on motion of Mr. Alvord, ap- 
pointed chairman, and P. H. Agan secretary fro 
tetn. 

The following officers were then chosen, to-wit : 

President— V.6\\an\ A. Powell, of Syracuse. 

First I'ice-Prestiieul — Edward B. Judson, of Syra- 
cuse. 

Secretary —V2^.t\cV. H. Agan, of Syracuse. 

7><viJ«nr— Warren C. Brayton, of DeWitt. 

V^ice-Pkesioents from Towns and Wards — 
Camillus, Theodore F. Rhodes ; Cicero, Addison 
J. Loomis ; Clay, Thomas H. Scott; DcWitt, 
Hiram K. Edwards; Elbridge, James Brown; 
Geddcs, Thomas Andrews ; Fabius, Orel Pope ; 
LaFayettc, Russell King ; Lysander, DeWitt C. 
Toll ; Manlius, Charles Peck ; Marcellus, Robert 
E. Dorchester: Onondaga, Aaron Henderson; 
Otisco, Hicks Redway; Pompey, Major Berry; 
Frank W. Terry ; Skaneatcles, E. H, 
; Spafford, Justus N. Knapp ; TuUy, Samuel 
Van Buren, Augustus W. Bingham : First 
Ward, John Eastwood ; Second Ward, C. Fred 
Herbst ; Third Ward, Hiram Kingsley ; Fifth 
Ward, William A. Sweet ; Sixth Ward, John R. 
Whitlock ; Seventh Ward, James M. Ellis; Eighth 
Ward, Alvah W. Palmer. 



Salina, 
Adams ; 
Willis 



Table showing Number and Size of Farms by Towns, 
in Onondaga County, at the Census of 1875. 



NUMBER OF FARMS 



CIVIL DIVIS- 
IONS. 



i '5 



1 M 



1 



Camillus 

Cicero 

Clay 

De Witt 

Elbridge 

Fabius 

Geddes 

La Fayette . . . 
Lysander . . , 

Manlius 

Marcellus. . . 
Onondaga . . 

Otisco 

Pompey 

Salina 

Skaneateles . 
Spafford ..... 

Syracuse. 

Tully 

Van Buren. . 

Total.... 



185 .. 

390 . . 

452 12 

261 .. 

246 . . 

228 I 

74 •• 

3«« •• 

473 •• 



9 

25 
26 

4 
8 

»4 

7 

14 

31 



5! 27 

8[ 70 



459 «7 57 
306 
651 
234 5 'o 
«4 39 
7 



535 
»79 
34" 
263 
10 
148 
256 



6,001 



34 
18 

19 

3 
6 
5 



81 415 



'o 35 
40 109 

44 "9 

29 ' 71 

25 ; 49 
«3 39 

9 I 31 

30 I 72 

33 «>o 
52 119 

34 70 
9* "43 
23 46 
49 84 
39 43 



42 
20 



66 
36 
••• 5 

10 2! 
20 23 



56 
128 
168 

8S 
81 

59 

25 

104 

«7' 
116 

96 
169 

74 
»74 

33 

97 

102 

3 

41 

92 



\ I 

8 :§, 



74 1 

88.. 
82 I 

72'.. 
83.. 

99 J 

M, I 

91.. 

136 » 
98.. 

74.. 
169 .. 

76.. 
«75-- 

23 •• 
114 I 

'?:: 

70.. 

86.. 



614 1311 1,873 '698 9 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



71 



Table showing by Towns the Area of Farm Lands ; the Value of Farms, of Farm Buildings, of Live 
Stock and of Implements ; the Area of Crops, and the Amount of Agricultural Productions of Onon- 
daga County. — Census of 1875.^ 



AREA OF LAND IN FARMS. 



PRESENT CASH VALUE, 



CIVIL DIVISIONS. 



Improved. 



Acres. 



Camillas 18,033 

Cicero 19,460 

Clay 23,286 

De Witt i 16,205 

Elbridge I 18,001 

Fabius 20,648 

Geddes 4,521 

La Fayette i 19,863 

Lysander : 31,584 

Manlius 24,550 

Marcellus 1 7,067 

Onondaga 35,07S 

Otisco j 14,591 

Pompey | 35,278 

Salina ' 6,642 

Skaneateles 20,929 

Spafiford 16,298 

City of Syracuse... 416 

TuUy 12,586 

Van Buren ] 18,483 

Total 373-516 



Unimproved. 



Woodland. 



2,337 
5,043 
3,076 
1,626 
1,870 

5,769 
386 

3,299 

3-999 
2,077 

1,993 
4,266 
3,100 

5,136 
282 

2,569 

2,747 

10 

2,581 
2,259 



Other. 



Of Farm nt t- i j Cost of Ferti-Amou't of Gross 

Of Farms. BuUdings Of Stock. Ot ipols and Uzers bought Saks from 

other than , Implements. -^ ,3,^8 j,^_^^ .^ ^^^^ 

Dwellings. 1 j 



Acres. 



Dollars. 



Dollars. 



Delia 



Dollars. 



Dollars. 



240 
3,445 
2,563 



1-597 

681 

180 

1,342 

2,487 

2,263 

878 

670 

1,158 

428 

3,608 

801 

270 

334 

SI 



2,0-0,135 
2,079,027 

2,485,143 
2,336,025 

1,920,935 
1,179,280 

864,300 
1,669,475 
2,871,645 
2,895.182 
1.576,942 
4-351-440 

990,834 
2,719,8x9 

944,348 
2,163,935 
1,113.446 

257,500 

891,950 
1,880,180 



251,645 

244,475 
325,000 
240,185 
221,025 
154,640 

112,425 
208,780 

359,440 

389,005 
263,430 

458,054 
141,485 
441,381 
109,630 

327,895 
172,580 

33,320 

122,425 
221,725 



210,879 

245-315 
268.318 
190,232 
185,156 

170,955 

74,270 

192,562 

382,037 

303,409 
186,311 
344,166 

132,323 
361,186 

86,470 
219,310 
171,867 

13.825 

113,885 
205,295 



73,960 

93,079 
106,201 

81, 545 
61,979 
40.955 
24,640 
62,285 
92,840 
89.977 
65,361 

161,413 
46,500 

108,363 
30,805 

97,384 
65,428 

7-530 
29,415 
65,052 



787 
146 
691 
383 
943 
16 

34 

146 

700 

1,348 

665 

9,314 

60 

200 

1,235 
4,780 

854 

153 

144 

874 



Dollars. 



199,312 

179,613 
261,805 
192,1 10 
178,117 
136,010 
60,821 
169,234 
292,198 
238,963 
144,654 
431,076 

105.143 
306,232 
110,230 
214,137 
145,758 
10,945 
93,792 
207,783 



54.425 25,224 37,251,541 4,798,545 4,057.771 1,404,987 23,473 3,677,923 



AREA PLOWED. 



CIVIL DIVISIONS. In 1874. In 1875. 



GRASS LANDS. 



BARLEY. 



Acres. Acres. 



Camillus 6,336 

Cicero 5,659 

Clay 8,665 

De Witt 5.390 

Elbridge 6,394 

Fabius 3,557 

Geddes 1,498 

La Fayette 6,295 

Lysander 9,8 11 

Manlius 7,97o 

Marcellus ' 6,109 

Onondaga 12,200 

Otisco 4,148 

Pompey 9,994 

Salina : 2,207 

Skaneateles , 7,735 

Spafford ' 5,175 

City of Syracuse. 227 

Tally 3,018 

Van Buren 6 596 

Total 118,984 



6,012 
S,6i8 

8,550 

5. 131 
6,990 
3.760 
1.459 
6,450 
9,221 

7,864 
6,228 

11,643 

4,556 

10,584 

2,389 

7.793 

5.525 

216 

3,135 
6,216 



Ake.\ in Pasture. 



Area Mown-. 



In 1874. 



Acres. 

4,939 
6,267 

5.912 

5. 148 

4,424 

10.028 

993 
5,721 
9,693 
6.279 
S.660 

8,46s 

4.271 

11,542 

1,628 
5.560 
6.154 
84 
4,336 
4-591 



In 1875. 



1874. 



■875. 



4,934 
6,268 

5,721 

5,145 
4,365 
9.-933 
965 
5-615 
9,553 
6,370 

5-455 
8,626 
4,226 
11.396 
1,649 
5,516 
5,981 
90 
4,272 
4,457 



Acres. 



Aa'es. 



3,554 
6,519 
8,368 

5,o°9 
3.279 
6.566 
1,029 

S.299 
7,050 
6,822 

3,856 
9,200 
3,416 
10,181 
1,739 
5,207 
4837 
153 
3,213 
3,257 



3.249 
6,719 
8,489 
5,060 

3,242 
6,563 
1,053 
5-046 
6,853 
6,829 

3.723 
9,118 

3,287 
9.777 
1,744 
4,941 
4,845 
135 
3,264 
3,127 



Hay 
produced 

1874. 



Grass 

Seed 



119,340 ' 111,69s 110,537 98,55+ 97,064 



5.330 
8,996 

11,336 
6,770 
4.422 
7,986 

1,734 

6,567 

10,038 

9,504 
4 945 

12,954 
4,535 

13.187 
2,566 
6,380 
6,403 
193 
4,074 
_ 4.361 

132.281 



590 
281 

333 

336 

267 

42 

16 

225 

31° 
770 
74 
843 
321 
120 

67 

272 

383 

154 
323 



1.242 

26 

89 

148 

1.564 

132 

102 

521 
564 
816 
516 

1.034 
307 

1,291 

821 

739 
20 

124 

239 



Produced. 



P7*'"''- 1874. I .875. I ■S74. 



Bushels. Acres. Acres. Bushels. 



1.538 

27 

I 10 

242 

1.950 
186 
164 
838 
877 

739 
1,055 
1,429 

535 

2,125 

6 

1,299 

1,057 

298 
414 



32,289 

458 

2,036 

2,618 

40,494 

4,050 

3.190 
15,118 

13,317 
18,262 
13,820 
26,609 
7,027 
33,67s 

18,704 

17.742 

500 

3.439 
5.967 



5,727 10,395 14889 261,215 



72 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Table showing by Towns the Area of Farm Lands ; the Value of Farms, of Farm Buildings, of Live 
Stock and of Implements ; the Area of Crops, and the Amount of Agricultural Productions of Onon- 
daga County.— Census of 1875. — (Continued.) ^ 



. LAT. 



INDIAN CORN. 



OATS. 



RYE. 



AUA. 



I 



CIVIL DIVISIONS. 



ilH 



Aam. 



Prodocnl. 

i»7}. It74. |»74. 



AUA. 



Aero. Bmhtlt. Acm. 



Camillus 46 

Cicero 319 

Clay 412 

I)e Witt 179 

Elbridge 107 

Fabius 89 

Geddes 19 

LaFayette 143 

Lysandcr 331 

Manlius 276 

Marccllus 231 

Onondaga 372 

Otisco 178 

Pompey 719 

Salina 41 

Skaneateles 300 

SpalTord 120 

City of Syracuse 

Tully 126 

Van Buren 101 

Total 4,ioy 



29 
187 
41 (J 

129 



3 

«>3 

»»3 
240 
279 

»77 
129 
679 

12 
278 

99 

94 
34 



703 
4.729 
7.0S3 
2,3 «» 
1,919 

>.f'4S 
204 

2.45^ 
5.00s 
3.434 

6,036 
3,100 

"."3 
478 

5. 243 
2.«S4 

2,217 
1.469 



1,541 
1,601 

'.895 

'.427 

1,627 

461 

24s 
1,012 

2.770 
2,030 
1,181 
2,217 

49' 
1,366 

480 
".57' 

596 

324 
2.053 



l»7J 



Pmluccd. 
I1T4. 



Area. 



It74. 



■•75. 



Produced. 
"•74. 



Acitfc 



Acre*. 



Attn. 



1,676 
".740 
2 040 
1,650 
'.839 

443 

276 

1. 1 06 

2.935 
2.210 

1.326 

2.59' 

547 

1,626 

5o« 

'.752 

722 

33 

37' 

2.254 



54.890 
46.722 

55.087 
83S'3 
55.859 
18,830 
10,380 

36,744 
104,561 

58.857 
42,636 
76,508 
18,202 

45694 
'4.755 
57.213 
20,141 

1.363 
'0,783 
81,985 



'.444 
2,52' 

3.075 
1,872 
1,644 
2,006 
396 
2,886 
2,948 
1,681 
1,666 

3.7'3 
2,015 

3.943 
568 i 
1,808 
1,7961 
38 
'.572 
2,071 



'.339 
2.370 
3067 
1,868 
1.497 
2.073 

343 
3.'32 
2,811 
2,718 
1,711 
3.721 
2.307 
3.9601 

629; 
2,109 
'.9'2 
37i 
».8o3| 
2,131 



BoibcU. 



44.607 

79.'25 
96,400 
66,702 
53.726, 
72,637 
'4.463 
9'.4'7 
92.124 

87.284 

5'. 748 

120,924 

63.116 

124472 
19,009 
56,085 
57.777 
'.3 -'5 
55.4'7 
71,600 



AllBA SOWK. 



1»7I. 



J2 
141 
262 
126 



3 
167 

30 

10 

6 



>»74. 



Acm. 



136 
271 
100 

»9 



2 

'63 

22 

6 

'7 



Produced. 

1874. 



'5 

176 

• • • * 


188 

• • • • 


• • • fl 

I 

3 


• • • • 

4 
7 



122 

'.836 

3."S 

'.7'4 

23' 



50 

2.355 

4" 

"5 
90 

2,225 
3.'5» 



a; 
40 



3.221 65,935 24.920 27.638 894,723 40,663 4'.548 i,3'9.958 967 935 I '3i48a 



SPRING WHEAT. 



WINTER WHEAT. 



I.ER 



BEANS. 



PEAS. 



CIVIL DIVISIONS. 



AuA. A ISA Sown. 

Produced. Produced. 



1I74. >»7J. 



Acne. Acres. 



»»74. 



i»7l. «»74. 



Butheb. Acre*. Aciei. 



»874. 



•»74. 



Area. 



U75. 



1874. ; «87i. 



Biulielt. Acm. Acres. Acres. Acres. 



Camillus 62 

Cicero 52 

Clay 100 

DeWitt 25 

Elbridge i • 54 

Fabius 97 

Geddes 14 

LaFayette 273 

Lysander 126 

Manlius ' 65 

Marcellus 200 

Onondaga 593 

Otisco 293 

Pompey 49^ 

Salina 5 

Skaneateles 225 

Spafford 360 

City of Syracuse 25 

Tully ' '30 

Van Buren 157 

Total 3.354 



28 


793 


2,472 


2.550 


34 


657 


925 


9'5 


64 


1,090 


1,290 


1,210 


10 


324 


1,222 


I 162 


38 


748 


2.562 


2,879 


64 


'.433 


360 


327 


11 


400 


459 


481 


'3' 


3.582 


'.376 


'.359 


97 


2,024 


2.755 


2.778 


58 


1,101 


1,885 


'.895 


60 


2,636 


1.600 


1,880 


350 


10,250 


3.364 


3.4" 


187 


4.365 


718 


776 


304 


6,826 


'.344 


'.304 


5 


58 


277 


558 


68 


2.957 


2.214 


»-359 


260 


4,622 


701 


699 


26 590 


25 


.... 


121 1,624 


57' 


662 


86 2,645 


2,484 


2.474 



49.999 

12,479 
17,104 
22,923 

52.503 

6,336 

8.727 

24.348 

52. '85 

3'.36o 

30.454 

63.651 

12,671 

20,434 

5.' 79 

42,622 

12.237 

607 

10,851 

52,090 



43 
93 
69 

'47 
30 
94 
9 
74 
27 
58 
3' 

'75 
40 

210 

126 
84 
62 
8 
84 
»9 



37 
78 
53 
'35 
23 
69 
6 

54 
'7 
36 

35 
170 

3' 

'55 
86 
82 

64 
12 

73 
10 



36 I 

44 [ 
1 1 ' 
40 

2 

I 
22 
54 
33 
33 
29 
'5 
24 

I 

19 
71 

29 
12 



28 

27 

50 

8 

3» 
2 

5' 
28 

30 
22 

2! 

I 

72 

3 
21 

lOI 



29 
18 



Aksa. 



Produced. 






Produced. 


1874. 


1874. 


1875. 


1874. 


Buhsls. 


Acres. 


Acm 


Bnihelt. 



2,002 48,725 28,604 29.379,5287601,483 1226 , 513 543 



635 
1.542 
1,410 

968 

44 

446 

196 

778 

405 

1,219 

1,171 

2,501 

961 

5.784 

205 
820 

7'4 
326 

7,133 1104 989 20,125 



614 
430 
5'6 
209 
528 
37 
24 
229 
694 
36' 
552 
542 

'93 
297 

27 

280 
900 



35 
77 
84 

53 
4 

24 

10 

40 

16 I 

76 

58 
"5 

38 
365 

II 

38 



502 39 
198 I 21 



16 
99 
SS 
33 
10 

24 
II 
30 

22 
48 
48 

117 
31 

350 

7 
8 

22 

43 

as 



I 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



73 



Table showing by Towns the Area of Farm Lands ; the Value of Farms, of Farm Buildings, of Live 
Stock and of Implements ; the Area of Crops, and the Amount of Agricultural Production's of Onon- 
daga County. — Census of 1875. — (Continued.) 



CIVIL DIVIS- 
IONS. 



HOPS. 



P0T.\T0ES. 



TOBACCO. 



APPLE ORCHARDS. 



Area. 



Area. 







Produced. 
1S74. 


1S74. 


187s. 




1874. 


IS75. 


1S74. 



Acres. Acres. 



Pounds. 



Acres. Acres. 



Bushels. 



Area. 


Produced. 

1S74. 


Trees. 


Fruit 
produced. 

1874. 


Cider 
made 

1874. 


18-4. I87S. 


Sq. Rods. Sq. Rods. 


Pounds. 


Number. 


Bushels. 


Barrels. 



Camillus. . . , 

Cicero 

Clay 

De Witt ... 
Elbridge. . . 

Fabius 

Geddes. . . . 
La Fayette. 
Lysander . 
Manlius. . . . 
Marcellus. . 
Onondaga . 

Otisco 

Pompey. . . . 

Salina 

Skaneateles 
Spafford ... 
Syracuse. . . 

Tully 

Van Buren . . 
Total . . , 



31 

4 
21 



16 

78 



5 
35 
32 
34 

I 

15 



292 



3 1,750 533 

1 618 

5 1,35° 852 

50 19.950 444 

4 4,816 377 
23 8,977 250 

253 

2 1,900 448 

18 8,305 935 

116 41,512 579 

269 

1,061 

12 800 359 

34 8,600 650 
60 27,917 447 

35 24-797 347 
8 430 256 

15 10,000 26 

159 

17 6,800 423 

403 167,904 9,286 



685 

73' 
1,038 
527 
435 
289 
219 
464 
1,298 
623 
279 

1,147 

327 
662 

575 
353 
254 
24 
170 
661 



62,492 
60,186 

92,579 
48,136 
44,865 
33,222 
34,560 

55,979 

102,079 

58,225 

33010, 
134,636 
49,520 
81,465 
49,924 
41,546 
33.656 
3,290 
23,595 
53-444 



10,160 
4,720 

28,200 
4,320 

12,460 



2,160 


> 5, 120 


> 30,440 


' 5,000 


) 8,680 
3 



68,677 

32,547 
199,877 

3'. 279 
96,794 



10,758 1,096,409 



160 1,500 

64,240 60,600 463,349 

12,600 9,120 89,300 

8,320 9,120 60,472 

1,440 400 12,700 

1,120 400 6,000 

3,620 3,090 21,252 

5,720 5,400 57,510 

4,540 1,040 33,699 

40 100 

45,280 30.480 326,299 

206,940 171,0501,501,355 



16,540 
24,609 

30,757 
13,970 

14,673 
12,160 

5205 
26,094 
27,280 
24.698 
20,150 
44,846 
14,632 
27,174 

8,457 
25-567] 
19,476: 

1,569 
10,525 
18.S13, 



44,455 
34,680 

55,585 
35,458 
31.129 
18,772 

15,631 
26.027 
76,676 
42,096 
29,610 
80,302 
26,800 

34,933 
21,628 

38,793 
29,124 

4,995 
20,743 
47,275 



1,066 

857 
1.407 

1,259 
1,204 

497 
384 

1,315 

1,942 

1,669 
913 

2,375 

713 

1,017 

464 
916 
664 

95 

410 

1,038 



386895714712 20,205 





GRAPES. 


MAPLE SUGAR,! "O^^ES ON FARMS, POULTRY. 

1 JUNE I, loyS- 


CIVIL DIVISIONS. 


Fruit Wine 
produced. made. 

1874. ! 1874. 


Honey , Mules on 
Sugar ! Syrup collected '^' "'^, Value owned, 
made. | made. 1 in 1S74. Colts of! Colts of Two ye.irs J"?'^ "' 

187s. ' 1874. 1 old and ">75. ,§75. 
1S75. 1 187s. 1 1 over. 

1 


Value sold. Value of eggs 
sold. 
1874. 1874. 




Pounds. Gallons. 


Pounds. 


Gallons. Pounds. ! Number. Number. 1 Number. Number. Dollars. 


Dollars. Dollars. 


Camillus 

Cicero 


8,430 

6 6Sa ?8 


150 


44 8,291 29 26' 800 23 5.510 
TCT -?T'7,*^ 60 ,^r R-^r, e r,T A 


3,582 4,689 

5,785 5,907 
4,607 6,131 
2,681 2,960 
2,404 2,310 
630 2,191 

599 882 
2,804 5,946 
5,912 6,810 
3,068 4,823 
3,248 7,276 
7,064 10,332 
2,120 3,831 
2,950 6,716 

998 1,378 
4,055 5,553 
2,493 5-490 

140 

1,574 2,835 
4,259 5,758 


Clay 


0^10 -2 1 00 A A 46"70 6C n A T T aR 77 ft f^fl'7 


De Witt 

Elbridge 


9,390 60 I 


3,113 23 41 798 4 

2,760 28 33 834 25 

1,910 55 26' 497, 7 

210 15 9 239 6 

773 38 44 758 13 
4,'o5 85 III 1,431 35 
7,488 63, 80 1,219 15 
1,590 421 49 742 8 
5,125 62 93, 1,582 25 
3,475 36* 44 506 II 
1,742 83 94 1,236 18 


4,455 
4,727 
1,781 
1,069 

5,633 
8,170 
6,894 

5,507 
14.382 

3,519 
7,204 
1,926 
6,090 
4.746 
' 52 
2,617 
5,346 


Fabius 


30 .... 

1,700 .... 

2,388 .... 

325 18 

18 2c;o 810 


7..790 349 
i 650 

6,295| 731 
6oo| 236 


Geddes 


La Fayette 

Lysander 

Manlius 


Marcellus 

Onondaga 

Otisco 


2S0 .... 675, 141 

37,770 36 740; 74 
3,100 100 9,037' 251 
1,165 16 8,304 1,101 

3,395 10 ....: .... 

2,660 42 5,485 701 

150 .... 8,590 338 

4,500 70 

5,206 2 4,292 126 
1,105 ••••, 101 7 


Pompey 

Salina 


Skaneateles 

Spafford 

City of Syracuse. . 

Tully 

Van Buren 

Total 


9,121 63 

13-375 80 

.... 2 

2,941 27 

3,039 39 


-0 JT' 

73 603 8 

63 599 5 
2; 27 2 

35 398 2 
62i 853 .... 


118,568 1,405 52,781: 4,958 


77,336 905 


1,059 15,441 234 


102,209 


60,973 91,818 



74 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Tadle showing by Towns the Area of Farm Lands ; the Value of Faims. of Farm Buildings, of Live 
Stock and of Implements ; the Area of Crops, and the Amount of Agricultural Productions of Onon- 
daga County. —Census of 1875.— i Continued.) 



CIVIL DIVIS- 
IONS 



DAIRY PRODUCTS. 



Hn 



M 1 1 11 Cow!, 
Nl Mti t« Kr p T. 



•■ ■V4 



MOM MllK 
WAV MVT ToFaC- 
TOUY. 



Bultcr made Chccx nutle Milk mU m 
ia ^«»"'i'** 



Tin 
jcanoM. 



Y«u»i«>. Cilv. 



.1 



i»7«. 



1I74. 



••7$. ! I»7«. 



i Number. Number. Nambw. Nnnbcr. Nonber. ! Number. Number. Number. Number. Number. Pousdi. 



1*74. 



market. 
1S74. 



PoumI*. 



CaDoDS. 



Camillus 

Cicero 

Clay 

De Witt.... 
Elbridge . . . 

Fabius 

Geddes 

LaF.iyette . . 
Lysander — 

Manilas 

Marcellus. . 
Onondaga. . 

Otisco 

Pompey 

Salina 

Skaneateles. 
Spafford . . . . 
Syracuse . . . 

Tully 

Van Buren. . 
Total . . . 



256 


264 


342 


3«7 


343 


472 


380 


4«5 


5'3 


'57 


'73 


230 


J'5 


»55 


274 


>44 


282 


382 


69 


75 


53 


-'«.S 


30 ' 


i93 


4:6 


5'8 


672 


274 


342 


475 


'S' 


196 


244 


464 


573 


6S4 


267 


281 


3»2 


49' 


559 


765 


47 


93 


84 


262 


222 


292 


280 


306 


398 


"; 


'9 


25 


'74 


308 


253 


3»7 


379 


478 


5-005 


S.804 


7.347 




1,170 


1,209 


'•935 


2.037 


2,040 


2,037 


'•379 


1,476 


1,229 


'.239 


2,762 


2,706 


400 


403 


1,607 


1,600 


2.383 


2.439 


'.797 


'.947 


1,091 


1,072 


J,3o8 


2,306 


1,207 


1,15' 


2.956 


3."o 


682 


698 


'.'97 


1,228 


1,242 


1,292 


38 


30 


1,261 


1.2.^9 


1,272 


1,386 



29.956 30,505 



92 112 217 132,115 

'34 796 834 154.536 

207 467 541 192.292 

57 157 146 88,578 

72 420 431 97,001 

91 1,709 1,504 130,836 

9 40 20,640 

'23 336 278 162.255 

128 975 1,018 190,468 

94 587 698 134,446 

55 84 j 144,400 

21 43 '4'.3'9 

60 j I4'.746[ 

218 1,838 1,991 245,077] 

6 26,905 

141 14 2' 142,385 

79 207,260 

5 '-950 

68 309 370 123,188 

88 64 67 143,630 

".748 7.95' 8,0062,720,027 



1,650 3,470 
54,487 10,079 
25,008 25,855 

550 363^377 
11,766 10,595 

'59.300 

142,827 

200 290 

7,600 19,150 

1^0 25,241 

",737 

,900 199,234 

9.350 80 

14,427 40,998 

88 197,061 

6,442 10,947 

2.030 

100,978: 10,000 

13.038 ! 

420,731 1,059,204 



SHEEP. 



SWINE. 



NuMua Shoui. Wiight or CLir. , Lauu Raiud. 



CIVIL DIVISIONS 



Slamth- KiUed by O" f *»•" J""" ■' "'»^ Slaughtered Pork made 
terST dc«.^ , "'f»™»- on&rm. 



i»7«. 



•»75. 



It7«. 



l»75. 



l«74. 



|»7J. 1874. 



dogs. 
>»74. 



Pigi of Of 1874 and 1874. 

1117s. older. I 



1874. 



Camillus 

Cicero 

Clay 

De Witt 

Elbridge 

Fabius 

Geddes 

La Faytitte 

Lysander 

Manlius 

Marcellus 

Onondaga 

Otisco 

Pompey 

Salina 

Skanc.itelcs 

SpatTord 

City of Syracuse. 

Tully 

Van Buren 

Total 



Number. Number. Pounda. ' Pounda. Number. Number. Number. Number. Number. Number. I Number. 



Pounda. 



5.002 
1,020 

1,288 

1.57^' 
3.064 

439 
320 
3.068 
3,281 
2,198 
4,066 
3.840 
2,013 
5-301 
338 
5.224 

3,37' 

16 

1,002 

2,432 

47.859 



3,269 24,220 
995 4.47. 



'.283 

1,487 

2,756 

436 

224 



5.588 
9. '38 
'5.959 
3,i8S 
1,712 



3,778 15,878 
2,122 10,416 

2.34' '2.3 '3 
3,841 23,799 

2.733 20,324 

1.976 11,132 

4.836 30,526 

199 1,228 

4,578 30.332 
3,274*20,358 

'25 

593 5,096 
2,235 ".861 

41,956256665 



i7.3'o 
4.414 
5,477 
9.235 

'5382 
2,170 

'.15' 
14,618 



'.703 
737 
984 

1,026 

',255 
238 

'75 
1,328 



9.759 


',592 


'2.977 


1,081 


22,333 


1,628 


i5.'4o 


'.871 


1 1,116 


907 


27.861 


1.739 


9'3 


251 


26,373 


1,991 


19,226 


1,286 




20 


3.038 


603 


10,631 


1.313 


229134 


21,728 



1,706 

73' 

971 

737 

1,217 

394 
'05 
'•397 
',793 
1.112 
1,658 
1,860 
1.065 
1,636 
168 
2,269 
1,411 

569 
'.285 

33,084 



96 
83 
95 
63 
56 
8 

36 
118 

61 
140 

94 

94 

36 
116 

30 
258 

88 

16, 

9 
68 



"9 

93 

55 
12 

16 
10 
16 
73 
33 
37 
18 
48 
20 
94 
17 

35 
1 1 



8 
29 



903 
1.007 
1,202 

632 

675 

366 

166 

688 

1,220 

1,015 

476 

1.786 

614 

840 

371 
878 
611 
81 
297 
9'3 



846 
969 

'-905 
705 
575 
434 
144 
878, 

1,273 

1,366 
729 

2,162 

393 
981 
441 

544 
856 

56 
596 
905 



787 
969 

1,192 

73' 
898 

293 
'30 
712 

'.537 
1,022 

757 

',643 

600 

1,024 

239 
1,027 

531 
28 

338 

937 



190,031 
24',536 

275,055 
168,050 
206,333 
83.596 
33.83s 
188,321 
374,88s 

253,843 
190,620 

414,093 
147,192 
270,102 

55,694 

226,057 

132,828 

6,100 

88,776 
223,264 



1,555 644 14,741 16,758 15,3953,770,8" 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



75 



CHAPTER XVni. 

Judicial and Executive Officers under Her- 
kimer County — Onondaga County Civil List 
— Military Organization — Population of 
THE County from iSog to 1875. 

THE following were judicial and executive offi- 
cers for Herkimer county from 1791 to 
1794, while Onondaga was a part of that county : 
Henri Staring, First Judge and Justice of the 
Peace ; Michael Myers, Hugh White and Abraham 
Hardenburgh, Judges and Justices of the Peace ; 
John Bank, Patrick Campbell, Jedediah Sanger, 
Amos Whitmore, William Veeder, Alexander Park- 
man and Ephraim Blackman, Assistant Judges and 
Justices of the Peace ; Seth Phelps, Moses De 
Witt, Asa Danforth, Edward Payne and others. 
Justices of the Peace ; William Colbraith, Sheriff; 
Jonas Piatt, Clerk ; Moses DeWitt, Surrogate ; 
John Post and Daniel White, Coroners. 

In 1793, for Herkimer county, were reappointed 
Seth Phelps, Asa Danforth, Moses DeWitt, J. L. 
Hardenburgh and Silas Halsey, Assistant Justices 
and Justices of the Peace. 

Judges of Onondaga County from 1794 to 
1878. — Seth Phelps, First Judge ; Silas Halsey, 
John Richardson and Moses DeWitt, Judges and 
Justices of the Peace, 1794; William Stevens, 
Judge, 1795 ; Asa Danforth, Judge, 1797 ; William 
Stevens, First Judge, 1799; Elihu Lewis, Ebenezer 
Butler, Asa Danforth, Judges and Justices of the 
Peace; Dan Bradley, Judge, 1801 ; John Ballard, 
Judge, 1802; William J. Vredenburgh, Judge, 
1804 ; Reuben Humphreys, Judge ; Reuben Hum- 
phreys, First Judge ; Dan Bradley, John Ballard 
and William J. Vredenburgh, Judges and Justices 
of the Peace, 1805 ; Dan Bradley, First Judge, 
1808 ; Squire Munro, Roswell Tousley and Wil- 
liam J. Vredenburgh, Judges ; Jonathan Stanley 
and Ozias Burr, Judges, 1809; Jacob R. DeWitt, 
James Geddes and Sylvanus Tousley, Judges, 1812 ; 
Joshua Forman, First Judge, 1813 ; Reuben Hum- 
phreys, Judge, 1814; Jacob R. DeWitt, Squire 
Munro, Amos Tousley and John TenEyck, Judges, 
1815 ; James O. Wattles and Warren Hecox, 
Judges, 1818 ; Jonathan Stanley, Squire Munro, 
Levi Mason and James Webb, Judges, 1819 ; 
Nehemiah H. Earll, First Judge ; John Mason, 
George Pettit and James Sisson, Jr., Judges, 1S23 ; 
Nehemiah H. Earll, First Judge, 1828 ; George 
Pettit, Martin M. Ford, Otis Bigelow and John 
Smith, Judges, 1828 ; Samuel L. Edwards, First 
Judge, 1831; John Watson, Judge, 1833; Otis 
Bigelow, David Munro, George Pettit and James M. 



Allen, Judges ; Grove Lawrence, First Judge, 183S; 
Nathan Soule, Oliver R. Strong, Lyman H. Mason 
and Johnson Hall, Judges ; Daniel Pratt, First 
Judge, 1843 ; John L. Stevens, George A. Stans- 
bury, Lyman Kingsley, Amasa H. Jerome, Judges ; 
James R. Lawrence, Judge, 1847; Richard Wool- 
worth, Judge, 1850, appointed vice J. R. Lawrence, 
resigned; Israel Spencer, Judge, elected, 1850; 
Richard Woolworth, Judge, elected 1854; Henry 
Riegel, elected 1S62, reelected each subsequent 
term and present Judge of the County Court. 

Judges of the Supreme Court. — The follow- 
ing have been Judges of the Supreme Court resi- 
dent in Onondaga county : Hon. Daniel Pratt, 
Syracuse, for four years, elected June 7, 1847 ; re- 
elected November 4, 185 1. Hon. LeRoy Morgan, 
Syracuse, for eight years, elected November 8, 
1859 ; reelected November 5, 1867, for eight years, 
Hon. James Noxon, Syracuse, elected November, 
1875, for fourteen years from January i, 1876. 

The old Supreme Court of Judicature, existing 
prior to the Constitution of 1846, had one Chief 
Justice, a resident of this county, viz : Hon. Free- 
born G. Jewett, of Skaneateles, in 1845. 

Judges of the Court of Appeals. — The 
Judges of the Court of Appeals who have been 
residents of this count}' are as follows : Hon. 
Freeborn G. Jewett, Skaneateles, two years, elected 
June 7, 1847 ; Hon. George F. Comstock, Syracuse, 
elected November 7, 1853 ; Hon. Charles Andrews, 
Syracuse, elected May, 1870, fourteen years, to 
expire December 31, 1884. 

Hon. Daniel Pratt and Hon. LeRoy Morgan, 
Justices of the Supreme Court, were ex officio 
Judges of the Court of Appeals, the former from 
January i, 1S50, to January i, 185 1, and the latter 
from January i, 1866, to January i, 1867. 

United States District Court. — Northern 
District of New York. — The following have been 
officers of this Court, resident in this County : 
Joseph F. Sabin, United States Commissioner, 
1850; James R. Lawrence, United States District 
Attorney, 1850; Harry Allen, United States Mar- 
shal. The first Deputy-Marshal was Peter Way, 
deceased ; William Cahill, appointed in his stead. 
B. Davis No.xon, United States Commissioner, ap- 
pointed Oct. 22, 1867; William C. Ruger, United 
States Commissioner, appointed July 8, 1858; 
Daniel F. Gott, Register in Bankruptcy, appointed 
May 10, 1867; A. Judd Northrup, United States 
Commissioner, appointed March 22, 1870; Daniel 
F. Gott, United States Commissioner, appointed 
April 2, 1872; William J. Wallace, Judge, ap- 
pointed April 7, 1874. 



76 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Slkrugatks fuk Onondaga Culntv i kdm 171^4- 
TO 187.S.— Moses Dc Witt, 1794; Thomas Mum- 
ford, 1795 ; Thaddcus M. Wood, 1800; George 
Hall, 1803; Mcdad Curtis. 1810; George Hall, 
i8n ; James Porter, i8ii ; Freeborn G. Jewett, 
1824; John Fleming, 1831; Isaac T. Minard, 
1840; David D. Hillis, 1844; Isaac T. Minard, 
1847 ; L. Harris Hiscock, 185 1 ; Amasa II. Jerome, 
1855 ; Samuel D. Luce, 1859; Oscar L. Sprague, 
1863 : De Witt C. Greenfield, 1S65 ; Cyrus Sweet, 
1869, reelected each subsequent term and present 
incumbent. No Special Surrogates have ever been 
appointed in this County. 

Clekks of Ononiiaga County from 1794 to 
1878. — Benjamin Lcdyard, appointed, 1794 ; Com- 
fort Tyler, 1799; Jasper Hopper, 1802; George 
W. Olmsted, 1 8 10 ; Jasper Hopper, 1811; Tru- 
man Adams, 1818 ; Daniel Mosely, 1823 ; Reuben 
L. Hess, 1826; Alanson Edwards, 1835: Elijah 
Rhoades, elected, 1838; Charles T. Hicks, 1841 ; 
Vivus W. Smith, 1846; Rufus Cossit, 1849; Bern- 
ard Slocum, 1852; Edwin P. Hopkins, 1S55 ; Vic- 
tory J. Birdseye, 1858; Elijah S. Payne, 1861 ; 
Carroll E. Smith, 1864; Theodore L. Poole, 1S67; 
Edgar E. Ewers, 1870 ; Charles A. Hurd, elected 
November, 1873— died before entering upon the 
duties of his office ; Charles E. Hubbcll, elected at 
special election, December 27, 1873; Thomas H. 
Scott, elected, November, 1876 — present incum- 
bent. 

Sheriffs of Onondaga County from 1794 to 
1878.- John Harris, 1794 ; Abiather Hull, 1796; 
Comfort Tyler. 1797; Elnathan Beach, 1799; 
Ebenczer R. Hawley, 1801 ; Elijah Phillips, 1805 ; 
Robert Earll, 1S09; Elijah Rust, 1813 ; Jonas 
Earll, 1814; llezekiah L. Granger, 1818 ; Jonas 
Earll, 1819; Luther Marsh, 1823; Lewis Smith, 
1826; John H. Johnson, 1829; Johnson Hall, 
1832 ; Dorastus Lawrence, 1835 ; Elihu L. Phillips, 
1838 ; Frederick Benson, 1841 ; Heber Wcthcrby, 
1844; Joshua C. Cuddeback, 1846; William C. 
Gardner, 1849; Holland W. Chadwick, 1852; 
James M. Munro, 1855 ; George L. Maynard, 1858; 
Byron D. Benson, 1861 ; Jarcd C. Williams, 1864; 
DeWitt C. Toll, 1S67 ; William Evans, 1870 ; Davis 
Cossitt,* 1873 ; John J. Meldram, elected November, 
tSjC) — present Sherifl". 

Treasurers of Onondaga County from 1794 
to 1878. — Appointed by the Board of Supervisors : 
Moses Carpenter, May 27, 1794; Jacob R. DeWitt, 
1799; Jacobus DePuy, October i, 1805 ; Oliver R, 

* The official ligiMlurc of Mr. Cowitt ihowi that he tpclli hii name 
with two final " t'l." Hit father, Rufiu Couit, and other membera of 
the family, ipelled their name with one final "t." 



Strong, October 5. 1809 — resigned November 11, 
1830; Moses S. Marsh, appointed November 12, 
— declined November 13, 1830; Hezckiah Strong, 
appointed November 13, 1830, — died 1842 ; Benja- 
min F. Colvin, appointed November, 1842 ; George 
B. Walters, December, 1844; Phares Gould, 
November, 1845. 

The office of County Treasurer was made elective 
by the people, in 1846, since when the following 
persons have been elected : Cornelius M. Bros- 
nan, elected November, 1846; entered on the 
duty of his office January i, 1847, — resigned 
December 9, 1848 ; Wheeler Truesdell, appointed 
to fill vacancy, December 9, 1848 ; elected 
Treasurer, January i, 1849: Columbus C. Bradley, 
elected November, 1851, entered upon his office 
January 1, 1S52 : Barton M. Hopkins, elected 
November, 1S54 ; Patrick H. Agan, November, 
1857 ; Henry W. Slocum, November, i860; Dudley 
P. Phelps, November, 1863 ; Park Wheeler, Novem- 
ber, 1866; George H. Gilbert, November, 1869; 
Charles W. Ostrander, November, 1872 ; Robert 
Hewitt, elected November, 1875, present Treasurer. 

Members of Congress from Onondaga County 
and the District of which it was part, from 
1802 TO 1878. — The Colonial Congress was entitled 
to si.\ delegates from New York. After the adop- 
tion of the Constitution, the number entitled to 
seats from this State was still si.\, in the first and 
second Congresses, from 1789 to 1791. In 1792, a 
new apportionment was made under which ten 
members were allowed to New York. In 1802, the 
counties of Onondaga, Tioga and Chenango were 
formed into one Congressional District (the Ninth> 
and were entitled to one member. 

In the 9th Congress, Hon. Eri Tracy of Chenango, 
was elected to represent the district. Of the same 
Congress, Hon. Silas Halsey, of Cayuga, formerly 
a Judge of Onondaga County Courts, was also a 
member. 

In the loth Congress, Hon. Reuben Humphreys, 
of Onondaga, represented the Thirteenth District ; 
Hon. John Harris, of Cayuga, formerly Sheriff of 
Onondaga county, was a member from the Four- 
teenth District ; and Hon. William Kirkpatrick, 
Superintendent of the Onondaga Salt Springs, rep- 
resented the Eleventh District. Hon. Eri Tracy 
represented the Sixteenth District in the nth and 
12th Congresses (1809 to 1813.) In 1813-14, in 
the 13th Congress, Hon. James Gcddes represented 
the new district ^Nineteenth) composed of the 
counties of Onondaga and Cortland. In the 14th 
Congress (18 15-161 Victory Birdseye was Represen- 
tative ; 15th, James Porter; i6th, George Hall ; 17th 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



77 



and 1 8th, Elisha Litchfield ; 19th, Luther Badger ; 
20th and 2ist, Jonas Earll, Jr. ; 22d, Freeborn G. 
Jewett ; 23d, 24th and 25th, William Taylor ; 26th, 
Nehemiah H. Earll ; 27th, Victory Birdseye ; 28th 
and 29th, Horace Wheaton ; 30th and 31st, Daniel 
Gott. [In 1822 Onondaga was a district alone, till 
1832, when it was made a joint district with Madi- 
son county, and entitled to two members. In 1842 
it was again a single district, as it now stands ;] 
32d and 33d, Daniel T. Jones; 34th and 35th, 
Amos P. Granger ; 36th and 37th, Charles B. 
Sedgwick ; 38th and 39th, Thomas T. Davis ; 40th 
and 41st, Dennis McCarthy ; 42d and 43d, R. Hol- 
land Duell ; 44th and 45th, Frank Hiscock. 

State Sen.^tors for Onondaga County from 
1799 TO 1878. — At the time of the adoption of the 
first Constitution of the State of New York in 1777, 
Tryon county was entitled to six members of 
Assembly and the State was divided into four 
Senatorial Districts. The Western District was 
composed of the counties of Albany and Tryon, 
and six Senators were annually chosen from the body 
of the freeholders of the State for the term of four 
years. As the population of the country increased 
various alterations were made, and Senators were 
chosen at large for the Western District. But it 
seems that Senators were not over punctual in their 
attendance from the western part of the State. 
From the Journal of the Senate we find the follow- 
ing members in attendance from Onondaga up to 
1822 :* Moss Kent, 1799 ; Jedediah Sanger, 1800; 
William Stewart, 1801 ; Joseph Annin, (Cayuga) 
1802 ; Asa Danforth, 1803 ; (none from Onondaga 
county from 1806 to 1815 ;) Henry Seymour, 18 16, 
'17, '18 and '19; none in 1821 and '22. (After 
the change of the Constitution in 1822 the State 
was divided into eight Senatorial Districts. The 
Seventh was composed of Onondaga, Cayuga, 
Seneca and Ontario counties, after which we have 
the following Senators from Onondaga) : Jonas 
Earll, Jr., 1823; Victory Birdseye, 1827; Hiram 
F. Mather, 1829; Samuel L. Edwards, 1833; 
Elijah Rhoades, 1841 ; James Sedgwick, 1845. 
(Senators under the Constitution of 1846) : George 
Geddes, 1848, '49, '50 and '51 ; James Munro, 
1852, 'S3, '54 and '55 ; James Noxon, 1856 and '57 ; 
John J. Foote, 1858 and '59; Allen Munroe, i860, 
'61, '62 and '63 ; Andrew D. White, 1864, '65, '66 
and '67 ; George N. Kennedy, 1868, '69, '70 and 
'71 ; Daniel P, Wood, 1872, '73. '74 and '75 ; 
Dennis McCarthy, 1876 and '77, present Senator. 

Members of Assembly for Onondaga County 
FROM 1794 TO 1878. — Michael Myers was elected a 

* I Clark's Onondaga, 397. 



Member from Herkimer in 1792. After the organi- 
zation of Onondaga county, it was a joint district 
with Herkimer, and Jedediah Sanger represented the 
two counties in the House in i794-'95. There was 
no return for Member of Assembly for either Her- 
kimer or Onondaga for the years 1796 and 1797. 
Comfort Tyler and Silas Halsey were Members for 
Onondaga in 1798 and 1790. In the latter year 
Cayuga was taken off, and Ebenezer Butler elected 
for Onondaga county ; also Member in 1800; Asa 
Danforth, 1801 and 1802; John McWhorter and 
John Lamb, 1803 ; James Geddes and John Mc 
Whorter, 1804: William J. Vredenburgh and John 
Ballard, 1805 ; Jasper Hopper and William J. 
Vredenburgh, 1806; Ozias Burr and Squire Munro, 
1807 ; Joshua Forman and John McWhorter, 1808 ; 
Jacobus DePuyand Barnet Mooney, 1809 ; Jacobus 
DePuy and Barnet Mooney, iSio; Jasper Hopper 
and Robert Earll, 181 1 ; Jonathan Stanley and 
Barnet Mooney, 1812 ; Isaac Smith and Moses 
Nash, 1813; Moses Nash and Barnet Mooney, 
1814; He'zekiah L. Granger and James Porter, 
1815 ; Truman Adams, Elijah Miles, George Hall 
and Nathan Williams, 1816 ; Gideon Wilcoxon, 
James Webb, Asa Wells and Elijah Miles, 1817 ; 
David Munro, Abijah Earll, Asa Wells and James 
Webb, 1818; David Munro, Henry Case, Nathan 
Williams and Elisha Litchfield, 1819 ; Lewis Smith, 
Jonas Earll, Jr., Henry Seymour and Henry Field, 
1820; Jonas Earl, Jr., Lewis Smith, George Pettitand 
Jonathan Deming, 1821 : James Geddes, David 
Munro, Josephus Baker and Sylvester Gardner, 
1822 ; Victory Birdseye, Timothy Baker, Samuel 
L. Edwards and Harrold White, 1823; Samuel L. 
Edwards, Timothy Baker, George Pettit and Mat- 
thew Van Vleck, 1824 ; James R. Lawrence, Moses 
Kinne, James Pettit and Erastus Baker, 1825 ; John 
G. Forbes, David Willard, Freeborn G. Jewett and 
Chauncey Betts, 1826; Daniel Mosely, Chauncey 
Betts, Charles Jackson and Aaron Burt, 1827 ; 
Timothy Barber, Aaron Burt, Daniel Baxter and 
Gideon Frothingham, 1828 ; Lewis Smith, Samuel 
R. Matthews, Johnson Hall and Herman Jenkins, 
1829; Johnson Hall, Dorastus Lawrence, Thomas 
J. Gilbert and Timothy Brown, 1830; Thomas J. 
Gilbert, Otis Bigelow, Elisha Litchfield and J. H. 
Parker, 1831 ; Miles W. Bennett, Elisha Litchfield, 
Elijah W. Curtis and Ichabod Moss, 1832; Asa 
Eastwood, Elisha Litchfield, Myron L. Mills and 
Gabriel Tappan, 1833 ; Oliver R. Strong, Horace 
Wheaton, Jared H. Parker and Squire M. Brown, 
1834; George Pettit, John Wilkinson, Sanford C. 
Parker and David C. Lytic, 1835 ; Sanford C. Par- 
ker, John Wilkinson, David Munro and Daniel Den- 



78 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



ison, 1836; Nathan Soule, Wm. Porter, Jr., George 
Pettit and Daniel Denison, 1837 ; Phares Gould, 
Victor)' Birdseyc, James R. Lawrence and Azariah 
Smith, 1838 ; James R. Lawrence, Azariah Smith, 
Pharos Gould and James L. \'oorhees, 1839; \"ictory 
Birdseyc, Azariah Smith, James R. Lawrence and 
Phares Gould, 1S40; Moses D. Burnet, David 
Munro, William Taylor and William Fuller, 1841 ; 
William Taylor, William Fuller, David Munro and 
John Spencer, 1842: Thomas McCarthy, Charles 
R. Vary, Benjamin French and Thomas Sherwood. 
1843 ; Elisha Litchfield, Scth Hutchinson, Thomas 
G. Alvord and Warner Abbott 1844 ; David Pres- 
ton, Dennis McCarthy, Julius C. Kinnc and Lake 
L Teft. 1845; Lake I. Teft. Julius C. Kinnc, 
Alonzo Wood and Elihu L. Phillips. 1846 ; Manoah 
Pratt, William Henderson, John Lakin and Joseph 
Prindlc, 1847; Curtis J. Hurd, Thomas Spencer, 
Horace Hazen and James Little. 1848; Joseph J. 
Glass, Myron Wheaton, Joseph Slocum and Samuel 
Hart, 1849; James Little, Benjamin J. Cowles, 
Elias W. Leavenworth and Harvey G.Anderson, 
1850; Demosthenes C. LeRoy, John F. Clark, 
George Stevens and Daniel Denison, 185 1 ; Lyman 
Norton, William E. Tallman, George Stevens and 
John Merritt, 1852 ; Alonzo Case, Samuel S. Knee- 
land, Daniel P. Wood and Isaac V. V. Hibbard. 
1853 ; James M. Munro, Milton A. Kinney. Daniel 
P. Wood and William Richardson. 1854; James 
M. Munro. William J. Machan. Dudley P. Phelps 
and Joshua V. H. Clark, 1855 ; Irvin Williams. 
James Longstreet, lUirr Burton and Jabez Lewis. 
1856; John D. Uhoades, Sidney Smith, Elias W. 
Leavenworth and Charles M. Meade, 1857 ; James 
Frazee, Thomas G. Alvord and Levi S. Holbrook, 
1858 ; Luke Ranncy. Henry W. Slocum and Orin 
Aylsworth, 1859; Jeremiah Emerick, Austin 
Myers and Philetus Clark, i860; Jeremiah Emer- 
ick, Austin Myers and Abner Chapman, i86r ; 
Frederick A. Lyman, Thomas G. Alvord and R. 
Nelson Gere, 1S62 ; James M. Munro. Elizur Clark 
and Joseph Breed, 1863 ; Albert L. Green, Thomas 
G. Alvord and Conrad Shoemaker, 1864; Albert 
L. Green, Daniel P. Wood and Harvey P. Tolman, 
1865 ; Luke Ranncy, Daniel P. Wood and L. Har- 
ris Hiscock, 1866; Daniel P. Wood, L. Harris His- 
cock and Samuel Candee, 1867; Augustus G. S. 
AUis, Luke Ranncy and Hiram Eaton, 1868 ; 
James V. Kendall, Moses Summers and Miles B. 
Hackctt, 1S69; Thomas G. Alvord, Nathan R. 
TetTt and Gustavus Sniper, 1870; Thomas G. Al- 
vord. Peter Burns and Gustavus Sniper, 1871 ; 
Thomas G. Alvord, Peter Burns and Gustavus 
Sniper, 1872; Wm. H. H. Gere, George Raynor 



and John I. Furbcck, 1873 ; Thomas G. Alvord. 
George Barrow and Charles Simon. 1874 ; Allen 
Munroe, Carroll E. Smith and C. Fred. Herbst, 
1875 ; Thomas G. Alvord, Carroll E. Smith and 

C. Fred. Herbst. 1876; Thomas G. Alvord. Samuel 
Willis and Josiah G. Holbrook 1877 '78. 

Delegates to the Convention to Revise the 
Constiti;tion — 1822: Victory Birdseye, Parley 
E. Howe. Amasi Case. Asa Eastwood. 

Convention of 1846: William Taylor. Elijah 
Rhoades. Cyrus H. Kingsley. David Munro. 

Convention of 1867: Hon. Frank Hiscock, 
Hon. Charles Andrews. L. Harris Hiscock, Hon. 
Thomas G. Alvord, Patrick Corbett. 

Members of the Constitutional Commission — 
1872: Hon. Elias W. Leavenworth and Hon. 
Daniel Pratt. 

Rf.gf-nts of the State University. — The 
members of this Board, except ex officio members, 
are appointed for life, unless they resign. Hon. 
Elias W. Leavenworth, as Secretary of State, was 
ex officio member of the Board in 1854 and 1855. 
He was appointed a member permanently Feb. 5, 
i86i,i'/<r<f Jesse Buell, deceased. Orris H. Warren, 

D. D., appointed a member of this Board, vice Dr. 
George, resigned. April 11, 1877. 

Other State Officers. — Hon. Thomas G. 
Alvord. elected Lieutenant Governor Nov. 8, 1S64; 
Speaker of the House of Assembly. June 26, 1858, 
and Jan 5. 18G4. 

Hon. E. W. Leavenworth, elected Secretary of 
State Nov., 1853. 

Hon. Daniel Pratt elected Attorney General 
Nov. 4. 1873. 

Gen. Henry A. Barnum elected State Prison In- 
spector Nov. 7, 1S65. 

John M. Jaycox elected Canal Commissioner 
Nov. 4, 1857 ; Reuben W. Stroud Nov. 4. 1872. 

Hon. Elisha Litchfield elected Speaker of the 
House of Assembly Jan. 2, 1844. 

Hon. Vivus W. Smith, State Appraiser, appoint- 
ed Jan. 24, 1872. vice Samuel North. 

First Board of Supervisors of Onondaga 
County. 1794. — The first meeting of the Board of 
Supervisors of Onondaga county was held at the 
house of Asa Danforth, in the town of Manlius. on 
Wednesday, May 27,1794 The following named 
persons composed the Board : Silas Halsey, of 
Ovid ; Benjamin Boardman, of Romulus ; Ezckiel 
Crane, of Aurelius ; Comfort Tyler, of Manlius ; 
John Stoyles, of Scipio ; Moses De Witt, of 
Pompey. Not present : Wyllys Bishop, of Milton ; 
Robert McDowell, of Ulysses ; and William 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



79 



Stevens, of Marcellus. The towns of Homer and 
Lysander were not then organized. 

The accounts of the Board were kept in pounds, 
shillings, pence and farthings, till the year 1798. 
In 1794, the total valuation of property in the 
county was ;£ 19,479. The total tax raised was 
£,2'/i.i'j-i\d. In 1797 the Board of Supervisors 
gave the following : Total inhabitants, 1,759 » total 
valuation of property, ;g 146,679.37. In 1799, after 
Cayuga was set off, the population was 1,036. 

In December, 1795, the Board of Supervisors met 
in Scipio, then included in Onondaga county. The 
following report of their action is copied from an 
original manuscript in the possession of Mr. James 
W. Gould, of Syracuse, which is among other old 
and valuable relics preserved by his father, who was 
one of the pioneers of Onondaga : 

" A Resolve of the Supervisors at their 
Meeting in Scipio." 

" Resolved, That the following recommendations 
be transmitted to the different towns in this county 
by their respective Supervisors, viz : 

Whereas, The Supervisors of the county of On- 
ondaga have many inconveniences by the various 
modes taken in the different towns in assessing the 
ratable property in the county, have thought it a 
duty to recommend to the assessors of each respect- 
ive town next to be chosen in said town, a mode of 
taking the valuation of property which appears to 
us the most eligible in our local situation, desiring 
this to be publicly read at the next annual town 
meeting, which uniform mode will render the next 
Board of Supervisors, our successors in office, more 
capable of doing justice in levying taxes in our in- 
fant state, viz : 

Estimate as follows : 
Improved lands of a medium 

quality 20s. per acre. 

Working oxen of a medium 

quahty ;^i6 per yoke. 

Cows of a medium quality £ 5 per piece. 

Young cattle of three years old 

and under 20s. per year. 

Horses of a medium quality ;^io per piece. 

Colts three years old and under 40s. per year. 
Hogs that will weigh 100 weight 20s. per piece. 

Negro men £^0 per head. 

Negro wenches £^0 per head. 

Grist Mills ;^SO per piece. 

Saw mills ;^30 per piece. 

" And those articles of an inferior and superior 
quality, in proportion, and other ratable property in 
like proportion. 

"The Board further recommends to the consider- 
ation of the different towns the following mode in 
making the assessment, viz: That each person hold- 
ing ratable property shall give in to the Assessor a 
list of his or her ratable property or estate, in writ- 
ing, agreeable to the request of the Assessor, 
which will be an avoucher to the Assessor, and pre- 



vent any aspersions of injustice of being taxed un- 
equally by those having that part of duty to per- 
form in society. 

" The Board also recommends to Assessors that 
they completely make out their list of assessments 
by the first of May, as the law directs, so that the 
Supervisors may be enabled to proceed on their 
business at their first meeting, and save the county 
cost. 

"And further, we also recommend to the towns 
to adopt a uniform mode of granting a bounty on 
wolves, and render the reward of each man in his 
exertions for the destruction of these animals. 
Therefore, with submission, we think a reward of 
forty shillings, in addition to the bounty allowed by 
the county, to be adequate for the bounty of each 
wolf 

" The Board submits the above recommendations 
to the consideration of the several towns in the 
county of Onondaga. 

" By order of the Board. 

Comfort Tyler, Clerk. 

"Scipio, December 20th, 1795." 

Supervisors for 1878. 

Camillus — Sidney H. Cook, Jr. 
Clay — Jacob W. Coughtry. 
Cicero — Nelson R Eastwood. 
DeWitt— Josiah G. Holbrook. 
Elbridge — Alfred D. Lewis. 
Fabius — Newell Rowley. 
Geddes — N. Stanton Gere. 
Lysander — J. T. Skinner. 
LaFayette — George W. Mclntyre. 
Manlius — Anson Smith. 
Marcellus — Robert E. Dorchester. 
Onondaga — James C. Rann. 
Otisco — Henry W. Hotchkiss. 
Pompey— Marshal R. Dyer. 
Salina— George Bassett. 
Skaneateles— John H. Gregory. 
Spafiford — Benjamin McDaniels. 
Tully— Ellis V. King. 
Van Buren— Augustus W. Bingham. 
First Ward — Thomas Nicholson. 
Second Ward— Michael Kohles. 
Third Ward— William H. H. Gere. 
Fourth Ward— John Rombach. 
Fifth Ward— Egbert Draper. 
Sixth Ward— George W. Chase. 
Seventh Ward— William C. Anderson. 
Eighth Ward— H. Wadsworth Clarke. 

County Officials, 1^,7^— Miscellaneous. 
Justices of Sessions— Martin L. Gardner, Nava- 
rino ; George W. Hill, Otisco. 

District Attorney— Nathaniel M. White, Bald- 

winsville. 



8o 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Coroners — A. J. Dallas, Syracuse ; S. M. Hig- 
gins, Memphis; Jonathan Kneeland, South Onon- 
daga. 

Loan Commissioners — Zenas A. Jones, Pompey ; 
J. Maxon, Elbridge. 

School Commissioners — Richard W. McKinley, 
Collamer ; James W. Hooper, Geddes ; Robert 
Van Keuren, Jordan. 

Superintendent of the Poor — Henry H. Loomis, 
Syracuse. 

Superintendent of the Penitentiary — Jared C. 
Williams, Syracuse. 

Clerk of the Board of Supervisors — Bingham X. 
Bailey, Syracuse. 

Report of the Committee on- Equ.m.iz.-vtio.v, 
Passed by the Board of Supervisors Decem- 

BEK 14, 1877. 

To the Board of Supervisors of Onondaga County : 
Your Committee on Equalization would beg 
leave to present their final report, as embraced in 
the following table, showing the aggregate corrected 
valuation of the several towns of the count}' and the 
city of Syracuse, upon which is apportioned the State 
and county la.\, which, together with the town ta.\, 
makes up the aggregate tax to be raised in the 
several towns and the city. Your committee would 
therefore offer the following resolution and recom- 
mend its adoption : 

Resolved, That the aggregate tax set opposite the 
several towns of the county and city of Syracuse, 
as exhibited in the table accompanying this report, 
be levied and assessed upon the taxable property of 
the towns and city respectively, as their proportion 
of the State, county and town tax for the year 

1877. Respectfully .submitted, 

A. Van Vleck, Wm. C. Anderson, 

M. R. DVER, J. G. HOLBROOK, 

A. W. Bingham, N. P. Eastwood, 
O. F. SouLE, W. H. H. Gere, 

Committee.* 



Mr. Kendall moved that the report be accepted 
and the resolution adopted. Carried, as follows : 

AvES — Messrs. Sherwood, Coughtry, Eastwood, 
Holbrook, Van Vleck, Rowley, N. S. Gere, Kendall, 
Mclntyre, Smith, Comstock, Niles, Dyer, Bassett, 
Earll, Willis, Bingham, Avery, Mason, W. H. H. 
Gere, Rombach, Soule, Chase, Anderson, Rose — 25. 

Nays — Messrs Dorchester and Weston — 2. 

Military Organization for Onondaga Coun- 
ty — 1791. — On the 8th of March, 1791, the fol- 
lowing appointments were made for Herkimer, in 
Major J. L. Hardenburgh's battalion, General Vol- 
kert, Veeder's Brigade : Captains — Moses DeWitt, 
Benjamin Dey and Roswell Franklin ; Lieutenants 
— Jacob Hart, Hezekiah Olcott, Joshua Patrick and 
Josiah Buck ; Ensigns — Samuel Lackey, Asa Dan- 
forth, Jr., Nathan Walker and James Alexander ; 
David Holbrook, Surgeon. 

Patrick Campbell was appointed Brigadier-Gen- 
eral for Herkimer, Oct 9, 1793. In the same year 
Moses DeWitt was appointed Major ; Asa Dan- 
forth. Major. First Company: Hezekiah Olcott 
Captain; Jeremiah Gould, Lieutenant; Comfort 
Tyler, Ensign. Second Company : Asa Danforth, 
Jr., Captain ; Orris Curtiss, Lieutenant ; James 
Clark, Ensign. 

In March, 1794, the following appointments were 
made for Onondaga county : Major John L. Har- 
denburgh's Battalion : Solomon Buell, Captain, 
Light Infantry ; Noah Olmsted, Lieutenant ; Jona- 
than Brownell, PInsign. Majors DeWitt and Dan- 
forth's Battalion : Jeremiah Jackson, Captain, Light 
Infantry; Jonathan Russell, Lieutenant ; Sier Cur- 
tis, Ensign. 

On the 8th of April, 1795, Othneil Taylor, Esq., 
was appointed Commandant of a Brigade, compris- 
ing the counties of Onondaga and Ontario, with 
the rank and title of Brigadier General. A troop 



* Valuation and Taxation of the Real and Personal Estate ot" the County of Onondaga for the Year 1877. 



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Camillus 21,100 $jo 

Cicero Z9,ooo IJ 

Clay 19.500 lo 

De Witt ! ij.+oo i6 

Elbridge 22,200 }o 

Fabius 50,000 14 

Geddes 6,J74 100 

LaFayette 22,200 18 

Lysandcr j8,ooo 24 

^Ianlius , )o,)oo 27 

Marcellus 118,900 21 

Onondaga 4>.'oo 28 

Olisco IS.SOO 14 

Pompey. J9iOoo 18 

Salina 8,445, 60 

Skaneateles 2J,&oo 26 

Spaflford 18,500 14 

Tully "S.ftoo 14 

Van Burcn 21,600 28 

Syracuse 7.Ioo 



$5n,ooO| 


j2,j66,70O $2,n5,o69 


4J 5,0001 


1,688,375 


1,604,673 


590,000 


I,6o8,7)l 


1.>76,4S3 


608,400! 


2,330,665, 


1,244,328 


666,000 


2,670,250 


2,456,809 


420,0001 


1,195,750 


1,549,340 


637,400! 


3,685,050' 


1,351,306 


)9i>,fioo 


1,368,170! 


1,474,086 


912,000 


2,862,765 


3,364,281 


8lS,loo| 


3,685,825 


3,017,893 


396,900 


',39^.45° 


1,4^,4,126 


l,I50,8co 


3,472,950 


4.14S.190 


217,000' 


■44.170 


800,491 


702,0001 


1,840,200 


2,589,609 


506,760: 


1,547,802 


1,869,388 


61 J, 600 


2,89<J,335 


2,263,511 


250,0001 
2lS,40ol 


687,150 


9.550,417 


570,657 


805,557 


6o4,8oc| 


2, 328,460 


2,231,048 


7,}oo,ooo 


27,584,130 


26,929,000 



$295,050' 

201,710 
100,00c 
108,145 
360,760 

'30,450 

306,800 

179,930! 
547,525 

801,730 
245,600 
388,050 
118,650 
128,350 

121, 5CO 

842,600 
140,2501 
115,055 
285,690 

3,647,390 



$2,630,119 


?s.iss 51 


$4.35701 


$2,098 53 


$11,71085 


.00459968 


1,806,383 


3,60934 


2,9.}! 41 


1,020 62 


7.612 J7 


.0040528 


1,276,453 


4,548 72 


3,771 12 


1,501 SO 


10,821 34 


.006552968 


1,352,473 


4,700 72 


3,897 05 


2,665 40 


11,165 '7 


.00461911 


2,817,569 


5,530 ic 


4.667 54 


3,284 35' 


13.581 99 


.00448101 


',679,790 


3,355 sSl 


2,781 71 


1,25678 


7.375 07 


.0055618 


2,658,106 


5,311 48, 


4,405 37 


7,3" 16 


17,02601 


.00426519 


1,654,016 


3,305061 


2,740 02 


1,522 10! 


7,667 28 


.0049517 


3,911,806 


7,Sl5 IS' 


6,480 21 


3,186 10' 


17,481 s6 


.0051261 


3,819,623 


7,637 40 


5,327 50 


15.85404 


29,81394 


.00^/14665 


1,709,726 


3,416 40! 


2,852 30 


1,16991 


7,567 " 


.00452S9 


4.633,240 


9,258,12 


7.675 33 


2,82; 64' 


'9,75909 


.00511755 


919,141 


1,856 58: 


1,51164 


90145 


4,26067 


.00485S 


1.717,959 


5,43095 


4,501 53 


2,40648 


■1,339 94 


.006268 


1,990,888 


3,</7S 06 


3,198 07 


10,565 13 


17,642 26 


.00997" 3 


3,160,111 


6,206 58i 


5,145 51 


4,044 10 


15,39630 


.0054561 


'.095.677 


2,188 171 


1,81507 


595 4S 


4,59972 


.0055592 


911,711 


1,841 76' 


1,52689 


1.233 35 


4,5O2O0 


.00585 


1,516,738 


5,028 82' 


4,15918 


1,172 09 


10,47009 


.CO40051 


30,576,390 


61,09-68 


50,551 13 


118,503 02 


250,0529s 


.0075661 



Total 



,' 18,088,7601 56,717,685 66,727,685 89,o(/i, 235 75,795,920 151,44816 115.55870 184,04973 461,0566.) 



tk 




PENITENTIARy. SrMcusf.OnoNDAG* Co H Y 





Ononoaoa County Poor Hou^l. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



8i 



of horse was organized in the said Brigade in 
1795, and Walter D. Nicholls, appointed Captain. 

In 1796 the Governor organized several new regi- 
ments in the Counties of Ontario and Onondaga. 
The battalion hitherto commanded by Major Dan- 
forth was made a regiment, comprising the town- 
ships of Hannibal, Lysander, Cicero, Manlius, Pom- 
pey, Fabius, Solon, Cincinnatus, Tully, Virgil, Ca- 
millus, Sempronius, Locke, Dryden, and the Onon- 
daga Reservation. Asa Danforth, Lieutenant- 
Colonel, Commandant ; Hezekiah Olcott, first Ma- 
jor ; Josiah Buck, second Major ; Joshua Wickoff, 
first Lieutenant ; Thaddeus M. Wood, second 
Lieutenant ; and Colman Keeler, Cornet in Cap- 
tain Nicholl's troop of horse, General Taylor's 
brigade, appointed March, 1797. 

The following oflScers were appointed in Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Danforth's regiment, viz : Hezekiah 
Olcott, first Major ; Asa Danforth, Jr., second 
Major ; John Ellis, Adjutant ; Elijah Rust, Pay- 
master ; Jabez Hull, Quartermaster ; William Need- 
ham, Surgeon ; Walter Colton, Surgeon's Mate ; 
Jesse Butler, Lieutenant ; Comfort Tyler, Captain ; 
Nehemiah H. Earll, Lieutenant ; Elijah Phillips, 
Captain ; Caleb Pratt, Lieutenant ; John Lamb 
Captain ; William Cook, Lieutenant ; Samuel Je- 
rome, Captain, David Williams, Captain ; Robert 
Earll, Captain, etc., etc. 

The population of the county in 1800, 7,698 ; 
1810, 25,987; 1820, 41.497; 1830, 58.973; 1840, 
67,911 ; 1855,86,575 ; 1865,92,972; 1870,104,183; 
1875, 112,186. 

(For full tables of population and other statistics, 
see statistical department of this work.) 



CHAPTER XIX. 

County Poor House and Insane Asylum — 
County Penitentiary — State Asylum for 
Idiots. 

THE Onondaga County Poor House and Asy- 
lum are situated upon Onondaga Hill about 
two miles distant from the city of Syracuse. The 
site contains 36^ acres of land. It contained 
originally about 145 acres, being part of lot No. 87 
in the town of Onondaga, and purchased by the 
county of Josiah Bronson in the year 1826. 

The following is from the minutes of the Board 
of Supervisors at a meeting held November 24, 
1826: 

" The Board of Supervisors of the County of 
Onondaga having taken into consideration the pro- 
priety of erecting a County Poor House, appointed 



a select committee consisting of the following gen- 
tlemen : George Pettit, Hezekiah Strong and 
Charles H. Toll." The committee embodied in 
their report the following charges for the county 
poor during the years from 1823 to 1826 inclusive : 

Aggregate charges for the yeari823 $2,459 ^^ 

The like for the year 1824 2,560 98 

The like for the year 1825 3,973 66 

The like for the year 1826 5,767 47 

Increase of charges from 1823 to 1824, $10,114 > 
from 1824 to 1825, $,1412.68; from 1825 to 1826, 
$1,793.83 ; total increase in three years, $3,307.65. 

This showed the disadvantage of not having suit- 
able provisions for the poor. The committee in 
view of all the circumstances recommended that 
" the Board do avail themselves of the pro- 
visions of the act entitled 'An act to provide for the 
estabhshment of County Poor Houses, passed No- 
vember 27, 1824." The following resolutions were 
adopted : 

''Resolved, That the sum of two thousand dol- 
lars be forthwith raised in the county of Onondaga 
towards purchasing a site and erecting a county 
Poor House." 

"Resolved, That the members of this Board be 
a committee to examine, investigate and enquire as 
to the best location in said county for the said Poor 
House, and report their opinions and views on the 
subject to a future extra meeting of the Board." 

At the annual meeting of the Board held at the 
house of Z. Rust, on the 28th day of November, 
1826, it was 

"Resolved, That it be and is hereby determined 
that it will be beneficial to the said county to erect 
a county Poor House." 

" Resolved, That a copy of the above resolution 
be signed by the President and Clerk of this Board, 
and be forthwith filed with the Clerk of the said 
county." 

Elisha Litchfield, President. 

James Webb, Clerk. 

At the next meeting of this Board,^held at the 
house of Z. and G. Rust, in. the town of Onondaga, 
on the second Tuesday in January, 1827, present 
all the members except Charles Jackson, of La- 
Fayette, propositions were received of farms for sale 
to the Board of Supervisors for county Poor House 
purposes, in the towns of Manlius, Pompey, and 
many other localities in the county. The Board 
adopted the following resolution : 

" Resolved, That the location of the County Poor 
House shall be within ten miles of the Court 
House." 

A committee was then appointed consisting of 
Russell Chase, Hezekiah Strong, Charles H. Toll, 
Fisher Curtis and George Pettit, to examine a farm 
offered by Mr. Josiah Bronson, being part of Lot 
87 in the town of Onondaga, 100 acres or more at 



82 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



$20.00 per acre, and report upon the same at the 
next adjourned meeting. 

On the ninth day of February, 1827, the Board 
met again at the house of Z. and G. Rust. The 
committee reported favorably upon the farm oiTered 
by Josiah Bronson, and the Board resolved to accept 
the same, " containing about 145 acres, at the price 
of $18.00 per acre." 

" Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors will 
pay Josiah Bronson the sum of $500 on taking a 
deed, and the residue in two equal annual install- 
ments with interest, amounting to about S735 each 
to be secured to said Bronson by mortgage, and the 
said Supervisors take upon themselves to pay the 
State mortgage, amounting to about S640.00, and 
the said Bronson reserves the wheat now on the 
ground." 

Hezekiah Strong, Fisher Curtis and George 
Pettit were appointed a building committee, with 
instructions to " build a house not exceeding 60 feet 
in length and 36 feet in width, two stories above the 
cellar or basement, all of stone, and the expense of 
which shall not exceed $2,500.00." By a resolution 
passed at this meeting, Oliver R. Strong, Daniel 
Mosely, Truman Adams, Azariah Smith and James 
Webb, were appointed Superintendents of the Poor 
House. The building committee were instructed 
to build the barn 42 by 32 feet, and other out- 
buildings not exceeding in the whole $300.00. 
Hezekiah Strong, Fisher Curtis and George Pettit, 
were appointed a committee to raise the funds nec- 
essary to erect the buildings. 

The Poor House was completed on the 17th of 
December, 1827. Our space will not allow us to 
enter into a detailed account of all the changes and 
improvements which have been made in the last 
half century both in the buildings and in the 
manner of taking care of the poor and the insane. 
This important interest has kept pace with other 
improvement in the county, and has of late years 
commanded increasing attention and interest. The 
main building of the present Poor House was 
erected in 1854. In i860 the first stone build- 
ing for the Asylum was erected. Extensive im- 
provements were made during the years from 1866 
to 1873, under the administration of Mr. C. C. 
Warner, who had charge of the Institution during 
the years referred to, and to whose economical 
management and indefatigable labors the people 
of the county are much indebted. Under his 
administration the Reservoir for the supply of the 
county buildings with water was constructed in 
1867, at a cost of $4,000. In 1868, a new Asylum, 
built of stone, 32 by 76 feet and three stories in 
height, was built, costing about $16,000. The 



same year one wing of the Poor House was enlarged 
and a story added to it, at a cost of about $8,000. 
In 1871, the carriage and hay barn, 32 by 76 feet, 
with stone basement, was built to supply the place 
of the one previously destroyed by fire. This barn 
was erected at the very moderate cost of $1,550. 
A great improvement was made in the whole 
general appearance of the premises ; the road in 
front was elevated and graveled ; side-walks were 
built, and rows of beautiful shade trees planted. 

Mr. Warner being elected to the office of Super- 
intendent, appointed Mr. Knapp his successor as 
keeper, who had charge of the Poor House and 
Asylum until April ist, 1875, at which date the 
present incumbent, Mr. Ambrose Sadler, assumed 
charge. 

The Annual Report of the Superintendent, H. 
H. Loomis, Esq., for the year ending November 9, 
1877, shows that the receipts from all sources, in- 
cluding an appropriation by the Board of Supervi- 
sors of $18,000, was $23,072.86, and the total dis- 
bursements, $19,579 17. The amount of cash on 
hand was $3,493.69, and the amount of supplies, 
$1,725.00. Estimated amount necessary to meet 
the current expenses of the Poor House and Asylum 
for the ensuing year, $16,000. 

The number of children now in the different 
chai'itable institutions who are supported by the 
county is fifty-three. Of these 24 are in the On- 
ondaga County Orphan Asylum, 15 in the St. 
Vincent de Paul Orphan Asylum, and 14 in the 
House of Providence. 

The number of persons in the Poor House is 
130; 90 of whom are males and 40 females. Of 
the 117 in the Insane Asylum, 47 are males and 40 
females. The number admitted to the Asylum 
during the year is 49 ; 26 have been maintained at 
their own expense or that of their friends, $2.00 
per week being paid for their board and care ; 10 
have died, 34 have been discharged, and one has 
absconded during the year. 

The following table shows the causes of depend- 
ency of all persons received at the County House 
during the year : 

Intemperance direct 64 

Vagrancy 127 

Indigent and Destitute S3 

Lunacy 42 

Sickness 3° 

Old Age 10 

Debauchery 13 

Bastardy 7 

Blindness 4 

Lameness 6 

Idiocy 6 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 83 

The products of the Poor House farm during the duced the Board to change the site to Block 116 in 

past season have been as follows : what had previously been the village of Salina, 

Twenty-five tons of hay, 22.2 bushels of beets, 75 where the Penitentiary now stands. This block 

bushelsofonions 15 biishels of tomatoes 41 bushels was purchased of the State and a patent issued 

ofcarrots, 48 bushels of apples, 95 bushes of wheat, »u r • 1 u u- t- n 1. 1 »-• ■ 

950 pounds of butter, 2,500 pounds of beef, 20 **^"''"^«'' '•^'""'' ^^ "'' Excellency, Hamilton iMsh, 

hogs, and 1,000 head of cabbages. Governor, on the 4th of February, 1850. 

The following is a statement of expenses in- On the 8th of January, 1851, the following resolu- 

curred and the income realized from the farm of tion.moved by Mr. L. Harris Hiscock, was adopted: 

William Moore 1 20 acres) rented in the spring : . " ^f^olved. That the Onondaga County Peniten- 
tiary is completed within the necessary meaning of 

EXPENSES. the Act of April 10, 1850, and that the Board of 

Rent S250 00 Supervisors have full power to officer andorganize 

Seed 75 00 said Penitentiary, under the loth section of that 

S325 00 act, and that so much of the resolutions of the 

INCOME. Board of Supervisors of last year as confers any 

Potatoes, 1303 bushels.. _S52i 20 power to officer and organize said Penitentiary on 

Corn, 224 " 56 00 the Commisioners of the same, be and the same is 

Oats,' ^50 " 11^ 52 50 I hereby rescinded." 

Cornstalks 15 00 In January, 1 85 1, a special act was passed by the 

Oat straw 39 00 Legislature, the first section whereof is in the fol- 

Hay, 3 tons 3000 lowing words : 

^^j "The Jail of the county of Onondaga shall be, 

Profits realized.... ' ——-$394 /O f ^ '^^ ^""^ *' Y'^'^l' '"'^Tr'-/" l^^ ^'fn^u" 

^ tiary of said county, and said Penitentiary shall be 

Onondaga County Penitentiary. used for all the purposes of a jail of said county ; 

and the Superintendent of said Penitentiary, ap- 

On the 4th of December, 1849, Messrs. Robert pointed by the ]?oard of Supervisors, shall be the 

Dunlop, Cyrus Upham and T. C. Cheeney, a com- Jailor thereof, and have the custody and control of 

mittee of the Board of Supervisors to whom was all persons while confined therein, as the Sheriff 

referred the subject of the county jail, reported a ^f^^^W county might have were this law not en^- 

plan for a penitentiary, to be built upon the center ^''section 7. This act shall take efiect immedi- 

of the lot where • the court house and jail then ately." 

stood. The main building was to be 75 by 50 feet !„ the rules and by-laws adopted January 9, 185 1, 

and four stories including basement, with one wing \[ jg provided that three inspectors shall be appoint- 

100 by 50 feet, having one row of windows and four gj by the Board of Supervisors, in meeting now 

tiers of cells. The whole number of cells was to assembled, who shall have the supervision of the 

be 96. It was estimated that the entire cost would penitentiary and the entire control of all its finan- 

be a little less than S20,ooo. cial concerns and operations, and shall purchase and 

The Board of Supervisors, on the 7th of Decem- furnish all the necessary supplies for the Peniten- 

ber, 1849, adopted the report of the above commit- tia^y, one of whom shall hold his office for one 

tee, and passed the following resolutions : year, one for two years and one for three years from 

"Resolved by the Board, That a work-house or j^g first day of January, 185 1. "The said Peni- 

Penitentiary be erected in the county in pursuance ^^^^. ^,^,^,1 ^^ ^,„^,^^ j,^^ ^^^^rol and management 

of the plan submitted to this Board at its present ^ ■ • 1 1 c- ■ . 1 f 1 

session by the committee of which Mr. Dunlop is of one principal keeper or Superintendent and a 

chairman. Board of Inspectors, subject to the authority es- 

Rfsohed, That Mr. Church, of Lysander, Mr. tablishcd by law and the rules and regulations 

Dunlop, of DeWitt, and T. C. Cheeney, of Syra- adopted by the Board of Supervisors for its govern- 

cuse, be appointed commissioners to superintend the ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^3,, ^^ ^ physician to the peniten- 

erection of said building. « • • • • . 1 1 i- .■ c 1 

Resolved, That said commissioners and the tiary. to be appointed, and Im compensation fixed 

County Treasurer be empowered to loan a sum of by the Board of Supervisors. • • « 

money necessary for the erection of said building. The Board then proceeded to the election of 

not e.xceeding S20.000, to be deposited in the officers of the Penitentiary, with the following 

County Treasurer's office." • • • ^^^^^j^^ ^1^^ ^.^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ,33„qj . 

The plan of the committee was carried out with Superi>,le„de>it-]ostY>h A. Yard, 

the exception of locating the building on the Court ///j/rr/c^rj— Lyman Norton, James V. Kcnil.nll. 

House grounds. The delay in moving the Court Aaron Brinkerhoff. 

House to its present location and other causes in- P/ij'sician— James Foran. 



84 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



The Penitentiary was originally erected, substan- 1 
tially the same as at present, with the exception of 
the addition of one wing in 1864. A portion of the 
building was re built and other improvements made 
subsequent to the fire which occurred during the 
late war. 

The present condition of the Penitentiary, after 
an experiment of twenty-seven years, is such as 
fully to demonstrate the practical success of the 
institution. The Inspectors — Messrs. H. K. King, 
William Austin and Timothy Hough— in their an- 
nual report to the Board of Supervisors for 1877, 
recommend the erection of additional buildings for 
female prisoners. Hesidcs the great moral advan- 
tages which would obviously result from this policy, 
the increased facilities for taking and working a 
large number of long-term prisoners from adjacent 
counties and from the State at large, would greatly 
increase the profits of the institution and enlarge 
the revenue which it might be made to pay to the 
county. Already, besides paying all expenses for 
the past year, and in a season of considerable busi- 
ness depression, the profits of the Penitentiary have 
reached the net surplus of $12,190.86. The con- 
tractors for the penitentiary labor are Messrs. Fra- 
zer. Hums & Jones. 

The report of the present Superintendent, Mr. 
J. C. Williams, shows that the total income for the 
year 1877 was 538,620.85, and the total expendi- 
tures §25,644.99. Paiancc in favor of the Institu- 
tion ? 1 2,975.86. Items to the amount of $785 to 
be deducted from the above balance making the 
net profit of the Institution §12,190.86. Total 
number of persons in confinement during the year 
1,264. 

The Jail of the county is kept in the Peniten- 1 
tiary building, and is simply a house of detention. 
None are ever confined in this department who are 
undergoing sentence on conviction. No work is 
required of the jail-prisoners, but such as choose to 
work with the penitentiary-prisoners are permitted 
to do so, subject to the rules and regulations of the 
Penitentiary. 

The New York State Asylum for Idiots. 

The New York State Asylum for Idiots was found- 
ed in 1851. It was open for the admission of pupils 
in October of that year in buildings leased for the 
purpose at Albany. 

At the end of four years it was removed to Syra- 
cuse. The first building erected for its use was 
completed in 1855, where it now stands. The cost 
of this was about §70,000, not including the land 
which was given by the citizens of Syracuse. 



The first structure was meant to accommodate 
150 pupils. Successive additions from time to time 
have now doubled its original capacity. 

The buildings stand upon a bold terrace in 
a southwesterly direction from the city. They are 
just west of the city line in the town of Geddes, and 
about a mile and a quarter from the Syracuse Rail- 
road Depot. The grounds of the Asylum include 
about fifty-five acres. 

The object and design of the Asylum is to furnish 
means of education or training to the idiots of the 
State who are of a teachable age and condition ; 
hence the customary age of admission is from 
seven to fourteen. The by-laws of the Asylum 
exclude applicants who are epileptic, insane or 
greatly deformed. 

The education and training to which the pupils 
are submitted has reference mainly to developing in 
them a capacity for some useful occupation and the 
formation of correct habits. 

The girls are trained to household occupations 
and the boys to farm and garden work and two or 
three simple trades. No inconsiderable portion of 
the work in the asylum and about the grounds, is 
done by the pupils. 

The Asylum is under the general control of a 
Board of Trustees, eight of whom are appointed by 
the Governor, and the remaining five are ex officio 
members, consisting of the Governor, Lieutenant 
Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller and 
Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

Dr. H. B. Wilbur has held the oflfice of Superin- 
tendent of the Asylum from its foundation. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Onondaga in the War of the Rebellion — 
OuTiiURST OF Patriotism at the Beginning 
OF THE War — t'lRST Enlistments of Volun- 
teers — Captain John G. Butler's Company — 
Pettit's Battery. 

THE late civil war, which had been threatened 
by the South, was precipitated by an attack 
upon P'ort Sumpter, on Sunday, April 14, 1861. 
On Monday following Abraham Lincoln called for 
75,000 volunteers to aid in suppressing the rebel- 
lion. Simultaneously war meetings were held all 
over the Northern States. In this county flags 
were raised in almost every school district. The 
patriotic spirit needed no urging ; such was its in- 
tensity that violence actually threatened the few open 
sympathizers with the South, who, not yet aware of 
the spirit of their neighbors, dared openly to express 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



8S 



sentiments of sympathy with secession. In a Httle 
while the voices of all such were hushed in the 
general outburst of loyalty and patriotism ; and 
men of all parties, with but few exceptions, forgot 
their political differences in view of the common 
danger which seemed to threaten the country. The 
flag of the Republic had been ruthlessly assailed 
and the very existence of the Nation was imperiled 
by armed treason and rebellion. In such a state of 
things the appeal made to the loyal North for de- 
fenders of the Union, accompanied as it was by the 
authentic announcement that Maj. Anderson's little 
garrison at Charleston had surrendered, and that a 
rebel flag waved from the ramparts of Fort Sump- 
ter, awakened the most intense excitement and 
called forth a response which, for promptness and 
alacrity, has never been equalled in the history of 
any nation. 

The excitement in this locality was much the 
same as it was throughout the Northern States 
generally, except, perhaps, that it was more intense ; 
the strong anti-slavery sentiment of a large portion 
of the people being kindled into a flame by the first 
overt act of hostility on the part of the South. The 
county of Onondaga was behind no other portion 
of the Empire State in the promptness with which 
she furnished her quota of men and sent them for- 
ward to the seat of war. One company had been 
formed in Syracuse by Captain John G. Butler be- 
fore the beginning of the war, in iS6o, and was sent 
on immediately after the attack upon Fort Sumpter 
and formed a part of the 3d New York regiment, 
which participated in the first battle fought for the 
defense of the Union. Immediately upon the call 
for the 75, 000 men in April, 186 1, the 12th Regiment 
was raised and sent to the front, to engage at once 
in active service. Then followed the loist, a regi- 
ment made up partially of Onondaga men, in the 
fall of 1861 ; then the I22d Regiment in the 
summer of 1862 ; this was followed in less than a 
month by the 149th Regiment, and this again by 
the 185th, in the summer of 1864. The 15th and 
22d Cavalry were respectively raised and sent from 
this county. Besides these Jenney's and Pettit's 
Batteries and a considerable portion of the ist 
Regiment of Light Artillery were furnished from 
this county in 1861. The 3d New York Cavalry, 
mustered into the service in August, 1861 ; the 
loth Cavalry, December, 1861 ; the 12th Cavalry, 
November, 1862; the 20th Cavalry, September, 
1863 ; and the 24th Cavalry, organized at Auburn 
and mustered in January, 1864, were in part made 
up by men from Onondaga county. Also part of 
the 9th New York Heavy Artillery. This county 



and Cortland furnished eight companies of the 
2d Regiment of Ira Harris Light Cavalry, recruited 
in September and October, 1864. In infantry, be- 
sides the full regiments, this county furnished a 
portion of t-he 44th New York, mustered in, in 1861 ; 
the 75th, 1861 ; the 86th, i86i ; and the loist, 
1 86 1. The 193d Regiment was partly raised here 
in April, 1865, and the 194th, mustered in, the same 
spring. 

Thus it will be seen that, besides the filling of 
the complete regiments made up from this county, 
recruiting was going on briskly here from the begin- 
ing to the end of the war. Indeed, it began before 
the war broke out, and continued so long as a man 
was needed to complete the last great struggle with 
the Rebellion in front of Richmond in 1865. We 
have no means of determining the exact number of 
men furnished to the Government, first and last, by 
this county, but the aggregate will no doubt ap- 
proximate 10,000 men. The county raised about 
1,000 men over and above her quota. 

Captain Butler's Company. 

The tour of the Ellsworth Zouaves through the 
country in i860, awakened an unusual degree of 
military enthusiasm. A Zouave company was im- 
mediately thereafter formed in Syracuse, of which 
John G. Butler was Captain, Samuel Thompson, 
1st Lieutenant, and Edwin S. Jenney, 2d Lieutenant. 
The company was composed of about forty young 
men of some of the best families in the city. 

Immediately after the fall of Fort Sumpter, the 
company tendered its services to the Government, 
and was at once recruited by Capt. Butler and Lieut. 
Jenney to the maximum number of JJ, officers 
and men, and became Company D of the 3d regi- 
ment, N. Y. Vols. 

Before it was mustered into the service Lieut. 
Jenney recruited another company in Oneida 
County, of which he became captain. This was or- 
ganized as Company I of the same regiment. The 
only other Onondaga County man in this company 
was Mr. Leon H. Ballard, its 2d Lieutenant. 

Captain Butler's company was organized with 
John G. Butler, Captain ; C. H. Burdick, ist Lieu- 
tenant ; Jay M. Wicks, 2d Lieutenant ; and was the 
first company organized in Central New York upon 
the breaking out of the rebellion. 

Both Butler's and Jenney's companies proceeded 
about the middle of April, 1861, to the barracks at 
Albany, where the regimental organization was 
completed, thence to New York, where, after a brief 
encampment at the Battery, the regiment was or- 
dered to Fortress Monroe and incorporated with 



86 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Gen. Butler's army. They had immediate e.xperi- 
encc in active ser\'icc, the famous movement on 
Big Bethel, the first actual battle of the war, being 
ordered June 9, 1861. Gen Butler had taken com- 
mand at Fortress Monroe at the head of 15,000 
raw but gallant soldiers. It had been decided that 
no offensive movement should be made prior to the 
24th of May I the day after the farce of voting to 
ratify the ordinance of secession of the State of 
Virginia I— the Government having apparently re- 
solved that no Union soldier should, on that day, 
tread the soil of Virginia, save within the narrow 
limits, or immediately under the frowning walls of 
Fortress Monroe. So Gen. Hutler soon found 
ten or twelve thousand confederates in his front, 
under command of Gens. Huger and Magruder, 
both recently of the regular army, with earthworks 
and batteries, well mounted with powerful guns 
from the spoils of the Norfolk Navy Yard. 

General Hutler found his position so cramped by 
the pro.ximity and audacity of the rebels, that he 
resolved upon enlarging his circle, and to that end 
seized and fortified Newport News, at the mouth of 
the James River. On the Qth of June he ordered 
a reconnoissance in force with a view of capturing 
the rebel position nearest to him, at Little Bethel. 
The camp here was found deserted, and General 
Pierce, in command of our force pushed on to Big 
Bethel, seven miles further, where they found Ma- 
gruder strongly posted with i.Soo rebel infantry 
behind his breastworks. General Tierce, who had 
never seen a shot fired in actual war, planting his 
small arms in an open field opened an ineffectual 
fire, his balls burying themselves harmlessly in the 
rebel earthworks. This action was kept up about 
four hours — necessarily with considerable loss on 
our side and little or none on that of the enemy. 
Finally, a more determined assault was made by a 
part of our infantry led by Major Theodore Win- 
throp. Aid to General Butler, who was shot dead 
while standing on a log, cheering his men to the 
charge. 

Butler's and Jenncy's companies, composing the 
second division of the regiment, and being the 
fourth and ninth in rank, volunteered and were sent 
forward as part of the storming party in this first 
engagement of the war, and lost in proportion to 
any other troops engaged in the battle. They are 
mentioned in the reports for gallant conduct. The 
enemy's position was protected in front by a stream 
of water which made a successful assault impossible. 
Our total losses in the advance and attack were 
about 100 men, while the rebels report their loss at 
one killed and seven wounded. 



Succeeding the battle of Big Bethel the compa- 
nies were kept at Fortress Monroe till after the 
battle of Bull Run, when the regiment was ordered 
to the Army of the Potomac, but was, however, 
stopped at lialtimore and assigned to garrison duty 
at Fort Mc Henry. 

In October, 1861, Captain Jcnney, being author- 
ized to recruit a battery of light artillery, left the 
regiment. 

On the 4th of February, 1863, Captain Butler 
was promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 
147th New York Volunteers, organized at Oswego 
in September, 1862, of which Andrew S.Warner 
was Colonel. On the 24th of February, 1863, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Butler was promoted to the 
rank of Colonel of the regiment, which he com- 
manded in the field with distinction till failing 
health compelled him to leave the army. He was 
discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability, 
November 5, 1863. 

The Adjutant-General's report says of the 3d 
regiment : " This regiment was organized at Al- 
bany, X. v., for two years. It was mustered into 
the service of the United States May 14, 1S61. 
The original members were mustered out on the 
expiration of their term of service. May 21, 1863. 
The regiment was reorganized in May, 1863, for 
three years, and finally mustered out in accordance 
with orders from the War Department, August 18, 
1865." 

They were engaged in the following battles : Big 
Bethel, Fokt Wagnek, Bermuda Hunokeds, 

PETEKSriURG, F"OKT GiLMER, ChAPIn's FaRM, FoRT 
F'lSHEK, WiLMINGTO.N, N. C. 

Jay M. Wicks, who went out as 2d Lieutenant, 
was promoted to ist Lieutenant February 26, 1862, 
and to Captain, October 4, 1S62. He died, of wounds 
received in action, October 27, 1864. 

Charles H. Burdick, ist Lieutenant of same com- 
pany, resigned February 4, 1862. 

Leon H. Ballard, 2d Lieutenant in Capt. Jcnney 's 
company, resigned September 25, 1861. 

B.vTTEKV B, First Regiment New York Light 
Artillery, known as I'ettit's Battery, was raised 
at Baldwinsville and composed chiefly of Onondaga 
county men. It was mustered into the State ser- 
vice at Baldwinsville, August 24, 1861, and into the 
service of the United States at Elmira, August 31, 
1861. 

On its arrival in Washington it was the first bat- 
tery to be fully mounted, and remained in camp in 
the vicinity of Washington till the spring of 1862. 
The record of its engagements during the war is as 
follows : 



H 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



87 



Warrenton Jimction, Va., March 28, 1862. 
Fair Oaks, F«., June 1-28, 1862. 
Peach Orchard, Va., June 29, A. M., 1862. 
Savage Station, Va., June 29, P. M., 1862. 

White Oak Swamp, frt., June 30, 1862. 
Malvern Hill, f'^r., July r, 1S62. 
Centcrvilley frt., September i, 1862. 
Antietam, Md., September 15-17, 1862. 
Charlestoivn, Va., October 19, 1862. 
Snicker's Gap, Va., November 3, 1862. 
Falmouth, Va., November 17, 1862. 
Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-17, 1862. 
Chanccllorsville, Va., May 1-3, 1863. 
Utiitcd States Ford, f^^., May 6, 1863. 
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-3, 1863. 
Mine Run, Va., November 30, 1863. 
Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. 
North Anna, J a.. May 23, 1S64. 
Tolopotomoy, J^a., May 29, 1864. 
Bethcsda Church, frt., June 2-3, 1864. 
Petersburg, Va., June 16-20, 1864. 
Hatcher's Run, Va., October 27, 1864. 

On the expiration of its term of service the 
original number, except the veterans, were mustered 
out, and the organization composed of veterans and 
recruits retained in the service. The regiment was 
finally mustered out by batteries in accordance with 
an order from the War Department, Battery B be- 
ing mustered out June 18, 1865. 

The following were the officers of Pettit's Battery, 
with the record of promotions, &c. : 

Captain, Rufus D. Pettit, rank from August 29, 
1861, resigned May 30, 1863. 

Captain, J. M. Rority, temporarily assigned to 
command July 2, 1863, killed at Gettysburg. 

First-Lieutenant, Albert S. Sheldon, rank from 
August 29, 1 861, promoted to Captain, July 27, 
1863, wounded at Gettysburg, discharged December 
16, 1S64. 

First-Lieutenant, Thomas O'Shea, not commis- 
sioned, resigned October 17, 1862. 

Second-Lieutenant, Walter D. Pettit, rank from 
August 29, 1 86 1, promoted to First-Lieutenant 
February 27, 1862, discharged April 29, 1863. 

Second-Lieutenant, Robert E. Rogers, rank from 
November 12, 1861, promoted to First-Lieutenant 
March 6, 1863, promoted to Captain, December 30, 
1S64, mustered out with battery June 18, 1865. 

Second-Lieutenant, Isaac B. Hall, rank from 
April I, 1862 ; assigned to Battery A, December 
24, 1862 ; promoted to First-Lieutenant, February 
23, 1864 ! mustered out on expiration of term of 
service, October 31, 1864. 

Second-Lieutenant, Edward H. Underbill, rank 
from January 4, 1862 ; assigned to Battery B, June 
9, 1863 ; promoted to First-Lieutenant, August 26, 
1863 ; assigned to Battery A, September 18, 1863 ; 



promoted to Captain, December 9, 1864 ; mustered 
out with Battery, June 23, 1865. 

Second-Lieutenant, John Gibson, rank from Oc- 
tober 14, 1863 ; assigned from Battery H, Decem- 
ber 15, 1863 ; promoted to First-Lieutenant, Sep- 
tember 27, 1S64 ; mustered out on expiration of 
term of service, November 16, 1S64. 

First-Sergeant, Joseph B. Slauson, promoted to 
Second-Lieutenant, September 10, 1862 ; First- 
Lieutenant, April 29, 1863 ; wounded at Chancel- 
lorsville ; mustered out on the expiration of term of 
service, September 27. 1864. 

Quartermaster, Joel B. Frisbie, returned to ranks, 
December 3, 1S61 ; discharged, August 12, 1862. 

Sergeant, DeWitt M. Ferine, promoted to Second 
Lieutenant, October 20, 1S64; First-Lieutenant, 
February 28, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg ; mus- 
tered out with Battery, June 17, 1865. 

Sergeants— John M. Stephens, died, date un- 
known ; Harvey Cox, wounded at Chanccllorsville, 
fate unknown ; Rufus B. Freeman, died July 25, 
1862 ; Guy W. Plumley, died March 2, 1862 ; 
Charles H. Gates, wounded at Chanccllorsville ; 
transferred to I. C. ; Thomas Coyne, wounded at 
Chancellorsville ; taken prisoner and paroled ; 
Robert Maitland, returned to ranks January 31, 
1863. 

Corporals— James A. Skinner, promoted to 
Quartermaster-Sergeant April 26, 1S62 ; declined 
commission as Second-Lieutenant August 12, 1S64, 
with rank from May i, 1864; discharged at the 
expiration of service. 

Anthony Huyck, promoted to Sergeant, Decem- 
ber 14, 1862 ; First-Sergeant, December 24, 1862 ; 
discharged at the expiration of service. 

Abram S. Attix,* promoted to Sergeant, Septem- 
ber I, 1862. 

Andrew J. Hooker, hurt by carriage at Gettys- 
burg, returned to ranks November i, 1S63. 

Edward P. Lockwood,* returned to ranks October 
19, 1862. 

Abiram W. Mathews, died at home. 

Stephen Barber, died May 4, 1862. 

George L. Elliot, returned to ranks May i, 
1862. 

Robert R. Ramsey.* 

James Galligher. 

Michael Galligher,* returned to ranks. 

John McSorley,* returned to ranks January i, 
1863. 

Allen F. Mallory,* bugler, returned to ranks 
January i, 1863 : wounded at Gettysburg. , 

Thomas McLaughlin,* bugler. 



* Veterans retained in the service. 



88 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Hendrick S. Wheeler,* artificer. 

Alonzo C. Ketchum,* artificer, returned to ranks. 

Sylvester P. Slade,* wagoner.t 



CHAI'TKR XXI. 

" Jenney's Battery," — Its Organization with 
THE Third New York Artillery — Sketch of 
its History. 

THE Tenth New York Independent Battery, 
popularly known as " Jenney's Battery," was 
raised and organized in Syracuse by Capt. Edwin 
S. Jenney in the fall of iS6i. Captain Jenncy had 
entered the service at the very outbreak of the war ; 
he and Captain John G. Butler being the first to 
organize companies in Central New York immedi- 
ately after the fall of Fort Sumpter. As Captain 
of Company I, 3d Regiment, New York Volunteers, 
he had seen enough of war to induce a decided 
preference for the light artillery branch of the ser- 
vice ; and becoming weary of the inactivity of gar- 
rison duty at Fort McHenry, to which his regi- 
ment had been assigned after the battle of Big 
Bethel, he obtained leave of absence, returned to 
New York and received authority from the Gov- 
ernor to raise a battery of light artillery. He soon 
succeeded in raising the minimum number, and his 
command was mustered into the United States ser- 
vice as "The lOth New York Independent Bat- 
tery." 

In Hall's " Cayuga in the Field " this organiza- 
tion is spoken of as follows : 

" Of this number a full battery of 142 men was 
raised through the patriotic and vigorous efforts of 
Captain Edwin S. Jenncy, a young lawyer in 
Syracuse, whose private purse furnished hundreds 
of dollars for the work. The Captain rented the 
upper stories of a large building on Salina street. 
He made Syracuse blaze with his banners and 
placards, and quickly gatheretl a band of the very 
best intelligence and blood. It was his intention to 
go into the army of the West, into which he had 
been led by friends to suppose he could be sent. 
He found, however, that he was required for the 
army of the Potomac, where, at that time, a rule 
existed that light artillery should be united into 
battalions, consisting of one regular and three 
volunteer batteries, commanded by the Captain of 
the regular battery. This entailed a sacrifice of 
independence and gave no chance of promotion. 
He consented, therefore, to an order of the State 
authorities to attach him to the 3d New York 
Artillery, as Battery ' F.' As such he was mustered 
in, December iSlh, 1861, by Lieutenant J. R. 
Brinklc, 5th United States Artillery, at Syracuse. 

• Vcterini retained in the lervicc. 

f For rotter of Enliited Men See Appendix. 



Shortly after, he repaired to New York and lay at 
Palace Garden Barracks some weeks, previous to 
going to the front. The Lieutenants of the com- 
pany were Alex. H. Davis, Gustavus F. Merriam, 
Paul Birchmeyer and James D. Outwater." 

While at Palace Garden Barracks the battery 
was uniformed and furnished with rifles and the 
men were thoroughly drilled in infantry tactics, in 
order that, if necessary, they could perform such 
service until the battery should be equipped. 

On the 2 1 St of February, 1862, the Battery pro- 
ceeded to Washington, D. C, and the next day, 
with the rest of the regiment, which it had now 
joined, marched across the Potomac to Fort Cor- 
coran on Arlington Heights. 

Here the battery remained with the regiment 
encamped, doing garrison duty and constantly 
drilling in infantry and heavy artillery tactics, 
until March 25th, 1862, when orders came to march 
to join Burnside's expeditionary army. They ar- 
rived at Annapolis the next day, and, on the 28th, 
embarked on the steamer Fulton for Hatteras In- 
let, where they arrived, joining Burnside's fleet on 
the 30th, and landing at Newbern, North Carolina, 
on the 2d of April, 1862. For some time Captain 
Jenney and Captain Morrison, of Battery B, were 
engaged in equipping and drilling their respective 
Batteries. 

" By the ist of July, these Batteries had re- 
ceived their full armament. Both had a mi.xed lot 
of guns ; B had two twenty-four pound howitzers, 
(brass*, two twelve pound howitzers, (brass,) and 
two twelve pound Wiards, ( cannon and rifled ) ; F 
had two iron six pounders, two iron twelve pound- 
ers, and two howitzers. Horses were obtained 
principally from the baggage wagons of Massa- 
chusetts regiments. The old Bay State sent her 
regiments into the field with everything complete. 
A large number of her troops were in Burnside's 
army and their splendid teams were appropriated, 
as the emergency requiring them arose, to the use 
of the 3d artillery. By the first of November, 
however. Battery F was fully equipped with a 
complete armament of six Wiard rifled twelve 
pounder guns. 

" The summer and fall of 1862 were spent in drill- 
ing the several companies in their respective roles 
as light and heavy artillery, in the perfection of the 
line of fortifications and in the ordinary routine of 
camp duties. * • • • • * 

" With only an occasional skirmish with the 
enemy until November of that year."* 

From that time during most of its service the 
battery was kept actively at work. From the 3d to 
the loth of that month it was with the army in its 
march upon Tarboro. While no battle occurred 
during this march, the discipline and fortitude of 

* Ciyuga in the Field. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



89 



the command were constantly tried by the severity 
of the march, frequent skirmishes and the constant 
alertness necessary in the near presence of the 
enemy. If nothing else was accomplished by this 
expedition, it was of great educational advantage to 
the troops, for they were veterans ever after. 

After this, until December nth, the command 
had a resting spell. On that day, leaving only a 
small garrison at Newbern, the army began the 
march on Goldsboro. This expedition was planned 
in aid of the Army of the Potomac. General Hal- 
leck ordered that simultaneously with Burnside's 
crossing the Rappahannock, all the available forces 
at Newbern, should advance to Goldsboro, N. C., 
destroy the railroads and bridges, and so far as pos- 
sible, create a diversion in favor of General Burn- 
side. If it was supposed that this expedition 
would fight in three successive days three battles 
and two of them among the severest of the war, 
considering the number of men engaged, no mistake 
was made, for the battles of Kinston, Whitehall 
and Goldsboro are its history. It is not within the 
scope of our history to give the details of this 
march nor of these battles. The first two were 
the severe ones, and in both of them Jenney's 
Battery distinguished itself At Kinston the point 
of our attack was the bridge crossing the river, and 
owing to the long range of its guns, this battery 
was at first placed upon a hill in the rear of our 
advancing troops, to fire over them and thus aid 
their advance. The enemy held their ground, 
however, with terrible stubbornness ; an almost 
hand to hand fight raged for hours ; when 
it was discovered that the enemy was being 
reenforced by troops coming to their left flank, 
Jenney's Battery with two infantry regiments was 
ordered to hastily proceed to our right and cut off 
such reenforcements if possible. Passing through 
thick woods they came into the open country too 
late to effect their object, but with the bridge and 
enemy full in view. The intermediate country had 
been drained by large trenches which seemed im- 
passable to a battery, but after a moments confer- 
ence between Gen. Hickman, who commanded the 
flanking brigade, and Capt. Jenney, the order to 
advance was given, and the Brigade in two parallel 
columns (the infantry in one and the battery in the 
other) moved at double quick and gallop through 
the trenches and across the field. No halt was 
made until the battery was within cannister range 
of the enemy. The report of the Wiard guns was 
well known to our army. The position of the field 
was such that this movement upon the flank was 
not known to our troops until the Wiard guns rang 
12* 



out in quick succession, and a new musketry fire in 
the same locality told them the story. There was 
a momentary lull ; then a cheer rang along the 
line, an advancing shout, and the enemy's lines 
wavered and in a moment gave way and every man 
sought his own safety in flight ; while the battery 
turned its fire upon the bridge, now crowded by the 
retreating enemy, with fearful effect. Several hun- 
dred of the enemy sheltered themselves below the 
river bank and were captured. The enemy in re- 
treating, for the purpose of delaying our pursuit, 
fired the bridge with turpentine thus torturing to 
death many of their unfortunate wounded. The 
work of removing their charred remains occasioned 
more delay than extinguishing the flames, which was 
quickly done with the artillery buckets. 

One section of the Battery under command of 
Lieutenant Frederick Dennis, with the 3d New 
York Cavalry, followed and harassed the retreating 
enemy until night, but the Battery had been too 
badly crippled by the loss of men and horses to 
hastily make up more than a section for pursuit. 
At 5 o'clock the next morning, however, having 
brought in reserve horses and disposed the men with 
reference to the vacant places. Battery F marched 
out in the placeof honor with the advanced brigade. 

Conrad Ring, the bugler, bore the colors, in place 
of poor Dunlap whose horse had been shot under 
him and who had lost a leg the day before, while 
others filled the places of the poor fellows left behind 
as well as their own ; yet the Battery marched out 
elated with the honors of yesterday's battle, well 
prepared for the arduous duty still before it. 

That night the army encamped within three 
miles of Whitehall, which it was necessary to pass 
by the route taken, to reach Goldsboro. Early the 
following morning our cavalry engaged the enemy 
opposite this village. The main body of our army 
speedily came up. The artillery was sent to the 
front, the cavalry and infantry being used mainly as 
a support and the battle of " Whitehall " was fought. 

" Gloomy woods clothed both banks of the river, 
except on the south side, where a large clearing had 
been made among the trees, forming a sort of 
amphitheatre. The ground sloped steeply to the 
river. The enemy was on the north bank in the 
woods, 6,000 strong, under General Robertson, with 
artiflery in intrenchments. Reaching the open 
ground, General Foster halted the infantry regi- 
ments to allow the passage of the artillery, which, 
receiving orders to come to the front with all speed, 
spared neither lash nor spur, and came thundering 
into the open ground on a run, battery after battery. 
As fast as they reported, those having light guns, 
viz : " F," " H " and " K," and Belger's, were ranged 
along the line of battle, near the base of the slope, 



«ll 



90 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK, 



the heavy guns, those of " E " and " I " near the 
top. Battery B was not in the fight. As fast as 
they came into position, our guns opened fire on 
the woods, gunboat and the rebel battery, and for 
two hours and over poured shot, shell and cannistcr 
into them steadily. The cannonading was furious 
beyond experience. It seemed to be one continu- 
ous peal of deafening thunder. The ground trem- 
bled under the sound.* 

The enemy had ten or more heavy guns in their 
intrcnchments. Upon our side were full thirty can- 
non but they were all field pieces. The exposed 
hillside and close range rendered the battle at 
once an artillery duel which continued until 
the enemy's guns were almost wholly disabled, 
when our infantry advanced to the river bank and 
quickly dislodged the enemy. During this engage- 
ment one of the guns of "Jenney's Battery," too 
severely tried by the rapid firing, burst into four 
pieces. 

Previous to this march Lieutenant Davis had 
been promoted to Adjutant of the regiment. His 
duty in that position at no time of the day called 
him to the front ; yet he advanced into the fight 
with his old battery and served with it with dis- 
tinguished gallantry during the whole action. 

Lieutenant Dennis, who had succeeded Lieuten- 
ant Davis, during the hottest of the fight was sent 
with his section to the most exposed position in the 
field to silence one of the enemy's guns which 
seemed particularly damaging to us, and received 
special mention for the courage and skill with which 
he accomplished that result. 

After this battle the army again marched on and 
the next day, reaching the goal of the expedition, 
fought the battle of Goldsboro. Here, for the first 
time, Battery F was held in the reserve, short of 
men, with many draught horses supplying the 
places of drilled ones left on the field, and with 
ammunition exhausted, excepting a few rounds of 
cannister. The battery could no longer be of 
service and, the fighting over, the men gladly left 
the field and turned again toward the base of 
supplies. 

" When the artillery came off the field to take 
its place in the column, the troops greeted it with 
cheers — regiment after regiment waved their caps 
and flags enthusiastically and made the welkin 
ring with stormy hurrahs. ' Here come Jenney's 
Wiards— three rousers for him,' they would shout 
as that battery came by and so on to the last. No 
general orders from headquarters could have better 
testified to the worth of the services of our artillery 
in the field than this spontaneous and cordial out- 
burst on the field of the battle*" 

The army reached Newbern on the 20th of the 

* Cjyugi in the Field. 



month. In recognition of the gallant conduct of 
the battery, Captain Jenney was recommended for 
promotion and on the ist of January was made a 
Major in the regiment. 

Immediately after the return of the army an ex- 
pedition was planned by General Foster to take 
Wilmington. To that end during the month of 
January following he moved the iSth Corps to 
Beaufort, N C, ready for embarkation. Before 
this event, however, his authority was revoked by 
the War Department, and he was ordered to pro- 
ceed with his corps to South Carolina, to aid in the 
capture of Charleston. 

In obedience to this order the army was, by Jan- 
uary 30th, snugly aboard a fleet of about fifty ves- 
sels, and on the 31st set sail reaching Hilton Head 
during the first week of February. 

Maj. Jenney, reluctant to surrender the command 
of his battery, was permitted to accompany it and 
retained command until July following. By this 
expedition Battery F was divided. The guns and 
gunners with only horses enough to draw them 
were taken, the rest of the battery remaining at 
Newbern until the next winter, when it joined the 
main portion of the battery in South Carolina. 

This detachment, however, was furnished with 
two guns and, as a section under Lieutenant Clark, 
rendered efficient service in several actions during 
the period of its detention in North Carolina. 

Upon the arrival of the battery in South Carolina 
it was encamped upon St. Helena Island where it 
remained inactive until April ist. 

General Foster, upon his arrival, found nothing 
in readiness for operations against Charleston and 
returned at once to North Carolina, whither most 
of his army soon followed him. Battery F, how- 
ever, was detained by General Hunter and served 
during the rest of the war in South Carolina and 
Florida. 

The 1st of April, 1863, the battery received 
marching orders and was transported to F'olly 
Island. Here it was incorporated into Vogdes' 
brigade, Major Jenney becoming chief of artillery 
and chief of staft', and also retaining command of 
his battery. Work was commenced at once fortify- 
ing the northern end of the island with the view of 
storming and capturing Morris Island which lay 
near and next north of Folly at the mouth of 
Charleston Harbor, its capture being necessary 
to the storming of Sumpter and capture of Charles- 
ton from the sea. This work having been accom- 
plished with great difficulty and under the almost 
constant fire of the enemy's artillery and infantry 
from Morris Island, only 400 yards away, on the 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



9* 



9th of July, 1S63. At daybreak the artillery opened 
fire upon Morris Island while Strong's brigade in 
small boats crossed the inlet under a terrible fire 
and stormed and captured the works upon the 
southern end of Morris Island. 

To Battery F was assigned the duty of defending 
the crossing troops from the fire of the enemy from 
their rifle pits. This work was so well done that 
twenty-four of their rifle men were found dead in 
the pits. 

General Strong advanced his brigade at once 
and attempted to capture Fort Wagner at the 
northern end of the Island by storm, but was 
twice successively repulsed, July iSth. 

A siege was necessary and was at once com- 
menced. During this siege ^Battery F, now com- 
manded by Lieutenant Birchmeyer, was always in 
the extreme advance, pushing ahead as the intrench- 
ments were dug until September 6th, when the Fort 
was taken. 

Lieutenants Birchmeyer and Van Housen were 
especially commended by the commanding General 
for their bravery and untiring exertions, and John 
Conway, Riley Fancher and Matthias Thyson were 
presented with medals by the government for 
bravery in the trenches. 

The battery remained upon Folly Island until 
April, 1864, and during this time it was by no 
means inactive. 

In April, 1864, the battery went to Beaufort, N. 
C, where its camp remained until September 5, 
1864, when it was ordered to Florida. 

While at Beaufort the spirit of the battery 
was well tested in the battles of John's Island 
and Bloody Bridge, in both of which it main- 
tained its early reputation. 

On the 14th of September the battery arrived at 
Jacksonville, where it remained in camp until 
November 29th, when it again returned to South 
Carolina, to cooperate under General Foster with 
General Sherman, then marching to the sea. 

During the campaign which followed, it fought in 
the battles of Honey Hill, Dereauxheck, Camden, 
Ashapo and others of less importance. It moved 
with Sherman to Raleigh and then returned to 
Charleston, S. C, where it turned over its guns 
and equipments to the Government, and in the 
month of May, 1865, returned home to Syracuse 
and was mustered out. 

In July, 1863, Major Jenney was compelled to 
leave the battery and assume his duties as Major. 
He proceeded to regimental headquarters at New- 
bern, N. C, where he was soon made Judge Advo- 
cate and shortly after Provost Judge of the De- 



partment. He occupied these positions until Sep- 
tember, 1864, when, upon the recommendation of 
the Citizens' Committee, he was commissioned 
Colonel of the 185th Regiment, then being organ- 
ized at Syracuse, and immediately went to Fortress 
Monroe to obtain leave from the Commanding Gen- 
eral to accept such promotion. This leave was 
granted and he was ordered to return to Newbern 
and turn over his office to his successor. He re- 
turned by the way of the Dismal Canal and was 
on the little steamer Fawn, which was fired upon 
and captured by a company of rebel marines. At 
the time the boat was fired upon she was stopped 
by a draw-bridge suddenly shot across the canal by 
rebels who had taken possession of it, and the 
rebel company, about 70 in number, arising from 
the cover of a hillock fired upon the boat. There 
were four officers and ten men on the deck, sitting 
or lounging without apprehension of danger and not 
more than twenty feet from the muzzles of the 
rebel guns. Of this party, ten out of the fourteen 
were killed or wounded — Major Jenney being one of 
the fortunate ones. There was no opportunity for 
resistance, as there was not even a pistol on the 
boat, which was then passing through friendly terri- 
tory. The prisoners were marched to Elizabeth 
City, about forty miles distant. In the morning 
Major Jenney succeeded in persuading the rebel 
Captain to parole him. The parole being duly signed 
Jenney pretended to return by the same route he 
had come, but instead of doing so, went to the 
river, and capturing a small boat made the best of 
his way down the river and across the Sound to 
Roanoke Island. He immediately reported the 
circumstances of his capture and parole to the 
Government and hastened home to attend to the or- 
ganization of his regiment. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

The Twelfth Regiment New York Volunteers 
— Organization — March to the Front — 
Blackburn's Ford — Bull Run — The Peninsu- 
lar Campaign — Yorktown— Hanover Court 
House. 

THE 1 2th Regiment New York Volunteer In- 
fantry was the first organized in Onondaga 
county and among the first formed in the State at 
the outbreak of the rebellion. On Monday after 
the ever-memorable Sunday, April 14, 1861, on 
which Sumpter was fired upon, the regiment was 
filled, enlisting in the State service for two years. 
It was organized as follows : 



92 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Field and Staff Officers — Ezra L. Walrath, 
Colonel ; James L. Graham, Licut.-Coloncl ; John 
Louts, Major ; Silas Titus, Adjutant; Edmund B. 
Griswold, Quartermaster ; Roger W. Pease, Sur- 
geon ; George H. Todd, Assistant Surgeon ; George 
H. Root, Sergcant-Major ; Charles Sedgwick, 
Quartermaster-Sergeant ; Robert C. Daly, Drum- 
Major ; Spencer Eaton, Fife Major. 

Line Officers — Company A : Morris H. Church, 
Captain ; Ira Wood, Lieutenant ; Charles B. Randall, 
Ensign ; Porter R. Alger, Abraham Fredendoll, 
Abram Farnic and John Cross, ist, 2d, 3d and 4th 
Sergeants ; William B. Patterson, George W. Pratt, 
Charles K. F"urman,Jr.,and Harrison Wagfjoner, ist, 
2d, 3d and 4th Corporals ; Daniel Reiyea, Drummer. 

Company B : Jacob Brand, Captain ; Peter 
Strauss, Lieutenant ; John P. Spanier, Ensign ; 
Michael Auer, Julius Hintz, George Boiteu, and 
Max Fix, Sergeants ; Michael Welter, Jacob Sim- 
mon, Albert Hoft'mann.and John Dauer, Corporals ; 
Moritz Schwarz, Drummer. 

Company C : Dennis Driscoll, Jr., Captain ; James 
Randall, Lieutenant ; John P. Stanton, Ensign ; 
Michael Foley, George Travis, John Lighten, and 
John Carroll, Sergeants ; Richard J. Wright, James 
Lewis, William Stanton, and John R. Bailey, Cor- 
porals ; Hiram Foote, Drummer. 

Company D : George W. Stone, Captain ; Lucius 
C. Storrs, Lieutenant ; George Snyder, Ensign ; 
Origcn S. Storrs, Charles W. Greene, John M. 
Couch, and Davis Jones, Sergeants ; Albertus 
Webb, John Muldoon, Charles H. Davis, and Henry 
Shirley, Corporals ; Jay F. Bates, Drummer. 

Company li : Jabez M. Brower, Captain ; Fred- 
erick Horner, Lieutenant; Samuel J. Abbott, En- 
sign ; Richard N. Booth, Frank W. Clock, Cort- 
land Clark and Thomas J. Behan, Sergeants ; 
Abijah P. Mabinc, Byron Gilbert, Hiram G. How- 
land and Daniel W. Barker, Corporals ; Charles A. 
Taylor, Drummer. 

Company F : Milo W. Locke, Captain ; William 
Gleason, Lieutenant ; Stephen D. Clark, Ensign ; 
Edwin R. Dennis, Charles S. Wells, Watson E. 
Hart and Erastus P. Kinne, Sergeants ; Jacob Van 
Alstync, George W. Blackman, Handley Lamb and 
James Harroun, Corporals ; John Robinson, Drum- 
mer ; Seth S. Thomas, Fifer. 

Company G : Joseph C. Irish, Captain ; John 
H. Johnson, Lieutenant ; Erskine P. Woodford, 
Ensign ; George F. Ballou, Oliver T. May, Levi J. 
Irish and Rush Parkhurst, Sergeants ; Irving 
Tuttle, John H. Light, Francis A. Darling and 
Eliakiam Winchel, Corporals ; Jay H. Roberts, 
Drummer ; Sylvester Edwards, Fifer. 



Company H : George W. Cole, Captain: George 
Truesdell, Lieutenant ; Albert M. Wiborn, Ensign ; 
Edward Pointer, James Giberson, Thomas Bartlett 
and Silas Carpenter, Sergeants ; Charles Coon, 
Lester C. Herrick, Augustus H. Wilkins and Jetier- 
son Button, Corporals ; Randolph Phillips, Drum- 
mer ; Alvin Harder, Fifer. 

Company I : Henry A. Barnum, Captain ; 
Hamilton R. Comb, Lieutenant ; Edward Drake, 
Ensign ; Andrew V. Urmy, Randall McDonald, 
John H. Phillips and Joab W. Mercer, Sergeants; 
William F. Johnson, Dexter Smith, John H. Leon- 
ard and Asabel W. Smith, Corporals ; Willett 
Britton, Drummer ; Seth H. Kingsley. Fifer. 

Company K : Augustus J. Root, Captnin ; Wil- 
liam P. Town, Lieutenant ; Lucius Smith, Ensign ; 
Samuel D. Sudden, Charles F. Rand, James F. 
Taylor and Thomas Tangey, Sergeants ; Samuel 
McChesney, William P. Jones, James P. Taylor 
and Joseph L. Hunt, Corporals ; Albert A. Mead, 
Drummer ; Francis M. Lincoln, Fifer. 

The regiment left Syracuse May 2, 1S61, for 
Elmira, and was there mustered into the United 
States service for three months, May 13. Receiv- 
ing its uniform and equipments at Elmira, it left for 
Washington, in company with the 13th New York, 
from Rochester, June 2d, and after quartering a few 
days at Caspari's House, went into camp on East 
Capitol Hill. 

July 15, the regiment was ordered across Chain 
Bridge into Virginia, and was the first to be under 
fire at Blackburn's Ford on the iSth, preliminary to 
the first Bull Run engagement. Lieut. Randall of 
this regiment, having command of about twenty of 
our men as skirmishers, was the first to attack the 
enemy. George N. Cheney, a private of Company 
A, was the first man killed. In this engagement 
six of the I2lh Regmient were killed and thirteen 
wounded. 

The movement of the Union forces under Gen. 
McDowell (directed from Washington by Lieut. - 
Gen. Winficld Scott 1 commenced on Tuesday July 
i6th. The advance column, under Gen. Tyler, 
bivouacked that night at Vienna, four and a half 
miles from Fairfax Court House, rested next morn- 
ing at Germantown, two miles beyond Fairfax, 
and on Thursday at 9 o'clock, A. M., pushed on 
through Centerville, the rebels retiring quietly be- 
fore it. Three miles beyond Centerville the rebels 
were found strongly posted at Blackburn's Ford, 
on Bull Run ; and, on being pressed by Tyler's 
force, a spirited engagement ensued, at about half- 
past one P. M. The rebels were in heavy force un- 
der the immediate command of General Long- 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



93 



street. The attacking force on our side was Sher- 
man's Battery, under Captain Ayres, supported by 
Colonel J. B. Richardson's brigade, consisting of 
the I2th New York, the ist Massachusetts, and 
the 2d and 3d Michigan infantry. In this engage- 
ment the losses were nearly equal — 83 on our side 
and 68 on that of the enemy. Considered as a re- 
connoissance in force it might be termed a success. 
The result demonstrated that the main body of the 
rebel army was in position along the wooded valley 
of Bull Run, halfway between Centerville and Man- 
assas Junction, and proposed to remain. As this 
was the first experience of the 12th Regiment in 
actual fighting, and as the campaign of Bull Run 
was a memorable one, it may be well to introduce 
here a few facts respecting the general engagement. 
The following is substantially the account given by 
Greeley, in his American Conflict, p. 539-43 : 

" General McDowell's army being concentrated 
around the ridge on which Centerville is situated, 
on the i8th and 19th of July, the intention was to 
advance on the rebels posted along Bull Run and 
between that and Manassas Junction on Saturday, 
the 20th. But delay was encountered in the recep- 
tion of subsistence, which did not arrive till Friday 
night. During Saturday, three day's rations were 
distributed, and every preparation made for moving 
punctually at 2 o'clock next morning. Meantime, 
Beauregard, maintaining an absolute quiet and in- 
offensiveness on his front, and fully informed by 
spies and traitors of every movement between him 
and Washington, had hastily gathered from every 
side all the available forces of the Confederacy, in- 
cluding 15,000, or nearly the full strength of John- 
ston's Army of the Shenandoah, and had decided to 
assume the offensive and attack our forces before 
General Patterson could come up and join them. 
Had our advance been made on Saturday, as was 
originally intended, it would have encountered but 
two-thirds of the force it actually combatted ; had 
it been delayed a few hours longer, we should have 
stood on the defensive, with the immense advantage 
of knowing the ground and of choosing the posi- 
tion whereon to fight. Such are the overruling 
casualties and fatalities of war." 

Bull Run afforded a good position for planting 
batteries to command the roads on the opposite side, 
so screened by the woods and brush as to be neither 
seen nor suspected until the advancing or attacking 
column was close upon them. This fact explains 
and justifies Gen. McDowell's (or Scott's) order of 
battle, which was briefly as follows : To menace the 
rebel right by the advance of our ist division on the 
direct road from Centerville to Manassas Junction, 
while making a more serious demonstration on the 
road running due west from Centerville to Groveton 
and Warrenton, and crossing Bull Run by the Stone 
Bridge. The real or main attack was to be made 



by a column 15,000 strong, composed of the 2d 
(Hunter's) and the 3d (Heintzelman's) divisions, 
which, starting from their camps a mile or two east 
and southeast of Centerville, were to make a con- 
siderable detour to the right, crossing Cub Run, and 
then Bull Run, at a ford known as Sudley Spring, 
three miles above the Stone Bridge ; thus turning: 
the rebel left, and rolling it up on the center, where 
it was to be taken in flank by our ist division 
(Tyler's), crossing the Stone Bridge at the right 
moment, and completing the rout of the enemy. 
The 5th division ( Miles') was held in reserve at Cen- 
terville, not only to support the attacking columns, 
but to guard against the obvious peril of a formida- 
ble rebel advance on our left across Blackburn's Ford 
to Centerville, flanking our flank movement, captur- 
ing our munitions and supplies, and cutting off our 
line of retreat. The 4th division (Runyon's) guarded 
our communications with Alexandria and Arlington, 
its foremost regiment being about seven miles back 
from Centerville. 

The movement of our forces was to have com- 
menced at half-past 2 o'clock a. m., and the battle 
should have been opened at all points at 6 a. m. 
But our raw troops had never been brigaded prior 
to this advance, and most of their officers were 
utterly without experience ; so that there was a 
delay of two or three hours in the flanking divisions 
reaching the point at which the battle was to begin. 
Gen. Tyler, in front of Stone Bridge, opened with 
his artillery at half-past 6 a. m., eliciting no reply ; 
and it was three hours later when Hunter's advance, 
under Colonel Burnside, crossed at Sudley Spring. 
His men, thirsty with their early march, that hot 
July morning, stopped as they crossed to fill their 
canteens. Meantime, every movement of our forces 
was made manifest to Beauregard, watching them 
from the slope two or three miles west, by the 
clouds of dust which rose over their line of march ; 
and regiment after regiment was hurried northward 
by him to meet the imminent shock. No strength 
was wasted by him upon, and scarcely any notice 
taken of, our feint on his right. But when Burn- 
side's brigade, after crossing at Sudley, had marched 
a mile or so through woods down the road on the 
right of Bull Run, and come out into a clear and 
cultivated country, stretching thence over a mile of 
rolling fields down to Warrenton turnpike, he was 
vigorously opened upon by artillery from the woods 
in his front, and as he pressed on, by infantry also. 
Continuing to advance, fighting, followed and sup- 
ported by Hunter's entire division, which was soon 
joined on its left by Heintzelman's, having crossed 
the stream a little later and further down, our at- 



94 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



tacking column reached and crossed the Warrenton 
road from Ccntcr\illc by the Stone Kridgc, giving a 
hand to Sherman's brigade of Tyler's division, and 
all but clearing the road of the rebel batteries and 
regiments, which here resisted our efforts, under 
the immediate command of Gen. Joseph E. John- 
ston. Here Griffin's Battery, which, with Rickett's, 
had done the most effective fighting throughout, 
was charged with effect by a rebel regiment, which 
was enabled to approach it with impunity by a mis- 
take of our officers, who supposed it one of our own. 
Three different attacks were repulsed with slaughter, 
and the battery remained in our hands, though all 
the horses were killed. At 3 p. m., the rebels had 
been driven a mile and a half, and were nearly out 
of sight, abandoning the Warrenton road entirely 
to our victorious troops. Gen. Tyler, on hearing 
the guns of Hunter on our right, had pushed Sher- 
man's, and soon after Keyse's Brigade, over the 
Run to assail the enemy in his front, driving them 
back after a severe struggle, and steadily advancing 
until checked by a heavy fire of artillery from bat- 
teries on the heights above the road, supported by 
a brigade of rebel infantry strongly posted behind 
breastworks. A gallant charge by the 2d Maine 
and 3d Connecticut, temporarily carried the build- 
ings behind which the rebel guns were sheltered, 
but the breastworks were too strong, and our men 
recoiling from their fire, deflected to the left, mov- 
ing down the Run under the shelter of the bluft", 
covering the efforts of Capt. Alexander's Pioneers 
to remove the heavy abatis whereby the rebels had 
obstructed the road up from the Stone Bridge. 
This had at length been effected, and Schenck's 
brigade and Ayres's battery of Tyler's division 
were on the point of crossing the Run to aid in com- 
pleting our triumph. 

But the rebels, at first outnumbered at the point 
of actual collision, had been receiving reenforce- 
mcnts nearly all day, and at this critical moment. 
General Kirby Smith, who had that morning left 
Piedmont, fifteen miles distant, with the remaining 
brigade of General Johnston's army, appeared on 
the field. Cheer after cheer burst from the rebel 
hosts, but now so downcast, as this timely recnforce- 
ment rushed to the front of the battle. General 
Johnston had been heard to exclaim but a moment 
before to General Cocke, " Oh, for four regiments ! " 
His wish was answered. Smith, in riding to the 
front, almost instantly fell from his horse wounded. 
Colonel Arnold Elzley promptly assumed command 
of his brigade, and rushed forward, backed by the 
whole reassured and exultant rebel host, who felt 
that the day was won. Our soldiers, who had been 



thirteen hours marching and fighting, hungry, 
thirsty, weary, and continually encountering fresh 
rebel troops, without seeing even a company hurry- 
ing to their support, became suddenly dismayed 
and jjanic stricken. Elzley's and Early's fresh 
battalions filled the woods on their right, extending 
rapidly toward its rear, firing on them from under 
cover, and seeming by their shots and cries to be 
innumerable. Two or three of our regiments re- 
coiled and then broke, rushing down to the Run. 
Johnston again ordered Ewell to advance and attack, 
which he did, but was received by the 2d Brigade 
( Colonel T. A. Davis ) with so rapid and spirited a 
fire of grape and cannister that he precipitately re- 
treated. 

There were still more than three hours of good 
daylight when the rebels saw our routed right rush- 
ing madly from the field, like frightened sheep, yet 
their pursuit amounted to nothing. They came 
across Bull Run, preceded by their cavalry, and 
seem to have taken a deliberate though rather 
distant survey of the 5th division, drawn up in good 
order along the slope west of Centerville, and eager- 
ly expecting their advance. But they appear to have 
been aware that their victory was a lucky accident, 
and they did not choose to submit its prestige to the 
chance of another fray. Our 5th division, constitut- 
ing the reserve, now became the rear guard of our 
army, and remained in position till after midnight, 
when, under peremptory orders from Gen. Mc- 
Dowell, it commenced its deliberate retreat to the 
environs of Washington. Although the retreat 
from the battle field of Bull Run, was a panic- 
stricken flight on the part of a considerable number 
of raw and undisciplined troops and a multitude of 
stragglers and spectators who went out of Washing- 
ton on that fine Sunday to witness the battle, yet a 
portion of our army retired in good order. Says 
Major Berry, our chief of Artillery in the battle : 

" The army having retired upon Centerville, I was 
ordered by General McDowell in person, to post the 
artillery in position to cover the retreat. The bat- 
teries of Hunt, Ayres, Tidball, Edwards, Green and 
the New York 8th regiment (the latter served by 
volunteers from Wilcox's brigade) 20 pieces in all, 
were at once placed in ])osition ; and thus remained 
till 12 o'clock, p. M., when orders having been re- 
ceived to retire upon the I'otomac, the batteries 
were put in march, and covered by Richardson's 
brigade retired in good order and without haste, and 
early next morning reoccupied their former camps 
on the Potomac." 

The 1 2th Regiment during this expedition was 
brigaded with the ist Massachusetts and the 2d 
and 3d Michigan, under command of Col. J. D. 
Richardson. On Monday, the 22d of July, they 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK, 



95 



returned from Bull Run, as rear guard of the re- 
treating army, and on the 24th occupied a portion 
of the camp of the 8th Militia at Arlington Heights, 
where they remained a few days and then encamped 
upon the flats near the Long Bridge turnpike. On 
the 13th, they removed to Fort Albany and relieved 
the 25th New York Militia, and thence on the 30th 
to a camp south of the Arlington House, and con- 
structed Fort Craig — one of a continuous line of 
fortifications from Alexandria to Chain Bridge. On 
the evening of August 26, three companies under 
Captain Barnum, were detailed on picket duty to- 
wards Upton's Hill, and had a lively skirmish with 
the rebels lasting nearly all day. They were re- 
pulsed by the rebels to Ball's Cross Roads. Ser- 
geant-Major Estes and private Hitchcock were 
wounded, the latter mortally, and Fred. Darby, of 
Company D, taken prisoner. On the 27th of Sep- 
tember, a general advance was made upon Upton's 
Hill, and the 12th Regiment established permanent 
camp in which they remained till early in the month 
of February. 

On the 3d of February, 1S62, the regiment was 
consolidated with the 12th New York Militia, so 
called, a body of 550 recruits raised by Henry A. 
Weeks in the city of New York. Up to this time 
the 1 2th Regiment had been about nine months in 
service, and through losses in the field and sickness 
had been reduced to 450 officers and men. When 
General McClellan was at this time making up the 
Armv of the Potomac, this remnant of the 12th 
Volunteers was to be left out and kept for garrison 
duty in the defences of Washington, to serve as 
heavy artillery under command of Lieutenant-Col- 
onel R. M. Richardson. Colonel Richardson did 
not feel satisfied with this idea, and being desirous 
that another regiment should be put in active ser- 
vice at the front, he obtained leave of absence, went 
to New York and found Henry A. Weeks with 550 
recruits, called the 12th New York Militia, made 
arrangements for the consolidation of these recruits 
with the remnant of the 12th New York Volunteers, 
on condition that Mr. Weeks should be Colonel of 
the new regiment ; thus relinquishing the command 
of his own regiment in order to effect the new or- 
ganization. 

In the consolidation the ten companies of the 
1 2th Regiment were reduced to five, the 12th Mili- 
tia furnishing five. The companies of the 12th 
New York Volunteers, which retained their or- 
ganizatione were companies A, G, H, I and K, offi- 
cered respectively by Captains Root, Randall, 
Wood, Truesdell and Coombs. The field officers 
were Henry A. Weeks, Colonel ; R. M. Richard- 



son, Lieutenant-Colonel ; Henry A. Barnum, Ma- 
jor ; George W. Watson, Adjutant ; Porter R. 
Alger, Quartermaster ; A. B. Shipman, Surgeon ; 
George B. Todd, Assistant Surgeon. The officers 
rendered supernumerary by the consolidation were 
mustered out of the service. Most of them reen- 
listed, and in other organizations attained consider- 
able distinction during the war. 

On the 13th of March, 1862, Gen. McClellan 
organized the Army of the Potomac. At that date 
the 1 2th Regiment was attached to Gen. Butter- 
field's brigade, consisting of the I2th, 17th and 
44th New York, the i6th Michigan and the 83d 
Pennsylvania regiments ; and thus organized ac- 
companied the Army of the Potomac under Gen. 
McClellan to the Peninsula. They were engaged 
in the siege of Yorktown, daily furnishing a large 
detail of men to work in the trenches, and on the 
14th of April, engaged in a sharp skirmish with 
the rebels who had attacked our picket lines. 

On the 4th of May, General Magruder evacuated 
Yorktown with his forces. McClellan had been 
thirty days in front of the works, and was intending 
to open the siege on the 6th of May, but he found, 
two days earlier, that Magruder had abandoned his 
works, including Yorktown, during the preceding 
night, and had retreated up the Peninsula. While 
the pursuit of the rebels was prompt and energetic 
under Stoneman and Hooker to Williamsburg, 
where Hooker's division withstood 30,000 of the 
rebel force during an entire day without reenforce- 
ments. General McClellan remained at Yorktown 
supervising the embarkation of Franklin's, Butter- 
field's and other troops, including our 12th New 
York Regiment, for West Point, whence they 
moved up the Pamunkey River and thence across 
to New Bridge on the Chickahominy. Here the 
1 2th Regiment was in the 3d Brigade, under 
Genera! D. C. Butterfield, ist Division (General 
Morrell's) Sth Corps, commanded by General Fitz- 
John Porter ; and so remained throughout the 
service. On the 24th of May, fighting commenced 
on the Chickahominy, near New Bridge. The 4th 
Michigan (Colonel Woodbury) waded the stream and 
assailed and drove off a superior rebel force, losing 
but 8 men in all, and taking 37 prisoners, of 
whom 15 were wounded. Directly afterwards Gen. 
Fitz-John Porter, commanding the 5th Corps, on 
our right, was ordered to advance from New Bridge 
via. Mechanicsville to Hanover Court House, in 
order to facilitate and render secure Gen. McDowell's 
expected junction from Fredericksburg. Starting 
at 3 A. M , May 27, in a pouring rain, our cavalry 
advance, under Gen. W. H. Emory, had reached, at 



96 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



noon, a point two miles southward of the Court 
House, where the road forks to Ashland, and where 
the enemy were found in position to bar our further 
progress. The 25th New York and Berdan's sharp- 
shooters speedily coming up, they were deployed by 
Gen. Emory, with a section of Benson's battery, and 
thus advanced slowly towards the enemy until re- 
enforced by Gen. D. C. Hutterfield, with four regi- 
ments of his brigade, when the enemy was charged 
and quickly routed, one of his guns being captured 
by Col. Lansing's 17th New York. The cavalry, 
Benson's battery, and Gen. Morrell's infantry and 
artillery, keenly pursued the fugitives while Mar- 
tindales's brigade with a section of artillery, 
advanced on the Ashland road, pushing back 
the enemy in his front, until ordered to reform 
his brigade and move up the railroad to the Court 
House. One regiment having taken that course. Gen. 
Martindale was left with but two and a half regiments 
and one section of Martin's battery, when he was 
attacked by a superior force and compelled to main- 
tain the unequal contest for an hour. Meantime 
Gen. Porter, at the Court House, learning that his 
rear was thus attacked, faced his whole column 
about and moved rapidly to the rescue, sending the 
13th and 14th New York, with Griffin's battery, 
directly to Martindale's assistance, pushing the 9th 
Massachusetts and G2d Pennsylvania, through the 
woods on the right to take the enemy in flank, 
while Butterfield with the 83d Pennsylvania and 
iGth Michigan hastened through the woods, still 
further to the right, and completed the rout of the 
enemy. Their loss is stated by Gen. McClellan at 
2,CXX) killed, 730 prisoners, including wounded, one 
12 pound howitzer, many small-arms, two railroad 
trains, and their camp at Hanover Court House 
captured and destroyed. Our loss was 53 killed 
and 344 wounded. The rebel force thus defeated 
consisted of Gen. Branch's division of North Caro- 
lina and Georgia troops, estimated at 9,000 strong. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

Twelfth Regiment Continued — Mechanics- 
viLLE — Retreat Ackoss the Chickahominy 
— Flank Movement to the James— Malvern 
Hill — Harrison's Landing — Second Bull 
KuN — Antietam — Fredericksburg — Return 
Home — List of Promotions — The ioist 
Regiment. 

OUR Corps returned to camp at Gaines's 
Mill, and on the 26th of June were ordered 
up to Mechanicsville to support the Pennsylvania 



reser\'es, under Gen. McCall. This force which 
had recently been sent down to rtenforce Gea 
McClellan, and had never till now been in action, 
were posted on advantageous ground across Beaver 
Dam Creek. The supporting corps of Gen. Porter 
consisted of Morrell's Division and Sykes's Regu- 
lars, about 27,000 men. Prior to the opening of 
this series of battles Gen. Robert E. Lee had suc- 
ceeded to the chief command of the Rebel Army, 
and had cautiously concentrated about 70,000 men 
on the Chickahominy. The movement on Mechan- 
icsville was to have been made early on the morn- 
ing of the 26th of June, at which time the batteries 
on the southern bluff of the Chickahominy were to 
open fire. But the rebels were delayed by the non- 
arrival of Stonewall Jackson, and did not attack our 
lines till 3 i'. m. His advance had been discovered 
three hours before, so that our pickets were called 
in before it, and the regiment and battery holding 
Mechanicsville fell back, fighting, to the strong po- 
sition held by the Pennsylvania Reserves, and Por- 
ter's (5th) corps. This brought the reserves and 
5th corps into action against the great body of the 
rebel force under the two Hills and Longstreet, 
which came rapidly on attempting to turn our left 
flank, but were repulsed with fearful carnage. 
" Night," says Greeley, "fell on a decided and ani- 
mating success of our mainly green soldiers, 
though the fighting did not cease till after dark, and 
the rebels remained in force not far from our front. 
Our total loss in this affair was less than 400, while 
that of the rebels must have been many times 
larger ; and when near the close of the battle, fresh 
troops came up to relieve the exhausted reserves, 
they refused to give place, but, replenishing their 
ammunition, lay down on their arms to await the 
encounter of the morrow." 

On the 27th, before daylight, an order from Gen. 
McClellan (^who had learned, meantime, that Jackson 
was approaching,) directed the evacuation of our 
strong position and a retreat to Gaines's Mill. This 
was a very difficult movement to effect, as the rebel 
attack was renewed a few minutes afterwards. Still, 
the enemy was repulsed, though our men were re- 
tiring at the same time, Meade's, Griffin's, Rey- 
nolds' and Morrell's commands moving steadily off 
the field, as if on parade ; our dead all buried, our 
wounded and arms brought away, with the loss of 
no caisson, hardly a musket, by a little after 7 a. 
M., leaving the rebels unaware for the moment that 
there was no longer an enemy before them. Before 
noon the splendid retreat was completed ; each 
regiment and battery had taken the new position 
assigned it at Gaines's Mill, our brigade (with the 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



97 



I2th Regiment,) under command of Lieiit.-Colonel 
Richardson, forming the extreme left, resting on 
the Chicivahominy. 

Soon after noon on the 27th, the rebels arrived 
in front of our new position. A. P. Hill, who had 
been awaiting Jackson's arrival, opened the battle 
at 2 p. M. Sykes's regulars received him with heroic 
bravery. They were staggered and temporarily 
repulsed. At this juncture, Longstreet, D. H. 
Hill, Jackson and Ewell, came into the battle, with 
the whole of Lee's forces ; a general advance from 
right to left was ordered and made, under a terrific 
fire of cannon and musketry from both sides. 

General Porter had a strong position on the side 
of a ravine formed by a small creek and screened 
in part by trees and underbrush, with Morrell's and 
Sykes's divisions in front, and McCall's forming a 
second line behind them. His cavalry, under P. 
St. George Cooke, in the valley of the Chicka- 
hominy, watched the rebels in that quarter. His 
siege guns, which had been withdrawn across the 
Chickahominy during the night, were planted in 
battery on the right bank of the stream, so as to 
check the advance of the rebel right and prevent 
their turning our left. He could have presented 
a formidable covering of abatis on his front and 
right, had he been supplied with axes, but these 
were unaccountably wanting. His request for 
them to General Barnard reached McClellan too 
late. He finally received some without handles, 
and while these were being supplied the opportunity 
for using axes was past. His first call on McClellan 
for reenforcements likewise miscarried. His next 
was made at 2 p. m. , when Slocum's Division of the 
6th Corps was ordered to his support, arriving on 
the field at 3:30, after our position had been 
assailed in force at every point, and after McCall's 
Division had been ordered up to support our sorely 
pressed front. So urgent and instant was the 
pressure that Slocum's Division had to be divided 
and thrown by brigades and even regiments to the 
points where the need of aid seemed greatest. 
Reynolds, with one brigade of McCall's Reserves, 
having reached the front and driven the enemy 
before him, hearing the noise of a terrific con- 
test on his left, moved immediately to that point 
where his assistance seemed necessary. And thus 
the battle raged for hours ; repeated charges on 
our lines being repulsed, but fresh brigades advanc- 
ing promptly to replace them, until our wasted reg- 
iments, having exhausted their amunition, were 
obliged to retire and replenish it. Porter, though he 
had lost Httle ground, telegraphed to McClellan for 
reenforcements, who ordered forward French's and 
.3* 



Meagher's brigades of the 2d corps ; but, before they 
could reach the field, the rebels, rallying all their 
forces, just at sunset, stormed our entrenchments 
right and left, driving back their brave defenders 
with mutual carnage, and capturing several of our 
guns. 

"General Porter, seeing his infantry beaten, now 
called into action all his reserved and remaining 
artillery, and thus bringing at once some 80 guns 
into action, was covering the retreat of his infantry 
and dealing fearful retribution on their assailants, 
whose advance was suddenly checked ; when Gen. 
Cooke, without orders, undertook to charge with a 
battalion of cavalry, the right flank of the rebels 
advancing on our left, and still covered in good part 
by woods. This charge being met by a withering 
fire of musketry, amidst the roar of a hundred belch- 
ing cannon, resulted in instant rout ; the frightened 
horses, whether with or without the consent of their 
riders, wheeling abruptly and crashing through our 
batteries; leading our gunners to suppose, for the 
moment, that they were charged by regiments of 
rebel horse." "To this alone," says Fitz-John Por- 
ter, in his report, "is to be attributed our failure to 
hold the field, and to bring off all our guns and 
wounded." 

" In another moment the cheering shouts of 
French's and Meagher's men were heard, as they 
advanced rapidly to the front. Rallying behind 
these two fresh brigades, our wearied, decimated 
regiments advanced up the hill, down which they 
had recently been driven, ready to meet a fresh 
attack, had one been attempted. But the enemy, 
perceiving that they were confronted by fresh com- 
batants, and not knowing our force, halted for the 
night on the field they had so hardly won."* 

During the night our forces were withdrawn 
across the Chickahominy, leaving 19 guns on the 
battle field and three run off the bridge into the 
stream. Our losses in this action have been esti- 
mated at 6,000 killed and wounded ; Greeley foots 
them up to " hardly less than 8,000 men," the rebels 
losing probably "about two thirds as many." Our 
I2th Regiment lost heavily, among whom were 
Captain Truesdell, severely wounded, also Captain 
Crombie, Lieut. S. A. Estes, Lieut. Fisher, mor- 
tally ; Lieut. Barton, killed ; Lieut. Paul A. Oliver, 
severely wounded in the scalp, but not fatally. 
Quite a large number (144) of this regiment were 
killed and taken prisoners. 

McClellan having now determined on a flank 
movement through White Oak Swamp to the 
James, our regiment followed the next day to Sav- 
age's Station, crossed White Oak Swamp on the 
29th of June, and on Tuesday, July ist, were en- 
gaged in the battle of Malvern Hill. The rebels, 
as soon as they had discovered McClellan's move- 
ments, crossed the Chickahominy and pu rsued after 

Greeley, vol. ii, p. I 57. 



98 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



him. Without recounting the battles and hard- 
ships of this march, the terrible conflict of the 30th 
of June, in which a portion of our army was en- 
gaged on the road leading from New Marlcct to 
Long Bridge, we shall follow more directly the for- 
tunes of the 1 2th Regiment, which reached Malvern 
Hill at 9 o'clock a. m., June 30th. Gen. Porter, 
with his corps, had been delayed in crossing White 
Oak Swamp, and hence did not reach Malvern Hill 
till the time above stated. The entire wasted and 
way-worn army had been concentrated on the bat- 
tle ground on the ist of July, the rear guard arriv- 
ing that forenoon, closely pursued by the converg- 
ing columns of the rebels. " The an.xiousdays and 
sleepless nights of the preceding week ; the con- 
stant and resolute efforts required to force their 
forty miles of guns and trains over the narrow, 
wretched roads which traverse White Oak Swamp ; 
their ignorance of the locality, and exposure to be 
ambushed and assailed at every turn, rendered this 
retreat an ordeal for our men long to be remem- 
bered." 

General McClcllan had reached Malvern Hill the 
day before the battle, and selecting his position, left 
orders with General Barnard to post the troops as 
they arrived, while he went down the river on the 
gunboat Galena to select a position at which he pro- 
posed to terminate his retreat. The rebels con- 
sumed considerable time in getting into position 
and bringing up the artillery necessary to respond 
to our heavy and well placed batteries. At length 
the battle was opened by D. H. Hill's division at 3 
p. M. on our left, and directly in front of that portion of 
our army in which the 12th Regiment was stationed. 
The order of our troops is thus described : " Porter, 
with Sykes's and Morrell's divisions, held our left, 
with Couch's division next, then Kearney and 
Hooker, forming Heintzelman's corps ; next to 
these Sedgwick and Richardson, under Sumner, 
with Smith and Slocum, under Franklin, on our 
right ; wiiile McCall's shattered Pennsylvania Re- 
serves and our cavalry were posted in the rear, near 
the river. Batteries above, batteries along the brow 
of the hill, rendered the attack little less than mad- 
ness." Yet, as we have said, the attack on Porter's 
Corps was made at 3 i". m , under general orders to 
break our lines by a concentric fire of artillery, and 
then " charge with a yell " on our entire front 
with columns of infantry, which should rush over 
our defences, as they did in the final assault at 
Gaines's Mill, and drive our fugitive army into the 
James. The infantry attack was made with great 
spirit, amidst fearful carnage, and for some time 
raged along nearly our entire line ; but Hill, being 



unsupported by the general advance which had 
been ordered, was hurled back with heavy loss. 

At the opening of this action just as our 12th 
Regiment was taking position. Major Henry A. 
liarnum was wounded by a rebel shot, the bullet 
passing through the left hip, inflicting a very criti- 
cal and dangerous wound, which kept him many 
months out of the service. 

After the first fruitless attempt of the enemy to 
break our lines, a considerable pause ensued during 
which both sides were getting ready for the main 
battle of the day. The sheltering woods enabled 
the rebels to form their columns of assault within 
a few hundred yards of our batteries. At about 
6 I". M., when the attack was renewed, they 
emerged upon a full run, and rushed upon our lines 
in utter recklessness of their withering fire, assault- 
ing in such desperation, that Sickles's brigade of 
Hooker's division, and Meagher's brigade of Rich- 
ardson's division, were ordered up to the support of 
Porter and Couch, who now held our right front, 
which Jackson was charging furiously ; but not 
one of our guns was temporarily captured or seri- 
ously imperiled throughout the fight. The loss of 
the rebels is supposed to have been treble that of 
our own — in this battle over 10,000 killed, wounded 
and missing. Gen. McCiellan reports the aggre- 
gate losses of his army in the seven days fighting, 
from Mechanicsville to Harrison's Landing, at 
1,582 killed, 7,709 wounded, and 5,958 missing; 
total, 15,249. 

After the battle of Malvern Hill, our regiment, 
together with the army, removed to Harrison's Land- 
ing, on the James River. The rear guard moved 
into camp on the evening of the 3d of July, and the 
army was at rest, after their hard fighting and 
marching. During the night of July 31st, Gen. 
F'rench, having been sent by' Lee with 43 guns, to 
approach Harrison's Bar stealthily on the south 
side of the James, opened a fire on our camp and 
vessels, whereby 10 of our soldiers were killed and 
15 wounded. Our guns were brought to bear upon 
him and he fled before daylight. His cannonade 
lasted only about half an hour. This is the only 
incident of any importance that occurred while in 
camp at this point. 

Left Harrison's Landing on the 14th of August, 
and came down the river, halting at Yorktown, 
camping on the same ground occupied by our 
regiment during the siege. General Porter was 
under orders to halt the advance here ; but inter- 
cepting a letter informing him that the enemy were 
concentrating rapidly on Pope with intent to crush 
him before he could be rccnforced, he took the re- 



PnSTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



99 



sponsibility of pressing on to Newport News, which 
he reached on the i8th, having marched sixty miles 
in three days. On the 20th he embarked his corps 
on transports to Aquia Creek, whence they were 
sent by rail to Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg. 
Moved up the Rappahannock, joined Pope's army 
and participated in the second battle of Bull Run, 
August 30, 1862. 

Porter, on arriving at the scene of action, was 
ordered, (supported by King,) to advance down the 
Warrenton turnpike and attack the enemy, who in 
that quarter were greatly superior in numbers. The 
result was that Porter's corps was hurled back in 
confusion. The rebels pursued eagerly and joined 
battle along our entire front, struggling desperately 
to overwhelm and turn our left, where Schenck, 
Milroy and Reynolds, reenforced by Ricketts, 
maintained the unequal contest throughout the 
afternoon. Porter's corps was rallied, reformed 
and pushed to their support, rendering such 
good service that for a time the attack seemed 
likely to prove successful. But our advancing 
troops soon began to be mowed down by the 
cross-fire of four batteries from Longstreet's left, 
which decimated and drove them back in con- 
fusion. Jackson, seeing them recoil, immediately 
ordered an advance. Longstreet supported it, 
pushing forward his whole command against our 
center and left. At dark, our left had been forced 
back considerably, but still stood firm and unbroken, 
and covered the turnpike, which was our only safe 
line of retreat. That night the retreat began by 
order of Gen. Pope, and was pursued quietly and in 
good order, until his whole army was drawn back 
within the intrenchments along the south bank of 
the Potomac, covering the approaches to Washing- 
ton, when Pope resigned and was succeeded by Gen. 
McClellan. 

In this battle the 12th Regiment lost heavily. 
Among the wounded were Col. Henry A. Weeks, 
who on that day had commanded a brigade ; Capt. 
Root and Lieut. Behan. The muster of the regi- 
ment next morning showed only 106 men, one staff 
officer and six line officers. The brigade went into 
the fight with over 1,500 men, and came out with 
only about 600. 

On the night of September 2d, our brigade went 
into camp at Arlington Heights, near the site of 
the old camp occupied by the 12th Regiment, the 
previous winter. Here the brigade was strength- 
ened by the addition of the 20th Maine regiment, 
as fine a regiment as ever appeared on a field, and 
moving across into Maryland, passed up via Fred- 
erick City and across South Mountain to the vicinity 



of Sharpsburgh, and on the 17th of September 
participated in the battle of Antietam. 

Lee had crossed the Potomac into Maryland with 
a portion of his army, leaving the remainder of it 
on the south side menaced by a considerable force 
under General Miles at Harper's Ferry. The 
obvious intent of McClellan was to follow and 
conquer that portion of Lee's army in Maryland, 
while it was separated from its reenforcements, and 
then send forces to the rescue of Harper's Ferry, 
before the rebels on that side of the river should 
compel its surrender and evacuation. But delays 
thwarted this object. After two severe battles in 
the passes of South Mountain, Lee's army in Mary- 
land reached Antietam, where the most advantage- 
ous position was selected. Harper's Ferry fell, and 
the whole of Lee's army was soon on the ground 
at Antietam, making it necessary for McClellan to 
fight the entire rebel army at that point, strength- 
ened and elated by their success at Harper's Ferry. 

When our army advanced in sight of Antietam, 
the whole rebel force was there, save A. P. Hill's 
division. " The regiments and brigades, hitherto 
so ostentatiously paraded, seemed to have sunk into 
the earth ; and nothing but grim and frowning 
batteries were seen covering each hill-crest, and 
trained on every stretch of open ground whereby 
our soldiers might attempt to scale those rugged 
steeps." 

" The struggle was inaugurated on the afternoon 
of the i6th." On the 17th the great battle was 
fought, the details of which we cannot enter into 
here, save so far as to indicate the position of the 
1 2th Regiment. Porter's Corps was in our center, 
holding the road from Sharpsburg to Middletown 
and Boonsborough, and remained unengaged east 
of the Antietam Creek till late in the afternoon ; 
two brigades of it were then sent to support our 
right ; six battalions of Sykes's regulars were 
thrown across the bridge on the main road, to drive 
off the rebel sharp-shooters, who were annoying 
Pleasanton's horse-batteries at that point ; War- 
ren's brigade was detached and sent to the right and 
rear of Burnside, leaving with Porter only about 
3,000 men. Burnside's corps held our extreme 
left, opposite the lowest of the three bridges cross- 
ing the Antietam. At i p. m., he charged with 
the 51st New York and 51st Pennsylvania, and 
took the bridge. At 3 p. m., under peremptory or- 
ders, he charged up the heights, carrying them 
handsomely, some of his troops reaching even the 
outskirts of Sharpsburg. But now, just as victory 
seemed about to smile upon our arms, A. P. Hill's 
division (which had been ordered from Harper's 



100 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Ferry that morning, and had started at half-past 7 
o'clock I came upon the field, and covered by a 
heavy fire of artillery charged our extreme left, 
which during the day had sustained repeated 
charges of the enemy, and drove it back in great 
confusion. Gen. Rodman, who commanded our 
left, fell mortally wounded. The enemy rallied 
with great spirit, redoubled their fire of artillery, 
charged in front and flank, and drove our men in 
confusion down the hill toward Antietam, pursuing 
till checked by the fire of our batteries across the 
creek. Our reserves, on the left bank, now ad- 
vanced and our batteries redoubled their fire. The 
rebels wisely desisted without attempting to carry 
the bridge and retired to their lines on the heights, 
as darkness put an end to the fray. " Thus closed, 
indecisively, the bloodiest day America ever saw." 

In killed and wounded, according to their own 
report, the enemy lost 13,533 "^d '" ^'^'^ engage- 
ment. McClcllan makes his entire loss in this bat- 
tle to consist of 12,469 men. Speaking of the whole 
series of engagements in Maryland, he reports, 13 
guns, 39 colors, upwards of 15,000 stand of small 
arms, and more than 6,000 prisoners, as the trophies 
which attested the success of our arms in the battles 
of South Mountain, Crampton's Gap, and Antietam. 
Not a single gun or color was lost by our army 
during these battles. 

On the 19th of September, our division was 
ordered across the river at the Shcphcrdstown Ford, 
where they met the enemy and were driven back, 
taking shelter in the canal from which the water had 
been drawn ofli", and which afforded an e.\cellent 
breastwork already constructed to our hand. After 
the short engagement here, our brigade was ordered 
to the Antietam Iron Works, to guard the ford 
across the river ; Companies E and G, of the 12th 
Regimentbeing detailed as Provost Guard of Sharps- 
burg, under Lieut. Estes of Company G, as Provost 
Marshal. William P. Cobbitt was here killed by the 
accidental bursting of a shell picked up on the 
Antietam battle-field. 

From Sharpsburg, or the Antietam Iron Works, 
our regiment was removed to Stoncman's Switch 
on the Fredericksburg and Aquia Creek Railroad, 
about four miles from Fredericksburg, and remained 
till December 13th, 1862, the day on which Burn- 
side made his memorable, but fatal attempt to cross 
and storm the fortified heights of Fredericksburg. 
Pontoon bridges had been laid across the Rappa- 
hannock to effect this object. Lee, with an army 
fully 80,000 strong, was stretched along and behind 
the southern bluffs of the Rappahannock from a 
point a mile or so above Fredericksburg to one four 



or five miles below. These heights were girdleu 
with batteries rising tier above tier to their crest, 
all carefully trained upon the approaches from Fred- 
ericksburg, while a fatal stone wall, so strong that 
no artillery could make an impression upon it. shel- 
tered a brigade of the enemy in the very front of 
the storming column. Against such impregnable 
defences our brave soldiers were thrown across to 
meet their fate. Braver men never smiled at death 
than those who climbed Marye's Hill that fatal day ; 
their ranks plowed through and torn to pieces by 
rebel batteries, even in the process of formation ; 
and when at heavy cost they had reached the foot 
of the hill, they were confronted by a solid stone 
wall, four feet high, from behind which a rebel brig- 
ade of infantry mowed them down like grass. 
Never did men fight better or die, alas I more fruit- 
lessly, than did most of Hancock's corps, especially 
Meagher's Irish brigade, composed of the 63d, 69th 
and 88th New York, the 28th Massachusetts, and 
the nth Pennsylvania, which dashed itself repeat- 
edly against those impregnable heights, until two- 
thirds of its number strewed the ground ; when the 
remnant fell back to a position of comparative 
safety, and were succeeded, as they had been sup- 
ported, by other brigades and divisions, each to be 
exposed in its turn to like pitiless, useless, hopeless 
slaughter. 

Thus the fight was maintained till after dark, 
assault after assault being delivered by divisions 
advancing against twice their numbers, on ground 
where treble the force was required for the attack 
that sufficed for the defence, while a hundred rebel 
cannon posted on heights which our few guns on 
that side of the river could not reach, swept our 
men down from the moment they began to advance, 
and where they could do nothing but charge, fall 
and die. Not to go into details of this terrible days 
fighting, we may say here that our loss was not less 
than 15,000 to that of the rebels 5,000, killed, 
wounded and taken prisoners. Night mercifully 
closed the scene of carnage. 

Throughout the 14th and 15th the two armies 
stood facing each other, Lee strengthening his 
defenses and awaiting a renewal of the attack. He 
was probably aware that such was Burnside's inten- 
tion, from which, however, he was finally dissuaded, 
and decided to rccross his entire army on the night 
of the I5lh. Only a few pickets and some ammuni- 
tion were left in Fredericksburg, and '* not a gun 
was abandoned as a trophy of this ill-starred 
advance on Richmond." Our pontoons were all 
taken up and brought off. The I2th Regiment lost 
heavily, among others, several commissioned officers 




HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



lOI 



The regiment lay all night the day of the battle 
and the next day among the dead and wounded, 
after the cessation of the battle of the 13th, no 
movement being made in the army whereby they 
could get out of their position. On the retreat 
they were the last to reach the pontoon bridge, and 
were upon it as it was cut loose from the Fredericks- 
burg shore by our engineers. 

After the retreat from Fredericksburg, our regi- 
ment went back to its old camp at Stoneman's 
Switch, and on the 27th of April, 1863, at the time 
of the advance of Hooker on Chancellorsville, or- 
ders came for them to return to Elmira and be mus- 
tered out of the service. Being two years men, 
their time had expired. The three years men from 
New York City, formerly consolidated with the 12th 
Regiment, were organized into five companies 
forming a separate battalion under Col. Henry A. 
Weeks, and remained in the service. The 12th 
Regiment reached Elmira in a few days, and were 
mustered out on the 17th of May, 1S63. 

Official Record of the I2th Regiment. 

The following is the official list and line of pro- 
motions of the 1 2th Regiment : 

Ezra L. Walrath, Colonel, rank from May 7, 
1861, resigned September 26, 1861 ; George W. 
Snyder, Colonel, commissioned October i, 1S61, 
declined ; Henry A. Weeks, Colonel, rank from 
February 3, 1862, mustered out on expiration of 
term of service ; Benjamin A. Willis, Colonel, com- 
missioned February 27, 1864, "ot mustered ; James 
L. Graham, Lieutenant-Colonel, rank from May 7, 
1861, resigned June 19, 1S61 ; Robert M. Rich- 
ardson, Lieutenant-Colonel, rank from June 19, 1861, 
resigned February 6, 1863 ; Augustus J. Root, 
Major, rank from September 22, 1862, promoted to 
Lieutenant-Colonel, February 13, 1863, mustered 
out on expiration of term of service. May 17, 1863 ; 
John Lewis, Major, rank from May 7, 1861, killed 
by fall from his horse, October 21, 1861 ; Henry A. 
Barnum, Major, rank from October 25, 1861, pro- 
moted to Colonel 149th N. Y. Vols., September 22, 
1862 ; Henry W. Rider, Captain, rank from Febru- 
ary 3, 1862, promoted to Major, February 27, 1864 ; 
Silas Titus, Adjutant, rank from May 13, 1861, 
promoted to Colonel I22d N. Y. Volunteers, Au- 
gust 28, 1862 ; George F. Watson, Adjutant, rank 
from February 3, 1862, mustered out at expi- 
ration of term of service. May 17, 1S63 ; Edmund 
B. Griswold, Quartermaster, rank from May 13, 
1861, resigned September 6, 1861 ; Porter R. 
Alger, 1st Lieutenant rank from September 21, 
1 86 1, promoted to Quartermaster February 27, 1862, 
brevet Major N. Y. Vols., mustered out on expiration 
of term of service. May 17, 1863 ; Roger W. Pease, 
Surgeon, rank from May 7, 1861, resigned August 
28, 1861 ; Azariah B. Shipman, Surgeon, rank from 
September 13, 1861, resigned May 23, 1S62 ; Chas. 
L. Hubbell, Surgeon, rank from April 2, 1862, dis- 



charged August s, 1862; Chas. C. Murphy, Sur- 
geon, rank from December 31, 1862, mustered out 
at expiration of term of service. May 17, 1S63 ; 
George B. Todd, Assistant Surgeon, rank from May 
7, 1 86 1, resigned October 7, 1S62 ; John L. Eddy, 
Assistant Surgeon, rank from November 3, 1862, 
mustered out at expiration of term of service. May 
17, 1863 ; George V. Skift". Assistant Surgeon, rank 
from August 22, 1862, mustered out at expiration 
of term of service, May 17, 1863 ; C. S. Percival, 
Chaplain, resigned October 20, 1861 ; Henry P. 
Barton, Chaplain, rank from October 21, 1861, re- 
signed April 20, 1862 ; Morris H. Church, Captain, 
rank from May i, 1861, resigned September 21, 
1861 ; Ira Wood, Captain, rank from September 21, 
1861, resigned October 14, 1862; Thomas H. 
Behan, Captain, rank from October 16, 1862, 
mustered out at expiration of term of service, 
May 17, 1863; Jacob Brand, Captain, rank from 
May I, 1861, resigned October 25, 1861 ; 
William Huson, Captain, rank from February 3, 
1S62, mustered out on expiration of term of ser- 
vice. May 17, 1863 ; Dennis Driscoll, Jr., Cap- 
tain, rank from May i, 1861, discharged February 
3, 1862 ; William Fowler, Captain, rank from 
February 3, 1862, discharged February 3, 1863 ; 
George W. Stone, Captain, rank from May i, 1861, 
resigned July 9, 1S61 ; William H. Hoagland, Cap- 
tain, rank from February 3, 1862, killed in action 
at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13,1862 ; James 
A. Bates, Captain, rank from December 14, 1862, 
discharged April 11, 1864; Joseph Hilton, Cap- 
tain, rank from April 11, 1S64, not mustered; 
J. M. Brower, Captain, rank from May i, 1861, dis- 
charged Febuary 3, 1862 ; Paul A. Oliver, 2d Lieu- 
tenant, rank from February 3, 1862, promoted to 
1st Lieutenant, May 30, 1S62, to Captain, April 4, 
1864, transferred to 5th Regiment, N. Y. Vols., 
June 2, 1864; Milo W. Locke, Captain, rank from 
May I, 1861, resigned November 14, 1S61 ; James 
Cromie, Captain, rank from February 3, 1862, dis- 
charged April 7, 1863 ; Joseph C. Irish, Captain, 
rank from May i, 1861, resigned September 3, 
1861 ; Charles B. Randall, 2d Lieutenant, rank 
from May, 1861, promoted to Captain, September 
25, 1861 ; mustered out at the expiration of term 
of service, May 17, 1863 ; George W. Cole, Cap- 
tain, rank from May i, 1861, transferred to 3d N. Y. 
Cavalry, September 20, 1861 ; George Truesdell, 1st 
Lieutenant, rank from May 13, 1861, promoted to 
Captain October 20, 1861, resigned December 2, 
1862; Michael Auer, 2d Lieutenant, rank from 
February 22, 1862, promoted to ist Lieutenant, 
December i, 1862, mustered out on expira- 
tion of term of service, May 17, 1863 ; Peter 
Strauss, ist Lieutenant, rank from May r, 
1861, promoted to Captain, December 26, 1862, 
mustered out on expiration of service, May 17, 1863 ; 
Henry A. Barnum, Captain, rank from May i, 1861, 
promoted to Major, October 29, 1861, promoted to 
Colonel of 149th N. Y. Vols., September 22, 1S62; 
Hamilton R. Combs, ist Lieutenant, rank from 
May I, 1861, promoted to Captain November 11, 
1861, resigned October 27, 1862 ; Edward Drake, 
1st Lieutenant, rank from October i, 1861, promoted 



102 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



to Captain, December i, 1862, Brevet Major, N. Y. 
Vols., mustered out at expiration of term of service, 
May 17, 1863 ; Cortland Clark, ist Lieutenant, 
rank from October 16, 1862, mustered out on expi- 
ration of term of ser\icc. May 17, 18G3 ; James A. 
Boyle, 1st Lieutenant, rank from February 3, 1862, 
mustered out on expiration of term of service, 
May 17, 1863 ; James Randall, ist Lieutenant, rank 
from May i, 1 861, discharged February 3, 1862; 
Richard J. Clark, ist Lieutenant, rank from Febru- 
ary 3, 1S62, mustered out on expiration of term of 
ser\'ice. May 17, 1863 ; Lucius C. Storrs, ist Lieu- 
tenant, rank from May i, 1861, resigned October 23, 
1861 ; Henry C. Burton, ist Lieutenant, rank from 
Feb. 3, 1862, killed in action June 27, 1862 ; VVm. 
P. Walton, 2d Lieutenant, rank from Feb. 3, 1862, 
promoted to ist Lieutenant, Oct. 29, 1862, dis- 
charged Sept. 26, 1863 ; Joseph Hilton, 2d Lieuten- 
ant, rank from June 20, 1862, promoted to ist Lieu- 
tenant December 26, 1862, transferred to 5th N. Y. 
Vols., June 2, 1864 ; Frederick Homer, ist Lieuten- 
ant, rank from May i, 1861, resigned July 30, 1861 ; 
Samuel J. Abbott. 2d Lieutenant, rank from May 
I, 1861, promoted to ist Lieutenant August 27, 

1 86 1, resigned September 20, 1861 ; William F. 
Gardner, ist Lieutenant, rank from February 3, 

1862, resigned May 18, 18G2; William Glcason, ist 
Lieutenant, rank from May i, 1 861, discharged Feb- 
ruary 3, 1S62; James A. Bates, ist Lieutenant, 
rank from February 3, 1862, promoted to Captain 
December 26, 18G2, discharged April 11, 1S64; 
Henry A. Downing, 2d Lieutenant, rank from Feb- 
ruary 3, 1862, promoted to ist Lieutenant Decem- 
ber 26, 1862 ; John H. Johnson, ist Lieutenant, 
rank from May i, 1861, resigned October 10, 1861 ; 
Stephen A. Estes, ist Lieutenant, rank from Sep- 
tember 21, 1861, promoted to Cai^tain October 30, 
1862; Oliver T. May, 2d Lieutenant, rank from 
March 20, 1862, promoted to ist Lieutenant October 
30. 1862, to Captain 149th regiment, March 26, 
1863 ; Edward Pointer, ist Lieutenant, rank from 
May I, 1S61, not mustered ; Thomas Gaffney, ist 
Lieutenant, rank from September i, 1861, re- 
signed October 23, 18G2; John P. Stanton, 2d 
Lieutenant, rank from May i, 1861, promoted 
to 1st Lieutenant December 26, 1862, resigned 
April 15, 1863 ; William P. Town, ist Lieutenant, 
rank from May 1, 1861, resigned August G, 18G1 ; 
William G. Tracy, ist Lieutenant, rank from August 
6, 1 86 1, discharged February 3, 18G2 ; S. Dexter 
Ludden, 2d Lieutenant, rank from September 3, 

1861, promoted to ist Lieutenant November 10, 

1862, mustered out on expiration of term of service, 
May 17, 1863 ; William S. Woods, 2d Lieutenant, 
rank from June 27, 18G2, promoted to ist Lieuten- 
ant April 29, 18G4, transferred to the 5th N. Y. 
Vols., June 2, 1864; George W. Cartwright, 1st 
Lieutenant, resigned November 5, 1861 ; Ulysses 
D. Eddy, 2d Lieutenant, rank from September 20, 
1 86 1, discharged March 17, 18G2 ; Abraham Fred- 
dendall, 2d Lieutenant, rank from March 17, 1S62, 
resigned October 13, 18G2; Abram Farnie, 2d 
Lieutenant, rank from October 13, 1SG2, mustered 
out on expiration of term of service. May 17, 18G3 ; 
John P. Spanier, 2d Lieutenant, rank from May i, 



1861, resigned December 27, 1861 ; Charles E. 
Gould, 2d Lieutenant, rank from February 3, 1862, 
resigned October 13, 1862 ; John M. Scannell. 2d 
Lieutenant, rank from October 13, 1862, resigned 
April 13. 1863 ; Robert J. Ellis, 2d Lieutenant, rank 
from April 11, 1863, not mustered; Ellis Smith, 
2d Lieutenant, rank from February 3, 1862, resigned 
November 4, 18G2; Christopher Eddie, 2d Lieu- 
tenant, rank from November 5, 1862, mustered out 
at the expiration of term of service. May 17, 1863 ; 
George Snyder, 2d Lieutenant, rank from May i, 
1861, resigned October 25, 1861 ; I'rank W. Clock, 
2d Lieutenant, rank from September 21, 1861, re- 
signed March 19, 1862; Edward M. Fisher, 2d 
Lieutenant, rank from May 17, 1862. killed inaction 
at the Chickahominy June 27, 1862; Stephen D. 
Clark, 2d Lieutenant, rank from May i, 1861, dis- 
charged I'cbruary 3, 1862 ; John L. Mease, 2d 
Lieutenant, rank from December 14, 1862, dis- 
missed November 17, 1863; William Thompson, 
2d Lieutenant, rank from November 20, 1863, 
transferred to the 5th N. Y. Vols. June 2, 1864 ; 
Erskinc P. Woodford, 2d Lieutenant, rank from 
May I, 18G1, resigned December i, iSGi ; Fred- 
erick O. Waters, 2d Lieutenant, rank from Septem- 
ber 22, 1862, mustered out on the expiration of 
term of service May 17, 1863 ; Charles S. Coon, 2d 
Lieutenant, rank from October 20, 1 861, discharged 
February 3, 18G2; George Boitcau, 2d Lieutenant, 
rank from December 3, 1862, mustered out on expi- 
ration of term of service, May 17, 1863 ; Andrew 
Urmy, 2d Lieutenant, rank from October 22, 1861, 
resigned February 22, 1862; Dexter Smith, 2d 
Lieutenant, rank from October 27, 1862, mustered 
out on expiration of term of service. May 17, 1863 ; 
Lucius Smith, 2d Lieutenant, rank from May i, 
1 86 1, resigned September 3, 1S61 ; John B. P'oote, 
2d Lieutenant, rank from October 22, 1862, 
mustered out on expiration of term of service. May 
17, 1863 ; Gustavus Webber, 2d Lieutenant, rank 
from December 18, 18G2, resigned February 2, 
18G3 ; John Corncy, 2d Lieutenant, rank from 
January 28, 1863, mustered out on expiration of 
service, May 17, 1863. 

Regimental Flag of the Twelfth New York. 

In the list of regimental flags presented to Gov. 
Fcnton at Albany, we find the following memorial 
of the colors of the 12th Regiment: 

" I National Flag, silk. Presented to the regiment 
by the ladies of Syracuse, May 2, 1861, and carried 
by the regiment through every service in which it 
was engaged. 

" The regiment was organized at Syracuse in the 
spring of 1861. It was engaged in the battle of 
Blackburn's Ford, and at ist Bull Run was in the 
reserve. After spending several months in building 
and grading forts in front of Washington, it was sent 
to the Peninsula, and was subsequently engaged in 
the seige of Yorktown and in the battles of Hanover 
Court House, Gaines's Mill, Savage's Station, White 
Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, 2d Bull Run and ist 
Fredericksburg. It returned to the State in the 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



103 



spring of 1863, at the expiration of its term of 
service." 

Represented at the presentation by Col. Henry 
A. Weeks. 

The One Hundred and First Regiment New 
York Volunteers was raised in the Counties of 
Onondaga, New York and Delaware. It was or- 
ganized at Hancock, N. Y., to serve for three years, 
and was mustered into the United States service 
from September 2, 1861, to February 28, 1862. It 
was consolidated with the 37th New York Volun- 
teers, December 24, 1862, and the officers mustered 
out of service. 

The officers of this regiment from Onondaga 
County were Lieutenant Colonel Johnson B. 
Brown, discharged November 7, 1862 ; Captain 
Gustavus Sniper, of Company C, promoted to 
Major on the organization of the regiment at Han- 
cock, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel November 
29, 1862, and mustered out at the consolidation, 
December 24, 1862 ; Assistant-Surgeon David B. 
Van Slycke, promoted to Surgeon, October 23, 1862, 
and mustered out December 24, 1862 ; Captain 
James F. O'Neil, rank from October i, 1861, dis- 
charged May 31, 1862; Captain George W. Her- 
rick, rank from March 31, 1862, discharged Febru- 
ary 22, 1862 ; Captain Peter Ohneth {Brevet-Major 
N. Y. V.,) rank as Captain November 24, 1861, 
mustered out December 24, 1862 ; Captain Peter 
McLennon, rank from December 5, 1861, mustered 
out December 24, 1862 ; ist Lieutenant Orrin F. 
Plumb, rank from November 14, 1861, mustered 
out December 24, 1862 ; ist Lieutenant James H. 
Bradt, rank from October 25, 1861, promoted to 
Captain October 29, 1862 ; ist Lieutenant Thomas 
K. Brown, rank from October 22, 1861, mustered 
out December 24, 1862 ; ist Lieutenant Monroe C. 
Worden, rank from October 7, 1861, died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, April 25, 1862 ; ist Lieutenant Wil- 
liam Noble, rank from November 16, 1862, not 
mustered ; ist Lieutenant Orlando J. Rowe, on 
records of War Department, not commissioned, 
resigned January 31, 1862; 2d Lieutenant William 
H. Warner, rank from December i, 1861, promoted 
to 1st Lieutenant October 29, 1862, mustered out 
at the consolidation, December 24, 1862 ; 2d Lieu- 
tenant Silas H. Hinds, rank from June, 1862, mus- 
tered out December 24, 1862 ; 2d Lieutenant Adam 
Listman, rank from November 24, 1861, resigned 
July 24, 1862; 2d Lieutenant George Pfohl, rank 
from July 25, 1862, mustered out December 24, 
1862 ; 2d Lieutenant Henry D. Ford, rank from 
December 15, 1861, promoted ist Lieutenant Oct. 3, 
1862, mustered out December 24, 1862 ; 2d Lieu- 



tenant George B. French, rank from September 9, 
1863, not mustered ; Amos M. Scranton, on records 
of War Department, not mustered, discharged Feb- 
ruary 22, 1862. 

In the catalogue of flags presented to Governor 
Fenton at Albany after the war, we find this men- 
tion of the colors of the loist Regiment : 

"I National Flag, silk, with original staff. This 
flag was presented to the regiment by the Union 
Defence Committee of New York City. It was 
borne in the battles of Seven Pines, (May 31 and 
June I) Peach Orchard, Savage's Station, Chicka- 
hominy, White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross 
Roads, Malvern Hill, Groveton, Second Bull Run, 
Chantilly and Fredericksburg." 

The regiment was sent forward from Hancock, 
N. Y., to Washington in March, 1862, and was for 
some time on duty in and about Washington. It 
was also engaged in garrison duty for some time at 
Fort Lyons, seven miles south of Alexandria. Be- 
fore engaging in the first of the series of battles 
above enumerated, it was organized as part of Bir- 
ney's brigade, Kearney's division and Heintzelman's 
corps, and arrived at Fair Oaks just at the close of 
the battle. The regiment was one of the best in 
the service. It received a high compliment for its 
gallantry from Gen. Kearney the night before he 
was killed at Chantilly. In his report after the bat- 
tle of Fredericksburg, Brig.-Gen. Berry said : " I 
have also to mention the good conduct of the 
loist New York Volunteers, Col. Chester com- 
manding. They nobly performed their duty dur- 
ing the fight ; also as pickets on the night of the 
retreat. This regiment, though small in numbers, 
did good service, and its conduct, together with 
that of all its officers, was unexceptionable." 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

The One Hundred and Twenty-Second New 
York Volunteers — Organization — March 
TO THE Front — South Mountain — An- 
tietam. 

THE I22d Regiment New York Volunteer In- 
fantry was one of the regiments furnished by 
the State under the call of the President for 300,000 
men in the summer of 1862. The war for the sup- 
pression of the Rebellion was just beginning to 
develop the magnitude of its proportions, and to 
show that the North must put forth its manly energy 
in good earnest, if it would save the Republic from 
dismemberment, anarchy and destruction. The issue 
of the struggle upon the Peninsula for the capture 
of Richmond was being surrounded with doubt. 



104 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



when on the 1st of July, the President called for 
300,000 additional troops. On the day following. 
Governor Morgan issued a proclamation of which 
the subjoined is an extract : 

"This appeal is to the State of New York: it is 
to each citizen. Let it come to every fireside. Let 
the glorious example of the Revolutionary period be 
our emulation. Let each feel that the Common- 
wealth now counts upon his individual strength and 
influence to meet the demands of the Government. 

"The period has come when all must aid. New 
York has not thus far stood back. Ready and more 
than willing, she has met every summons to duty. 
Let not her history be falsified nor her position be 
lowered." 

Three days after the appearance of the above 
appeal, there was issued from the Adjutant-General's 
office of the State a circular directing the division 
of the State into regimental districts, correspond- 
ing to the senatorial districts, with a rendez- 
vous camp in each. At the same time and by 
the same authority, a committee was appointed in 
each district, called the Senatorial War Committee, 
to whom was given the general charge and direction 
of affairs in their district in regard to the raising 
and organization of troops. 

In Onondaga county, composing the 22d Dis- 
trict, the following gentlemen were named as the 
Committee : Hon. Charles Andrews, Hon. Grove 
Lawrence, Hon. Dennis McCarthy, Hon. Elias W. 
Leavenworth, Hamilton White, Esq., Hon. Austin 
Myres, Hon. Thomas G. Alvord, L. W. Hall, Esq., 
Hon. Thomas T. Davis and Col. J. Dean Hawley. 

On the I5lh of July, 1862, the above committee 
held a meeting and organized by the election of 
Hon. Charles Andrews, President, and L. W. Hall, 
Esq., Secretary. 

A resolution was passed requesting the inhabit- 
ants of the various towns of the county to appoint 
a committee of three in each town to act in con- 
junction with them. Also a resolution was passed 
requesting the Governor of the State to call an 
extra session of the Legislature forthwith, to insure 
uniform action as regards the bounty to be offered 
volunteers. The committee resolved to hold a ses- 
sion every evening at the Mayor's office in the City 
Hall, at half past seven o'clock, until further notice. 

At this time the expedition against Richmond 
had failed. Pope's army, by his bold advance to 
cooperate with McClellan, was imperiled, and was 
being driven back, though not without able and gal- 
lant resistance, to the defences of Washington ; 
while the pco|)le were looking anxiously to see 
whether the foiled, yet powerful. Army of the Poto- 
mac, would be brought up in time to his assistance, 
or whether he would be able to fight his way back 



with what means he had within his reach. All 
clearly perceived that it was only a question of time 
whether our armies already in the field would be 
able to maintain a successful defensive until the 
reenforcements which the great loyal North were 
preparing and sending forward, in response to the 
call of the President, could reach the front. 

It was under such circumstances as these that 
the War Committee, in the summer of i862,"called 
upon the people of Onondaga for further enlist- 
ments. The first response under this call was the 
I22d Regiment, N. Y. V. I. It was raised in one 
month, enlistments fairly commencing on the 20th 
of July and the rolls closing on the 20th of August. 

The first Company (A) was filled at Baldwins- 
ville, from the towns of Lysander and Van Buren, 
August 6, with Joshua B. Davis, Captain ; Alonzo 
H. Clapp, 1st Lieutenant: and Herbert S. Wells, 
2d Lieutenant. Captain Davis was promoted to 
Major, August 16, 1862, and was succeeded in the 
command of the company by J. M. Brower, form- 
erly a Captain in the 12th Regiment, N. Y. V. 

Company B was filled August 14, from the 
city of Syracuse and the towns of Geddes, Cicero 
and Clay, with Webster R. Chamberlain, Captain ; 
Charles G. Nye, ist Lieutenant, and William J. 
Webb, 2d Lieutenant. 

Company C was organized from the towns of 
Manlius and DeWitt, at Fayetteville, August 14, 
with Alfred Nims, Captain ; Joseph E. Cameron, 
1st Lieutenant, and Arthur J. Mead, 2d Lieu- 
tenant. 

Company D, from the towns of Onondaga, Spaf- 
ford, Otisco and the city of Syracuse, was organized 
August 14, with Cornell Chrysler, Captain ; Davis 
Cossitt, 1st Lieutenant, and Edward P. Luther, 2d 
Lieutenant. 

Company E was organized in the city of Syra- 
cuse, August 15, with Augustus W. Dwight, as 
Captain ; Horace H. Walpole, 1st Lieutenant, and 
Henry H. Hoyt, 2d Lieutenant. On the 22d of 
of August, Captain A. W. Dwight was promoted to 
the Lieut. -Colonelcy of the regiment, ist Lieuten- 
ant, Horace H. Walpole, was promoted to Captain 
of Company E, and Jacob Brand was appointed 1st 
Lieutenant, vice Walpole, promoted. 

Company F was mainly from the town of Mar- 
cellus, and was organized August 15, with Lucius 
Moses, Captain ; George W. Piatt, ist Lieutenant, 
and James Burton, 2d Lieutenant. 

Company G, from the town of Elbridge, was or- 
ganized August 15, Harrison H. Jilson, Captain; 
Drayton Eno, ist Lieutenant, and Peter A. Blossom, 
2d Lieutenant. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



105 



Company H, mainly from the town of Camillus, 
organized August 15th, James M. Gere, Captain; 
Morton L. Marks, ist Lieutenant, and Oscar F. 
Swift, 2d Lieutenant. 

Company I, from Syracuse and Salina, chiefly, 
organized August 16, John M. Dvvight, Captain ; 
Morris H. Church, ist Lieutenant, and Lucius A. 
Dillingham, 2d Lieutenant. 

Company K, chiefly from the towns of Tully and 
Skaneateles and the city of Syracuse, organized 
August 19, Noah B. Kent, Captain ; Justin Howard, 
1st Lieutenant, and Frank M. Wooster, 2d Lieu- 
tenant. 

The organization was completed and the regiment 
mustered into the United States service, at Syra- 
cuse, August 28, 1862, with the following field and 
staff officers, viz : 

Silas Titus, Colonel, rank from August 31, 1862 ; 
Augustus H. Dvvight, Lieutenant-Colonel, rank 
from August 28, 1862 ; Joshua B. Davis, Major, 
rank from August 28, 1862; Andrew J. Smith, 
Adjutant, rank from July 26, 1862 ; Fiank Lester, 
Quartermaster, rank from July 24, 1862 ; Nathan 
R. Teft, Surgeon, rank from July 24, 1862 ; John 
O. Slocum, Assistant Surgeon, rank from August 
14, 1862 ; Edwin A. Knapp, 2d Assistant Surgeon, 
rank from August 19, 1862 ; L. M. Nickerson, 
Chaplain, rank from August 28, 1862. 

It was expected that the regiment would remain 
in camp over Sunday, and thus give their many 
friends an opportunity to visit them before their 
departure to the seat of war. But, contrary 
to their expectations, it was announced that 
they would leave on Sunday morning. Much 
excitement was created in camp and among the 
friends of the soldiers outside. Before daylight 
they began to gather around the enclosure and at 
sunrise not less than three thousand people were 
on the ground, pressing eagerly to gain admittance 
to their friends, while hundreds of the soldiers were 
pressing from the inside, all anxious to get together 
and make their little arrangements and say their 
good-byes before separating. It was well that, on 
such an occasion, military stringency should yield to 
the dictates of affection and friendship, and there 
was time enough for a visit, for three hours would 
intervene before the time for departure. This 
view of the case being laid before Lieutenant- 
Colonel Dwight, who was the chief officer in camp 
at that time, permission was given for the gates to 
be opened and the people let in. As the guard fell 
back, the crowd surged in through the gate, while 
the soldiers within rent the air with their cheers. 
Then followed for two or three hours a free inter- 



mingling and 



and finally, the parting 



words and salutations, which were not soon for- 



gotten either by the members of the regiment or 
their friends. 

Taking a special train, the regiment arrived in 
New York City on Sunday night, where they spent 
the next day in receiving their arms and accoutre- 
ments, and at 4.30 p. m. the next day, went by boat 
to Perth Amboy, and thence the same day to Bal- 
timore. They lay all night in the depot at Balti- 
more alongside a train loaded with wounded sol- 
diers from Pope's battle-fields in Virginia. This first 
sight of the sad contingencies of war affected their 
nerves more seriously than did afterwards the bat- 
tle-field itself The following data, from the notes 
of Col. J. M. Gere, furnish us with a knowledge of 
some of the further movements of the regiment : 

Wednesday, Sept. 3. Rode to Washington, where 
they heard that Pope had been defeated at Chantilly 
and that Lee was crossing into Maryland. Slept 
that night in the barracks near the depot, and the 
next day marched through the streets of Washing- 
ton to Long Bridge, supposed to be on their way to 
Fort Pennsylvania for drill. But they were halted 
at Long Bridge, and their drill proved to be of 
quite a different character. That night they slept 
on the grass on the bank of the Potomac ; the next 
day marched back through Georgetown to a quarter 
of a mile above Chain Bridge, where tents were 
issued and camp pitched. The next day, in light 
marching order, joined the column moving to the 
front. 

The regiment was brigaded with the 65th and 
67th New York and the 23d and 61 st Pennsyl- 
vania regiments, under command of Brig. Gen. 
John Cochrane, of Couch's division, and joined the 
brigade at Orfutt's Cross Roads. The campaign of 
three weeks up to Antietam was a severe one to the 
raw and inexperienced troops. At South Moun- 
tain, after a day of severe marching, they came up 
just in time to see Slocum's splendid charge up the 
heights above Crampton's Pass, but not to take 
part in it. The next morning they marched over 
the battle-field, from which the dead had not yet 
been removed, and halted for the night about four 
miles beyond. 

McClellan's army had been marching up the 
country from Washington, with the Potomac on 
his left, in three heavy columns, the I22d being in 
the left column next the river. At this time, those 
of Lee's forces which were north of the river were 
scattered in several bodies, threatening and dem- 
onstrating upon the State of Maryland. His forces 
upon the south bank of the Potomac were push- 
ing the attack upon Gen. Miles at Harper's Ferry, 
who, while he held his strongly fortified position, 



14- 



io6 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



was keeping Lee's army divided, and at the same ' 
time acting as an obstacle to the withdrawal of 
Lee's forces from Maryland, in case it should be- 
come necessary for him to retreat. 

The interest of the Union Army lay in attacking 
and crushing the detached portions of Lee's army 
north of the Potomac, while Miles held his position 
at Harper's Ferry, and having done this, to reach 
Gen. Miles in time to relieve him. On the other 
hand, the interest of the rebel army was to delay 
the Union forces, so that they could overpower or 
compel the surrender of Miles at Harper's Ferry, 
and then concentrate their whole army against 
McClellan in Maryland. This they actually accom- 
plished ihrongh the fall of Harper's Ferry and the 
battle of Antietam, although the results of the 
campaign were far from being flattering to the Con- 
federate cause. 

That portion of Lee's army already in Maryland 
had occupied South Mountain, a range of hills run- 
ning southwestwardly across Maryland to the Poto- 
mac east of Harper's Ferry, the principal passes of 
which they had fortified. Gen. McClellan, learning 
of Lee's plans through a general order discovered 
at Frederick, pushed on in pursuit, encountering the 
enemy in their stronghold's at Turner's and Cramp- 
ton's Gaffs, where, after desperate resistance, the 
rebels were repulsed with heavy loss. At Turner's 
Gap the loss to the enemy in killed and wounded 
was about 2,000 and 1,500 prisoners, while at 
Crampton's our trophies were 400 prisoners, one 
gun and 700 small arms. These battles were fought 
on the I4lh of September, by Gens. Meade and 
Hooker, of the right, and Gen. Franklin command- 
ing the left wing, of McClcllan's army. Could 
Franklin but have realized how precious were the 
moments, he was still in lime to have relieved Har- 
per's Ferry. He was but si.\ miles distant when it 
surrendered at eight o'clock ne.\t morning. 

As already stated, our I22d Regiment was in 
neither of these engagements. On the 15th, after 
the battle, it passed up through Crampton's Gap to 
about four miles beyond, where it lay all day on the 
i6th, and while there heard of the surrender of 
Harper's Ferry. 

The advance of our forces from South Mountain 
towards Antietam began to be made on the morn- 
ing of the 15th of September, led by Gen. Pleas- 
anton's cavalry, who overtook at IJoonsborough the 
rebel cavalry rear-guard, charged it with spirit, and 
routed it, capturing 250 prisoners and two guns. 
Richardson's division of Sumner's corps followed, 
pressing eagerly on that afternoon, and, after a 
march of ten or twelve miles, discovered the rebels 



posted in force across Antietam Creek, in front of 
the little village of Sharpsburg. Here the entire 
rebel force under Lee was soon concentrated. Rich- 
ardson halted and deployed on the right of the road 
leading in from Keedysville ; Sykes, with his divis- 
ion of regulars, following closely after, came up and 
deployed on the left of that road. Gen. McClellan 
himself with three corps in all, came up during the 
evening. Hooker moved at 4 p. .m., and making a 
long detour, crossed the Antietam out of sight and 
range of the rebel batteries. Turning at length 
sharply to the left, he came to an open field with 
woods in front and on each side, when he halted 
and formed his lines : Rickett's division on the left ; 
Meade, with the Pennsylvania Reser\'es, in the 
center ; while Doubleday, on the right, planting his 
guns on a hill, opened at once on a rebel battery 
that had begun to enfilade our center. By this 
time it was dark and the firing soon ceased. The 
infantry of the opposing lines lay down for the 
night within half musket shot of each other. 

At daylight ne.\t morning (Sept. 171 the battle 
opened in earnest. Meade's left and the right of 
Rickett's line became engaged at nearly the same 
moment, the former with artillery, the latter with 
infantry ; while a battery was pushed forward be- 
yond the woods directly in Hooker's front, across a 
plowed field, to the edge of a cornfield beyond it, 
destined before night to be soaked with blood. 
Twice during that bloody day was this cornfield 
taken and lost, and the third time it was taken by 
our forces and held. On this part of the field the 
most terrible fighting of the day was done. Jn one 
of these charges, the 34th New York, which had 
broken at a critical moment, while attempting a ma- 
neuver under a terrible fire, was almost literally cut 
to pieces ; and the 15th Massachusetts, which went 
into the action 600 strong, was speedily reduced to 

134- 

During the battle of Antietam the I22d Regiment 
was not engaged in actual fighting, but their division 
(Couch's) had been ordered to the left to outflank a 
supposed flanking movement of the enemy. Greeley 
in his American conflict, referring to this movement, 
says : " Gen. Couch's division, 5,coo strong, had 
been sent away towards Harper's Ferry — evidently 
through some misapprehension — and only arrived 
at a late hour next morning." Some of the oflficers 
say they returned to the battle-field on the night of 
the 17th. However, the difference is immaterial. 

September iSth and 19th were spent upon the 
battle field, and on the 20th Couch's division (in- 
cluding the I22di marched to Williamsport, where, 
after some skirmishing, they drove oft" the rebel 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



107 



cavalry under Stewart, which had crossed the Poto- 
mac at this point. Here private Hunn, the first man 
wounded in the regiment, received a flesh wound in 
the leg. One man in Company A was wounded. 
The regiment remained here two days, and on the 
23d went into camp in a pleasant clover meadow at 
Downsville, where they received shelter tents and 
remained under drill about two months. Major Jos. 
E. Hamblin, of the 65th New York (afterwards Maj- 
Gen.) being detailed by Gen. Cochrane, com- 
mander of the brigade, as the drill-master. He was 
very competent, and under his excellent drill the 
regiment soon became one of the most efficient in 
the army. 

October i8th and 19th, Saturday night and Sun- 
day, marched 28 miles up the river to Hancock. 
On the 2 1st, left Hancock and marched (most of the 
distance by night) eight miles down the river to 
Cherry Run ; and after lying two weeks at Indian 
Spring, returned to Downsville, and the next day 
marched as wagon-guard, crossing the Potomac into 
Virginia at Berlin on the 3d day of November. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

The One Hundred and Twenty-Second Regi- 
ment, Continued — Fredericksburg — Burn- 
side's Mud Expedition — Chancellorsville 
— Gettysburg — Rappahannock Station — 
Sandusky, Ohio — Re-organization of the 
Army under Lieut.-Gen. Grant. 

ON the 8th of November, 1862, Gen. Burnside 
superceded Gen. McClellan in command of 
the Army of the Potomac, and immediately there- 
after planned his campaign to move upon Rich- 
mond via Fredericksburg. The I22d Regiment 
was now in the left grand division of the Army of 
the Potomac (Franklin's), ist brigade (Gen. John 
Cochrane), 3d division (Gen. D. A. Couch), 6th 
corps (Sedgwick's), then commanded by Gen. W. 
F. Smith ; and joined the march towards Freder- 
icksburg, November 10, halting till the 15th, at 
New Baltimore, thence in two days to Stafford 
Court House, and in four days to Belle Plaine and 
thence to Fredericksburg. Pontoon bridges had 
been laid opposite the city and also two miles be- 
low, on the night of the loth, by our engineer 
corps, and troops were then crossing. Our brigade 
lay near the bank of the river at Franklin's Cross- 
ing during the night, and crossed at 4 a. m., on the 
nth of December. 

Gen, Lee, having learned of Burnside's purpose, 
had occupied Fredericksburg with a brigade of 



sharp-shooters (Barksdale's) and had posted his en- 
tire force of not less than 80,000 men in strong in- 
trenchments along the heights for two miles up 
and down the river in the rear of the city. Gen. 
Sumner, with the advance corps of our army, had 
arrived on the 7th of November, and on the 21st 
had summoned the city to surrender. The inhabit- 
ants had mostly abandoned the place ; the sharp- 
shooters had been driven out by the shells of Burn- 
side from the heights of Falmouth and by an in- 
fantry raid across the river in boats, and the pon- 
toon bridges had been successfully laid. Such was 
the state of things when our army began to pour 
across on the night of the loth of December. 

The attempt of Burnside to storm the heights of 
Fredericksburg on that memorable 13th of Decem- 
ber, 1862, must ever remain as the darkest, bloodi- 
est and most fruitless sacrifice of our brave soldiers 
during the whole war. Lee, with 80,000 troops, 
was posted behind his breastworks for miles 
along the bluffs. In and before Fredericksburg 
were the grand divisions of Hooker and Sumner, 
numbering 60,000. While 300 rebel guns were 
advantageously placed on every eminence, and 
raked every foot of ground by which they could be 
approached, Marye's Hill, directly in the rear of 
the city, and in front of our storming column, was 
defended by an impregnable stone wall, four feet in 
height, behind which was posted Barksdale's brigade 
of rebel infantry. Our heavy guns were mostly on 
the north side of the river where they could hardly 
reach the enemy. Our storming column consisted 
chiefly of Hancock's and French's corps, in which 
Meagher's Irish brigade suffered the severest losses. 
It dashed itself repeatedly against those impreg- 
nable heights until two-thirds of its numbers' 
strewed the ground. General Meagher, in his 
official report, says : 

" Of the 1,200 I led into the action only 280 ap- 
peared on parade next morning." Says the cor- 
respondent of the London Times: "That any 
mortal man could have carried the position before 
which they were wantonly sacrificed, defended as it 
was, it seems to me idle for a moment to believe. 
But the bodies which lie in dense masses within 
forty yards of the muzzles of Colonel Walton's guns 
are the best evidence what manner of men they 
were who pressed on to death with the dauntless- 
ness of a race which has gained glory on a thousand 
battle fields, and never more richly deserved it than 
at the foot of Marye's Heights on the 13th day of 
December, 1862." 

Franklin's grand division on the left, had crossed 
about two miles below the city, his whole force 
numbering about 40,000, and having assailed the 
right of the enemy, with heavy loss in Meade's and 



io8 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Hooker's divisions, were unable to carr>' their 
works. Meade's division alone lost 1,760 men out 
of some 6,CXX5 engaged. Three repeated charges 
were made at this point to take a rebel battery and 
although the fighting was terrible and the loss of 
life great, no particular advantage was gained on 
either side. And so ended one of the bloodiest 
days in the annals of the war. 

Our I22d Regiment was placed well to the left 
in support of the Pennsylvania Reserves, was under 
heavy artillery fire four hours and had four men 
wounded. 

Monday, December 15. Recrossed the Rappa- 
hannock at night and went into camp near Fal- 
mouth, where the regiment remained doing ordinary 
camp and picket duty till January 20, 1863. 

January 20. Marched in Gen. Burnsidc's famous 
" mud campaign." This movement contemplated 
a crossing in force at Bank's and United States' 
Fords, above Fredericksburg, while, at the same 
time, to attract the attention of the enemy in that 
direction, a feint of crossing was to be made at the 
Sedden House, six or seven miles below. His 
preparations were perfected and his army put in 
motion on the 20th of January. The morning was 
fair, but at 10 o'clock, p. m , rain and sleet began to 
fall, and during the ne.xt day rain poured down in 
torrents, taking the frost all out of the ground and 
letting the army trains, artillery and baggage, into 
the mud so inextricably that it was impossible to 
move. After lying there two days in mud and dis- 
comfort, order was given to return to camp, and all 
made their way back as best they could. The 
movement was intended to have been made under 
cover of night, but, on account of the impediment 
*of the storm and mud, daylight revealed them hope- 
lessly floundering in view of the enemy, who, though 
they immediately guarded the fords, were not fool- 
ish enough, had they been able, to squander their 
men and animals in an attempt to assail our stalled 
and struggling forces. 

Gen. Hooker having assumed command of the 
Army of the Potomac on the i6th of February, 
1863, devoted the following two months to improv- 
ing the discipline, perfecting the organization, and 
exalting the spirit of his men. During this time 
our I22d Regiment was engaged chiefly on picket 
duty. Hooker soon had an army equal in numbers 
and efficiency to any ever seen on this continent, 
nearly 100,000 strong, its artillery not less than 
10,000, and its cavalry 13,000. Being at length 
ready, Hooker dispatched Stoneman, with most of 
his cavalry up the north side of the Rappahannock 
with instructions to cross at discretion above the 



Orange and Alexandria Railroad, strike Fitz-Hugh 
Lee's cavalry (computed at 2,oco) near Culjiepper 
Court House, capture Gordonsville, and then pounce 
on the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad near 
Saxton's Junction, cutting telegraphs, railroads, 
burning bridges, &c , thence towards Richmond, 
fighting at every opportunity, and harrassing by 
every means the retreat of the rebel army, which, 
it was calculated, would now be retiring on Rich- 
mond. This order was issued on April 13. 
The rains and the swollen river caused the delay 
of the army, and the recall of the cavalry, 
which had already efl'ected a crossing of the Rappa- 
hannock ; the main army did not move till the 
morningof the 25th, our I22d Regiment and brigade 
marching at 2 p. m., in the 6th (Sedgwick's) corps, 
carrying pontoons to Franklin's Crossing two miles 
below Fredericksburg. The I22d were engaged 
all night in laying the pontoons. Before daylight 
Brook's division had crossed in boats and drove off 
the rebel pickets. Gen. Wadsworth, commanding 
the advance of Reynold's division, and Sickles's ( 3d ) 
corps, being now apparently ready to cross in 
force, the 3d corps was ordered to move silently 
and rapidly to the United States' Ford and thence 
to Chancellorsville, while part of the pontoons were 
taken up and sent to Banks's Ford. Reynolds, 
after making as great a display as possible, and ex- 
changing some long shots with the rebels in front, 
followed on the 2d of May, raising Hooker's force 
at or near Chancellorsville to 70,000 men. 

Gibbon's division of the 2d corps, 6,000 strong, 
was left at Falmouth, to guard our camps and stores. 
Sedgwick's (6th) corps, with our I22d Regiment, re- 
mained at the crossing (Franklin's) in front of the 
rebel works, covering the withdrawal of Sickles's 
(3d) corps and Reynold's division, after the feint of 
crossing at that point, and remained till Saturday, 
May 2d. At this date an order was received for 
the 6th corps to cross the Rappahannock and move 
to join Hooker at Chancellorsville. That night 
they crossed the river at the lower crossing, and 
after skirmishing up through Fredericksburg, found 
themselves at 3 o'clock on Sunday morning in front 
of Marye's Heights before the fatal stone wall where 
fell so many of our brave soldiers on that memora- 
ble 13th of December, 1862. To protect themselves 
from the rebel fire, which opened upon them from 
the fortifications, they moved back to the edge of 
city before daylight, and were joined by Gibbon's 
division crossing from Falmouth, raising Sedgwick's 
force to nearly 30,000 men. Meanwhile, the rebel 
troops still remaining in this quarter had been con- 
centrating on Marye's Hill, where they had several 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



109 



guns in position, while a canal covering- their left, 
with the bridges all taken up, increased the difficulty 
of carrying the hill by assault. One attempt to clear 
the enemy's rifle-pits at the foot of the hill was re- 
pulsed ; another, and a successful assault, was made 
at II A. M. by three storming columns of Gen. 
Howe's (2d) division under Gen. Neill and Cols. 
Grant and Seaver, carrying the lower work and 
Marye's Hill with little loss and scarcely without 
being checked in their advance, and capturing 200 
prisoners. In carrying the rebel front line Capt. 
Church was wounded by a case shot. In carrying 
the hill about goo men were killed and wounded in 
eleven minutes. The I22d was in the supporting 
column and passing over the hill, turned to the 
right, and in about a mile came in front of a forti- 
fied hill occupied by a force of the enemy and two 
guns, which the regiment was ordered to carry, and 
did it promptly, losing nine killed and wounded. 

Sedgwick having carried the heights, reformed 
his brigades, and leaving Gibbon at Fredericksburg, 
moved out on the Chancellorsville road. Our regi- 
ment moved with the other troops at i p. m., about 
four miles to Salem Church. The fortified position 
of the rebels here was unsuccessfully attacked. 
The enemy, reenforced by about 30,000 men, 
flushed with victory from Chancellorsville, assailed 
us in return, and for about two hours the battle 
raged furiously. Our forces held their own at all 
points. Towards night the battle lulled, and the 
I22d was thrown to the extreme right front of our 
position, which they held all night. 

Monday, May 4. Morning broke, and Sedgwick's 
position was fast becoming critical. The enemy 
were in force on his front, and feeling around his 
left, back towards the heights of Fredericksburg. 
Should Hooker remain inactive, the brunt of fighting 
the whole rebel army was imminent. He received 
several dispatches from his chief during the day, 
evincing a very uncertain state of mind. At i p. m. 
the enemy moved in force, striking Sedgwick in 
flank, and pushing him down towards the river, and 
during the night over it at Bank's Ford, with a loss 
of hardly less than 5,000 men. 

In this movement the enemy attempted to cut off 
our forces from the river, but their effort was suc- 
cessfully resisted. A bridge was laid by the 50th 
New York (engineers) and the corps recrossed the 
Rappahannock in the course of the night, the I22d 
Regiment, holding the bridge-head in the face of the 
enemy till 3 o'clock in the morning, being the last to 
recross. By the 8th, the regiment occupied a new 
camp in a pine woods, called Camp Shaler, further 
east and nearer the river than the old one. 



June 3. Lee began to put his forces in motion 
up the southern bank of the Rappahannock, pre- 
paratory to the invasion of Maryland and Pennsyl- 
vania. The movements were carefully screened 
from the observation of our army. On the 6th, 
Hooker threw over Gen. Howe's division of the 
6th corps (containing the I22d) a little below the 
city, to ascertain if the enemy were still in force 
there. Hill, who had been left to guard the place, 
soon convinced him that there had been but little 
reduction of the rebel strength in that quarter, and 
after some careful skirmishing, in which three of 
the I22d were wounded, he withdrew again to the 
north side of the river, June 13. 

June 14-18. Marched to Fairfa.x Court House. 
June 2 1st. Firing within hearing at Adlie and 
Snicker's Gaps, east of Winchester. 

June 14th. Marched to Centerville, camped for 
the night, and at 5 p. m., June 25, went on picket 
to the front on the old Bull Run battle ground. 

June 26. Marched to near Drainsville ; (27), 
marched at 4 o'clock a. m., and crossed the Potomac 
at Edward's Ferry, eighteen miles distant, at 4 p.m. ; 
(28) marched toward Frederick City, just skirting 
Sugar Loaf Mountain ; (29) marched all day north- 
wardly ; and (30) marched si.xteen miles to near 
Manchester, Maryland. 

July I. Heard that the ist corps had struck 
the enemy at Gettysburg, and that battle was 
joined ; started at sundown, and after marching all 
night, (thirty miles,) arrived upon the field at 3 
p. M. of the 2d, and went immediately into the front 
line. On the 3d of July, from 8 till 1 1:30 a. m., the 
I22d Regiment was at the right under General 
Geary, of Slocum's corps, and lost heavily, but 
defeated the enemy. The 149th Regiment was at 
the left side of the I22d through part of the fight. 
Slocum, who commanded the right wing of our 
army during the battle of Gettysburg, had been 
crowded back from his rifle-pits on the night of the 
2d of July, and on the morning of the 3d, in the 
action just referred to, he had advanced and retaken 
them, but not without a fierce struggle which lasted 
over three hours. Two Onondaga Regiments, the 
149th and the I22d, had the honor of participating 
in this achievement, under one of Onondaga's 
honored sons as commander of the right wing of 
the army— General H. W. Slocum. In front of their 
position that morning fell 1,200 rebel dead. The 
following day was spent on the battle field, taking 
care of the wounded. When the rebels retreated 
our brigade followed to Middletown, and thence 
across the mountain to Funkstown, arriving on the 
14th, where they found the rebels strongly posted 



no 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



behind breastworks, and so sheltered by a piece of 

wood, that our artillerj' could not be brought to bear 
upon them. Some 90 men of the brigade volun- 
teered to chop down the timber, though right in 
front of and exposed to the rebel guns, that the 
artillery might have full rake ; and at work they 
went with axes, keeping their rifles by their side ; 
but in the morning, when the attack was to have 
been made, it was found that the enemy had gone 
in the night. Our army followed them four miles 
to Williamsport, capturing their rear-guard, re- 
crossing the Potomac and arriving at Warrcnton 
about July 24th, where they remained till Septem- 
ber 15th ; thence to White Sulphur Springs, camp- 
ing at Stone House Mountain, till October i, when 
they started at 11 a. M.and marched all next day 
in a heavy rain, reaching Catlett's Station on the 
3d, where our brigade remained guarding the station 
for ten days. 

October 13. At I o'clock a. m. marched to 
Warrenton Junction, and lay in line of battle one 
mile cast of the junction through the day, to pro- 
tect our trains and the flank of our army moving 
northward. Towards night the brigade moved to 
Kettle Run, a mile from Hristow Station, arriving 
at 3 A. M., and the next day marched to Centerville 
and went to the front on picket duty. This move- 
ment appears to have been caused by the enemy's 
moving around our right flank and threatening 
our communications with Washington. They had 
pushed for Centerville with the intention of 
occupying the fortifications there, e.xpecting that 
we would attack them ; but on arriving in front 
of the position, they found three of our corps in 
possession of the works. Judging that our trains 
must be just behind, the rebels turned sharp to the 
right, and found them where they expected, moving 
alongside of the railroad track under the escort of 
the 2d corps. The highway was just at the left of 
the railroad ; as they were coming up, and as they 
struck the train, they likewise struck the 2d corps 
in flank. The troops of this corps immediately 
jumped over the railroad bank, and with their artil- 
lery at the head of the column, pointing down the 
road, were in splendid position, from which they re- 
pulsed the attack handsomely, inflicting heavy loss. 
This affair is known as Hristow Station. 

October 16. Marched four miles north of Cen- 
terville and took position, awaiting the enemy. 
Considerable fighting for two days past. October 
19. Pushing the enemy towards Gainesville. Oc- 
tober 20. Marched to New Baltimore and Warren- 
ton, sending the enemy across the river. Lay in 
camp near Warrenton till November 7. 



The rebels having retired south of the Rappa- 
hannock, after having chased our army almost up 
to Washington, and having gained a decided advan- 
tage in the only important collision that marked 
his retreat, Meade sought permission, by a rapid 
movement to the left, to seize and occupy the 
Heights of Fredericksburg ; and accordingly, sent 
forward Sedgwick, with the 5th and 6th corps, at 
daybreak, November 7, from Warrenton to Rappa> 
hannock Station, where the rebels had strongly for- 
tified the north bank of the river, covering their 
pontoon bridge. Arriving at noon opposite the 
station, our troops were halted behind a hill a good 
mile off, rested and carefully formed, and our skir- 
mish lines gradually advanced to the river both 
above and below the enemy's works. Just before 
sunset it was decided that these works could be 
carried by assault, and without a moment's delay 
our brave soldiers dashed forward to the charge, 
carrying the position, capturing four cannon, six 
limbers, three caissons, 1,600 prisoners, 2,000 small 
arms, the I22d Regiment losing 13 killed and 
wounded. In ten minutes the 6th Maine lost 16 
out of 23 officers, and 123 out of 350 enlisted men, 
three of their veteran Captains lying dead, with 
Lieutenant-Colonel Harris, of this regiment, and 
Major Wheeler, of the 5th Wisconsin, severely 
wounded. Adjutant "Clark, of the former, and 
Lieut. Russell, were also wounded. The rebels 
also lost heavily. Col. Gleason of the 12th Vir- 
ginia, being killed. Gen. Hayes surrendered, but 
afterwards escaped. Two of his culonels swam 
the river. The whole achievement was the work 
of two brigades numbering less than 3,000 men. 
The charge was made with fi-\ed bayonets without 
firing a shot. Our command of the ford was com- 
plete, and Lee fell back to Culpepper that night, 
and across the Rappahannock the ne.xt day. 

Our force moved to Brandy Station about Novem- 
ber 10 ; left camp on the 26, (Thanksgiving Day) ; 
crossed the Rapidan at 8 A. M. ; remained across 
the river marching and fighting more or less to 
Mine Run, till December 2d, when they recrossed 
the Rapidan at Gold Mine P'ord and returned to 
their old camp at Brandy Station, where the regi- 
ment remained till the 3d of January, 1864. 

At this date the brigade broke camp and started 
for Sandusky, Ohio, via Washington and Wheel- 
ing, West Va., arriving at Sandusky January 13. 
The I22d Regiment quartered in the town, the rest 
of the brigade on Johnson's Island guarding 2,600 
rebel prisoners. They remained at Sandusky just 
three months, until April 13, when they started 
back to Virginia, arriving at their old camp at 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Ill 



Brandy Station with three regiments of the brigade 
April 19 

Gen. Grant having been appointed by Congress 
Lieutenant-General of the Army, February 24, 
1864, was summoned from the West by telegraph, 
and on the 8th of March repaired to Washington 
to receive his commission and instructions, as com- 
mandant of all the Union forces. The residue of 
March and nearly the whole of April were devoted 
to careful preparation for the campaign against 
Richmond. The Army of the Potomac, still com- 
manded immediately by Gen. Meade, was com- 
pletely reorganized, its five corps being reduced to 
three, commanded respectively by Gen. Hancock 
(2d). Warren (5th), and Sedgwick (6th). Maj. 
Gens. Sykes, French and Newton, with Brig. Gens. 
Kenly, Spinola and Sol. Meredith, were relieved 
and sent to Washington for orders. Gen. Burn- 
side, who had been reorganizing and receiving 
large accessions to his (9th) corps in Maryland, 
crossed the Potomac March 2d, and joined Meade's 
army, though the formal incorporation therewith 
was postponed till after the passage of the Rapi- 
dan. This junction again raised the positive or 
fighting strength of the army to considerable over 
100,000 men. 

In the reorganization this spring, the old 3d di- 
vision was broken up and divided between the ist 
and 2d divisions, our brigade being attached to the 
1st division as the 4th brigade, and the 3d division 
of the 3d corps transferred to our corps as the 3d 
division of the 6th corps ; so that now the I22d 
Regiment belonged to the 4th brigade, ist division^ 
6th corps. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

The One Hundred and Twenty-Second Regi- 
ment, Continued — Campaign of the Wilder- 
ness — Battle of Cold Harbor — South of 
THE James — Expedition to the Shenandoah 
Valley — Petersburg — List of Promotions 
— Fifteenth Cavalry. 

THE history of the I22d Regiment, with the 
brigade and division of which it was a part, 
during the campaign of the Wilderness and up to 
the sanguinary battle of Cold Harbor, is given in 
the following extracts from the Diary of Major T. 
L. Poole, of Geddes, which recorded each day's 
events as they transpired till the time he was 
wounded and left the army. The notes of this 
diary were made at the front, in the midst of the 
stirring scenes which they describe, and will add 
the zest of personal interest to our narrative : 



May 4, 1864. Left camp near Brandy Station 
at daylight. Our brigade is rear-guard and is with 
the wagons of the corps. At about 11 p. m., 
marched eastward and went into camp at Gold Mine 
Ford. At the ford we found the entire wagon 
trains of the army, and they were then crossing the 
Rapidan. We spread our blankets on the ground 
and slept till daylight. 

May 5. Did not cross the river until late in the 
afternoon, when we marched about two miles and 
encamped, still being the wagon-guard. A battle 
was in progress all day in front of us, continuing 
till late at night. It is impossible to learn anything 
definite. 

Friday, May 6. We were awakened at midnight, 
and leaving the wagons behind us, marched several 
miles to the right and took up line of battle. 
Crossed over a portion of the battle ground of yes- 
terday, and saw many of the dead. The battle 
commenced at daylight ; but at this hour (6 a. m.) 
we have taken no part. Word has come that we 
shall soon make a bayonet charge. 2 o'clock p. m. 
Attempted the charge and failed. We advanced 
twenty rods and halted, took what cover we could 
and opened fire. Continued firing about twenty 
minutes, when both sides ceased ; our skirmishers, 
however, kept up fire during the day. Our losses 
up to this time in the regiment are, one man killed 
and 41 officers and men wounded. Besides these 
15 are missing, and we have reason to suppose some 
of them are killed or wounded. My company (I) 
lost Captain Dwight, wounded in the left leg below 
the knee, not supposed to be serious ; privates 
Howard and Brooks, both wounded severely ; 
Lieutenant Wilson, of Company A, wounded in the 
shoulder (proved fatal) ; Lieutenant C. B. Clark, 
wounded in the leg; (Captain Dwight, wounded 
early in the morning at 8 o'clock, and I have since 
been in command of the company.) Corporal Isaac, 
of my company, is missing, and I suppose him killed 
(was killed) ; Corporal F. Patterson, of Company 
D, belonging to my color-guard, is also wounded. 

The 126th Ohio regiment are now building 
breastworks a few rods in our rear ; and so matters 
remain at present, 2 p. m. 

At 6:30 p. m., the rebels made an attack upon 
our works, in front, right flank and rear, the attack 
being made by Gordon's division. Our regiment 
and the entire brigade were driven back in great 
confusion and with heavy loss, many of our regi- 
ment being killed and wounded and others falling 
and being taken prisoners. The extreme right, 
consisting of our division, was driven back and 
completely broken to pieces, being left in fragments 



1 1; 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



in the woods. We retreated rjcarly two miles, 
seeking to rally the men, but the panic was 
such that we found it impossible. Captain Clapp 
and myself finally got half a dozen of our regiment 
together, and as we had our regimental flag, it gave 
us a rallying point ; and with our little band wc 
started back to the front. Other small squads were 
found, and wc soon had quite a force together. I 
only had three men in my own company out of 30. 
Our force went back a quarter of a mile or so, 
gathering strength as wc went. Here we were 
joined by Lieut. -Col Dwight, Capt. Walpole, 
Lieuts. Hoyt and Wells and five or si.x more of our 
men. Col. Upton, of the 121st New York, took 
command of our division i what was left of it) and 
soon formed a line of battle, We and the ist Long 
Island regiment (67th N. V. 1 consisting of about 
forty men, were made the second line. At 1 1 p. M. 
we were attacked in force, but we drove the enemy 
back easily. At about 1 o'clock r. m., we moved to 
the right again, and lay down behind a battery and 
rifle-pits. I have no idea what the loss of our regi- 
ment is, but it is very great. Capt. Piatt, Lieut. 
Ostrander and Lieut. Luthur, are wounded. Capt. 
J. M. Gere and Lieut. Hall arc missing, and are 
probably in the hands of the rebels, and I presume 
Luther and Ostrander are both prisoners, i Proved 
true.) I think our entire loss so far will be nearly 
or quite 2,000. Out of nine sergeants and corpo- 
rals belonging to my color-guard, only one is with 
me. 

Col. J. M. Gere, who was Captain of the i22d, 
and taken prisoner at the time of the action just 
narrated, gives some personal recollections of the 
time the division was broken into pieces in that en- 
gagement. He was in one squad and Major (then 
Lieut. ) Poole in another, as they were all broken up in 
the woods, and of course had different experiences. 
Johnston, he says, had formed in our rear and Gor- 
don's division was drawn up across our right flank, 
where the I22d Regiment was, on the extreme right 
of our infantry, with only the 22d New York cav- 
alry to the right of them. At night Johnston opened 
fire in our rear and Gordon charged our right flank, 
driving in our skirmish line and striking our cav- 
alry ; and as the rebels kept pressing and breaking 
our right, the attack swept down till it struck the 
12 2d, which was driven back to the left about a 
quarter of a mile. Here Gen. Shaler made a rally 
with about 500 men, fronting to the right and charg- 
ing Gordon as he came up within a dozen rods. 
The enemy stood till our line was within two or 
three rods of them, and then broke and ran. As 
the 500 rushed to the charge, Gen. Shaler, who 



was the only mounted man present, turning to ride 
to the rear to bring up reenforcements, rode directly 
into the line of the enemy, who had moved round to 
our rear, and emerging from the woods, fired into 
our backs. Gen. Shaler was taken prisoner. The 
rest kept on with their charge and drove the enemy 
to near the position where the engagement had be- 
gun, the rebels in the rear following and firing into 
the backs of the charging squad. The chargers 
then turned upon them, scattered their line and 
made their way back to the road from which they 
had started. At this point no other troops were 
visible, no one was in command, and by common 
consent each went to look for his regiment. In 
half or three-quarters of an hour, the rebels were 
heard cheering up through the woods. There was 
with us one stand of colors belonging to a Maine 
regiment ; this was planted in the road, and in a 
minute about 150 men rallied around it facing the 
enemy. Raising a yell, they charged the on-coming 
brigade of rebels with such fury that (probably 
thinking the little squad was only the advance of a 
heavy charging column) they broke and ran, and 
were pursued a mile, till they joined a larger body 
of the rebel army. 

In the squad of 500, there were a good many of 
the I22d Regiment ; in the 150 were Col. Dwight, 
Adjutant Tracy and Capt. Gere, of the officers, and 
a number of the men. The efi"ect of the charge 
was to completely neutralize the enemy's advantage 
to the right. 

At night our men had mustered about 60, under 
command of Colonel Dwight. and had made their 
way to the left, where they lay in front of the lines 
and battery of the 2d corps (not knowing that the 
2d corps was there,) until about 2 o'clock a. m. At 
this early hour the rebels (supposed to be Gordon's 
brigade,) came up to make an attack upon the 2d 
corps. The little company lay still till the rebels 
were within close range when they all discharged 
their pieces with such effect that the enemy was 
repulsed and hastily retreated, supposing that the 
volley of musketry which burst thus suddenly and 
unexpectedly upon them was but the precursor of 
an attack by a large body of the Union army. The 
2d corps had made ready to oi)en upon the enemy 
with artillery, but fortunately for our little squad in 
front of their batteries, they had heard the volley 
and the rebels retreating and withheld their fire. 

In one of these isolated situations, while attempt- 
ing to break out through the enemy's lines on the 
right. Adjutant Tracy and Captain Gere were taken 
prisoners, as already referred to in Major Poole's 
diary. The former remained a prisoner about one 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



"3 



month, while the latter was kept about six months 
in various rebel prisons, and finally escaped from 
the prison at Columbia, South Carolina, in company 
with Captain Horace H. Walpole, taken prisoner at 
Spottsylvania. 

Major Poole's Diary Continued. — May 7. 
Soon after daylight, the rebels attacked us once more, 
but we drove them back, our battery doing us great 
service. Adjutant Tracy is missing and is sup- 
posed to be wounded and a prisoner. Col. Dwight 
has detailed me as Adjutant, and Lieut. Wilkins 
has taken my company. Lieut. Hall and a squad 
of men have just come in. At 8 a. m., moved 
again to the right about two miles and occupied 
rifle-pits, where we lay quietly all day. At 9:30 p. 
M., fell in, moving towards the left and marching all 
night. 

May 8. Passed through Chancellorsville and 
took the road to Spottsylvania Court House. About 
noon our advance met the enemy and engaged 
them. During the afternoon we supported a bat- 
tery, and at 5 o'clock moved into some breastworks, 
together with the 6th Maine and 1 19th Pennsyl- 
vania. Here lost one man. At 9 p. m., were at- 
tacked, but there had been no general engagement 
during the day. Our entire loss up to this time has 
been 130 — less than 30 of them prisoners. Gen. 
A. Shaler and Gen. Seymour are among the latter. 
The Chasseurs (65th N. Y.,) and ist Long Island 
(67th N. Y.,) have lost very heavily. Capt. Tracy, 
(of the Chasseurs) and Capt. Cooper, of the Long 
Island, are both killed, and a number of officers are 
wounded in both regiments. 

May 9. Moved at daylight to the line, and lay 
upon an open plain supporting a battery. Gen. 
John Sedgwick, commanding the 6th corps, was 
killed this morning by sharp-shooters. During the 
afternoon we were exposed to the enemy's shells 
and sharp-shooters, but met with no loss. Up to 
this time officers and men have behaved splendidly j 
but all are worn down with fatigue, hard marches, 
continued fighting and loss of sleep. During Mon- 
day night we were attacked three different times by 
the enemy. I am almost sick, and many are worse 
off than I am. We have about 200 men left for 
duty and eight officers, besides the colonel and my- 
self. Some of the best men of our regiment are 
gone, but I hardly have time to think about them. 
Tuesday, May 10. Orders came at 2 o'clock this 
morning that we, in conjunction with our entire force 
in front, would advance upon the enemy at daylight. 
Daylight came, however, and we did not move. 
During the afternoon Col. Dwight was sent back to 
hospital sick and worn out, and Capt. Walpole took | 
IS* 



command of the regiment. The battle commenced 
early in the morning and up to this time (4 p. m.,) 
has raged with terrible fury. Fortunately for us, 
we have not suffered much along our portion of the 
line, and our brigade has not been harmed. 

Orders have come. The Chasseurs have taken 
knapsacks and haversacks, and started forward. 
The Long Islands and our own regiment have 
moved into some rifle-pits to the left. The charge 
took place at about 6 o'clock, and lasted some forty 
minutes. We could hear but not see what was- 
going on. Directly in our front the charge was- 
successful, but we were finally driven back with 
heavy loss. The charging column consisted of the 
Sth and 6th Maine, the sth Wisconsin and r4th and 
56th New York regiments. They took 1,500 pris- 
oners and a battery of four guns ; the guns, how- 
ever, they were compelled to leave. 

May II. Our regiment went out on picket to 
the left. Sharp picket firing all day. Lost five 
men, wounded ; also Capt. Walpole, supposed to 
be taken prisoner. He had given me orders early 
in the morning to advance the left wing, which I 
had charge of, and at the same time directed the 
right wing to advance. We drew upon us a heavy 
fire, and Walpole has not been seen since He was 
either shot or went through the lines and was taken 
prisoner. (Was taken prisoner, and made his es- 
cape from Columbia prison. South Carolina.) The 
right wing of our regiment was relieved at night. 
Captain Clapp now assumed command and sent 
for me to report to him, sending Lieut. Wells to 
take command of the left wing. We returned to 
the place we had started from in the morning and 
remained till daylight. 

May 12. Our brigade fell in at daylight and 
marched off to the left. Early this morning. Gen. 
Hancock, with his (2d) corps, made a grand charge 
on the enemy's lines and was successful, capturing 
5,000 prisoners, including three Major Generals 
and about 20 cannon. In going through a piece of 
woods, our regiment, which was in the rear, was 
cut off by another column. We were exposed to a 
heavy musketry fire, and also to rain which lasted 
all day. We could find nothing of our brigade, and 
as we were near the front, our little band of about 
100 decided to go in, and accordingly, attached our- 
selves to the 2d corps, and went forward into some 
breastworks which had been taken by Hancock this 
morning. Here we remained till late in the after- 
noon, fighting hard all day. 

Just behind us was a spot so exposed to the rebel 
fire from their breastworks in front of us, that no 
soldier could live there a moment. One section of 



114 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



a battery, two guns and caisson, came down on a 
run to occupy this spot, with a view of shelling out 
the rebels about thirty rods in front of us, when 
they were fired upon and every man and horse 
killed instantly. Not one escaped. The rebels 
made desperate attempts to drive us out of our 
works and partially succeeded. We lost but few 
men ourselves, but the carnage around us was 
fearful. About 4 o'clock we were relieved, and as 
night set in found the rest of our brigade. 

Friday, May 13. Our brigade moved and oc- 
cupied the same rifle-pits we had occupied the day 
before. The rebels during the night had fallen 
back, leaving their dead and wounded in our hands. 
Our skirmishers were sent out immediately, and 
soon reached the skirmish line of the enemy. Col. 
Dwight rejoined us this morning from the hospital 
and Captain Cossitt from a sick-leave. Gen. Meade 
published an order this morning which I read to the 
regiment, announcing that so far we had been suc- 
cessful, capturing 18 cannon, 22 colors and 8,000 
prisoners. 

We remained in these pits all day and until two 
o'clock at night, when we fell in again and marched 
to the left, to the support of Gen. Hurnside. 

Saturday, May 14. Crossing the Po River and 
skirmishing. No battle. After crossing the stream, 
threw up breastworks, and our regiment, detailed 
for picket duly, immediately went out. Heavy 
rains for three days, impeding the progress of the 
army. 

Monday, May 16. Our regiment relieved from 
picket duty. May 17. A false alarm brought us 
all to the rifle-pits, but nothing came of it. Soon 
after dark we fell in quietly and took up our line of 
march to the extreme right of the army, where we 
arrived about daylight. May 18. Found that our 
corps formed a line of battle, column-by-divisions, 
appearances indicating that a charge in that form 
was contemplated. Our brigade was sent to the 
extreme right and flank, as a guard against a flank 
movement by the rebels. The Chasseur's and 
Long Island regiments are on picket and we on re- 
serve. So matters stand at 9 o'clock, a. m. The 
charge was attempted and failed, and in the after- 
noon we were marched back to our former position. 
Here we remained till daylight. May 19. Early in 
the morning moved to a new position still further 
on the left, where we were busy all day building 
breastworks. An attack was made near night upon 
our right flank and rear, the object being the cap- 
ture of our wagon trains. Moved about 1 1 o'clock, 
p. M., to the support of the 2d corps, which was 
engaged with the enemy. The battle was over be- 



fore we reached the ground, and we encamped for 
the remainder of the night. 

May 20. Engaged in building breastworks. 
Portions of the army engaged with the enemy. 

Saturday, May 2 1 . About 9 a. m , marched ofi" to 
the extreme left. Found the entire army moving 
in the same direction. Halted near the position 
occupied on the 20th, and half our regiment sent 
back on picket to the rear. About dark, the rebels 
made an attack a little to the right of us, which was 
easily repulsed. Our position is strongly posted 
with 16 pieces of artillery. At 1 1 p. m, ordered to 
fall in, and marched again to the left, marching 
all night. Halted at HoUaday's for breakfast, 
thence to Guinea's, a station of the P'redericksburg 
and Richmond Railroad, distant from the latter 
place about 45 miles. We can hear cannonading 
in the direction of Bowling Green, towards which 
our advance is making. Remained here in camp at 
the farm on which is the negro hut in which Stone- 
wall Jackson is said to have died after his wound at 
Chancellorsville. At 6 p. m., moved again, march- 
ing about five miles, when we encamped, and re- 
mained till 9 o'clock, A. M , Monday, May 23. 

May 23 and 24. Marching all day. Our divi- 
sion occupied on the 25th in tearing up the Gor- 
donsville Railroad, which was eft'ectually destroyed 
for about a mile ; and on the 26th marched all 
night and until 2 o'clock p. m. of the 27th, when 
we crossed the Pamunkey River at Hanoverton, 
less than twenty miles from Richmond. 

May 29. Our division marched several miles 
bearing to the north, and finally halted about a mile 
south of Hanover Court House At this point the 
rear of the column was attacked by rebel cavalry. 
The 67th New York and four companies of the 
I22d were deployed as skirmishers and remained 
here all night undisturbed. The column counter- 
marched, and taking the direct road to Richmond, 
marched about two miles and then halted. Marched 
again in the afternoon taking another road towards 
Richmond, formed a line of battle in a dense woods 
and rested for the night. 

May 31. A brisk skirmish fire was kept up all 
day and in the afternoon we were shelled. About 
midnight we left our station and moved to the left, 
marching till noon, June ist, and arrived at Cold 
Harbor. Here we met our cavalry which had been 
engaged in a severe battle the day before, and skir- 
mishing was still going on. Our corps immediately 
formed in line of battle and relieved the cavalry, 
which moved to our left. We are less than ten 
miles from Richmond and about two miles from 
Savage's Station. About 2 o'clock p. m., the enemy 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



"5 



opened on us with artillery, to which we replied 
with three batteries. The enemy had a good range 
and killed and wounded a large number. Captain 
Clapp and 20 men of our regiment were on picket 
duty. During the artillery duel the 6th and i8th 
corps were formed in line of battle four lines deep, 
the I22d being placed in the fourth line. The three 
front lines were composed of the 2d Connecticut 
Heavy Artillery, a regiment which never till now 
had been under fire, having been in the defences at 
Washington. It was a three-battalion regiment of 
fine looking men, under Col. Kellogg. At 6:30 p. 
M. orders came to attack the enemy. We passed over 
an open field a few rods, then through a pine grove 
about 20 rods, and the balance of the way over open 
fields, the entire distance being less than half a 
mile. As we emerged from the woods the rebels 
opened fire and our men commenced dropping. 
The enemy's fire being too severe for the 2d Con- 
necticut, they broke up in great confusion, retreat- 
ing through our lines, so that we became the front 
line. The loss of the 2d Connecticut was over 400, 
including the Colonel, who was a brave officer and 
fell at the head of his regiment riddled with rebel 
bullets. Our line continued to advance in good 
order until we had reached within thirty rods of 
the rebel works, when an order came to fall back to 
a small ravine in the rear, but before the order 
could be obeyed the rebels had discharged their 
heaviest fire fearfully thinning our ranks. Out of 
140 men, 75 were killed and wounded. Lieutenant 
Wooster, of Company G, killed ; Lieut. T. L. Poole, 
wounded in the side and left arm and shoulder, re- 



sulting in the loss of his arm. 



The regiment 



returned to the ravine and threw up breastworks 
on the crest of a small ridge. During the night the 
rest of the army arrived at Cold Harbor. 

Thus far Major Poole's diary. A few notes may 
be made of the general history of this action. 
Cold Harbor is on four cross roads a short distance 
southeast of the Chickahominy. On the 31st of 
May, Sheridan, with his cavalry, had seized and 
held the focus of these roads, on which the 6th 
corps, moving in the rear from our right to our left, 
was immediately directed, reaching it next day 
{June I,) just before Gen. W. F. Smith, with 10,000 
men detached from Butler's army and brought 
around by steamboats to White House, came up and 
took position on the right. The two were met here 
by an order from Meade to advance and attack the 
army in their front, with a view to forcing a passage 
of the Chickahominy. The attempt was made, re- 
sulting as we have described above. Night fell with 
the rebels still in possession of their works, our ad- 



vance holding and bivouacking on the ground it had 
gained at a cost of 2,000 killed and wounded. The 
main body of the army having arrived the day fol- 
lowing, and Grant and Meade being now at Cold 
Harbor, it was resolved that the rebel lines should 
be forced on the morrow. The two armies held 
much of the ground covered by McClellan's right 
under Fitz-John Porter, prior to Lee's bold advance, 
nearly two years before, Gaines's Mill being 
directly in the rear of the confederate center. At 
sunrise on June 3, the assault was made along our 
whole front and was repulsed by the enemy 
with terrible slaughter. Twenty minutes after 
the first shot was fired, fully 10,000 of our men 
were stretched writhing on the sod, or still and 
calm in death, while the enemy's loss was probably 
little more than 1,000 ; and when some hours later 
orders were sent by Gen Meade to each corps com- 
mander to renew the assault at once, the men sim- 
ply and unanimously refused to obey it. They 
knew that success was hopeless, and the attempt to 
gain it murderous ; hence they refused to be sacri- 
ficed to no purpose. Our losses in and around 
Cold Harbor were 13,153, of whom 1,705 were 
killed, 9,042 wounded, and 2,406 missing. Among 
these were quite a large number of brigadier-gen- 
erals, colonels and field and line officers. 

General Grant now decided to cross the Chicka- 
hominy far to Lee's right, and thence move across 
the James to attack Richmond from the south. 
Having established his headquarters and depot of 
supplies at City Point, he invested Petersburg, 
destroyed the Weldon railroad and gradually tight- 
ened his cordon of forces around the rebel defences 
of Richmond. Our regiment remained in the army 
in front of Petersburg till they were sent with the 
6th corps in August, 1864, to Fort Stevens, at Wash- 
ington, and thence with Sheridan upon the famous 
Shenandoah Valley campaign. Sheridan had been 
sent, August 2, 1864, to take command of the 
Middle Department, including Washington, Mary- 
land, Pennsylvania and the Shenandoah Valley. 
The battle of Winchester, in which our regiment 
and the 6th corps were engaged, was fought August 
19. " I saw," says Gen. Grant, in his report, "that 
but two words of instruction were necessary — ' Go 
in ! ' " So he gave them, and Sheridan went in. 
The rout of the enemy was complete, our victorious 
army following till dark, close upon the heels of the 
fugitive foe, gathering up prisoners and spoils of 
war, as they hurried through Winchester in utter 
rout and disintegration. In this battle our army 
took 3,000 prisoners and five guns, and our loss was 
about 3,000, including several generals. 



ii6 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



Early fell back to Fislicr's Hill, eight miles south 
of Winchester, regarded as the strongest position 
in the Valley. Sheridan followed sharply, allowing 
but two days to intervene between his first and 
second victory. The 6th corps led the advance on 
the front, and the I22d Regiment was the first in the 
enemy's works, where the vigorous attack broke the 
rebel center, and rendered the victory even more 
decisive than that at Winchester, or Opequan, as it 
is more commonly called. Here our army took 
i,ioo prisoners and l6 guns. 

At Cedar Creek (October i8i our regiment was 
at the turning-point of the battle, first turning the 
enemy back, as Sheridan, in his famous ride, came 
up behind their line. In this engagement we lost 
about 3.000, the rebel loss being still heavier. In 
fact. Early's force was virtually destroyed, so that 
there was no longer occasion for further fighting in 
the Valley. Our forces were afterwards returned 
to Petersburg. 

It may be well here to sum up the losses of our 
regiment during the year. The campaign of 1864 
was entered upon by the I22d Regiment with 26 
officers and 400 enlisted men for duty. The 
casualties for the year were 26 among the officers 
and 318 among the enlisted men. No one day of 
especial disaster, but steady service all the lime at 
the front. 

March 25, 1865. They were engaged in the 
afternoon at the left of Squirrel Level Road, Col. 
Dwight being killed by a shell. On the morning 
of the 2d of April they were in the storming 
brigade which broke through Lee's lines, having 
been under arms all night and on the picket line ; 
and were afterward engaged through the day till 3 
o'clock, p. M., forcing Lccback into Petersburg, cut- 
ting oft' the South Side Railroad and compelling the 
immediate evacuation of Richmond. They followed 
in the pursuit of Lee's army to its surrender at Ap- 
pomattox Court House, and after two days rest, had 
a lively march to Ikirksville, where they remained a 
week, and then marched in four days and a half to 
Danville, to stop the last gap on Johnston's army, 
now in the clutches of Sherman. After a month 
in Danville, they returned to Richmond, were re- 
viewed through its streets by Gen. Halleck. and 
sent thence to Washington, where the 6th corps was 
reviewed by itself by the President. Receiving the 
orders for mustering out June 23. they started the 
same day for home, and were finally discharged 
June 27. 1865. 

Official Record of the 1220 Regiment, with 
List of Promotions. 

Silas Titus, Col., rank from Aug. 31, 1862, dis- 



charged Jan. 23, '65 ; Augustus W. Dwight. Lieut. 
Col., rank from Aug. 28, '62, promoted to Col. Feb. 
28, '65, killed in action near Petersburg, Va., Mar. 
25, ' 65 : Horace H. Walpole, Capt., rank from 
Aug. 15, '62, promoted to Lieut. Col. Feb. 28, 
'65, mustered out June 23, '65 ; James M. Gere, 
Capt., rank from Aug. 15. '62, promoted to Lieut. 
Col. April 22, '65, with rank from March 25, '65, 
(Brevet Col. N.Y.Vols., 1 mustered out June 23, '65 ; 
Joshua \i. Davis, Major, rank from Aug. 28, '62, 
(Hrevct Lieut. Col N.Y.Vols., 1 discharged Jan. 15, 
'64 ; Jabez M. Brower, Capt.. rank from Aug. 6, 
'62, promoted to Major Feb. 2, '64. killed in action 
Oct. 19. '64; Alonzo H. Clapp. ist Lieut., rank 
from Aug. 6, '62, promoted to Capt. Nov. 13. '63, 
promoted to Major Dec. 2, '64, died June 23. '65 ; 
Morton L. Marks, 1st Lieut., rank from Aug. 15, 
62. promoted to Capt. Veb. 10. '64. to Major. Aug. 
2, '65 ; Andrew J. Smith, Adjutant, rank from July 
26, '62, promoted to Capt. Nov. 10. '62, 1 Hrevet 
Major and Col. of U. S. V.,) discharged June 6, 
'65 ; Morris H. Church, Adjutant, rank from Oct. 8, 
'62, promoted to Capt. Mar. 5, '63, discharged Jan. 
15, '64; Osgood V. Tracy, 2d Lieut., rank from 
Dec. 3, '62, promoted to Adjutant Mar. i. '63, to 
Capt., Oct. 15, '64, mustered out June 23, '65; 
Robert H. Moses, Adjutant, rank from Sept. 17, 
'64, mustered out June 23. '65 ; P'rank Lester. 
Quartermaster, rank from July 24, '62, promoted to 
Capt. Jan. 14, '63, discharged Dec. 23, '64 ; John 
S. Cornue, Quartermaster, rank from Dec. 3. '62, 
(Brevet Capt. and Major U. S. V.,> mustered out 
June 23. '65 ; Nathan R. Tefl't. Surgeon, rank from 
July 24, '62, resigned April 8, '(54 ; Edwin A. 
Knapp. Assistant-Surgeon, rank from Aug. 19, '62, 
promoted to Surgeon May 27, '64, mustered out 
June 23, 65 ; John O. Slocum, Assistant-Surgeon, 
rank from Aug. 14, "62, promoted to Surgeon 121st 
N. Y. Vols., July I, '63 ; Charles B. Fry, Assistant- 
Surgeon, rank from July 30. '63, not mustered; 
James Sanders, Jr., Assistant-Surgeon, rank from 
Sept. 30, '64, mustered out June 23, '65 ; L. M. 
Nickerson, Chaplain, rank from Aug. 28, '62, mus- 
tered out June 23, '65 ; Lucius A. Dillingham, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Aug. 16, '62, promoted to ist 
Lieut., Nov. 10, '62, to Capt. Feb. 10, '64, mus- 
tered out June 23, '65 ; Herbert S. Wells. 2d 

I Lieut., rank from Aug. 6. '62, promoted to 
1st Lieut., Jan. 14, '64, to Capt. Sept. 30, '64, 
(Brevet Major N. Y. V. 1 mustered out June 23, 
'64 ; Webster R. Chamberlain, Capt., rank from 
Aug. 14, '62, resigned P'eb. 24, '63, (Brevet Major 
N. Y. V.) David A. Munro. ist Lieut., rank from 
Dec. 15, '64, promoted to Capt., Aug. 2, '65 ; Alfred 
Nims, Capt., rank from Aug. 14. '62, resigned Dec. 
23, '62 ; Stewart McDonald, 2d Lieut., rank from 
Aug. I, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. Nov. 19, '64, to 
Capt, Sept. 15, '65 ; Cornell Chrysler, Capt., rank 
from Aug. 14, '62. discharged Feb. 28. '63 ; Davis 
Cossitt. 1st Lieut., rank from Aug. 14. '62, pro- 
moted to Capt. Mar. 5. '63.1 Brevet AlajorN. Y. V.) 
discharged Dec. 15. '64; Dudley G. Shirley. 2d 
Lieut., rank from Oct. 3. '63, promoted to ist Lieut. 

1 July 6. '64. discharged Nov. 26, '64; Francis Cala- 
han. 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. I. '64, promoted to 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



117 



1st Lieut. Dec. 7, '64, to Capt. Jan. 17, '65, dis- 
charged May 15, '65 ; Joseph S. Smith, 2d Lieut,, 
rank from Sept. 19, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. 
Jan. IS, '65, to Capt. June 16, '65 ; Samuel P. Car- 
rington, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. i, '64, pro- 
moted to 1st Lieut. Dec. 7, '64, to Capt. May 
II, '65, mustered out June 23, '65 ; Lucius Moses, 
Capt., rank from Aug. 15, '62, discharged Feb. 24, 
'6^ ; George W. Piatt, ist Lieut., rank from Aug. 
15, '62, promoted to Capt. March 5, '6^, discharged 
Oct. 25, '64 ; Edward P. Luther, 2d Lieut., rank 
from Aug. 14, '62, promoted to ist Lieut. Mar. 5, 
'62, to Capt. Dec. 7, '64, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.) 
discharged Feb. 6, '65 ; Theodore L. Poole, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Mar. i, '63, promoted to ist 
Lieut. Feb. 10, '64, to Capt. Feb. 15, '65, with rank 
from Feb. 6, '65, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.) dis- 
charged May 15, '65 ; Charles B. Clark, 2d Lieut., 
rank from July 28, 'St,, promoted to 1st Lieut. July 
8, '64, to Capt. March 8, '65, mustered out June 23, 
'65 ; Harrison H. Jilson, Capt., rank from Aug, 15, 
'62, died at Relay House, Md., Oct. 8, '62 ; Robert 
H. Moses, 1st Lieut., rank from May 23, '64, pro- 
moted to Capt. Aug. 2, '65 ; Martin Ryan, ist 
Lieut., rank from Dec. 17, '64, promoted to Capt. 
March 25, '65, mustered out June 23, '65 ; John M. 
D wight, Capt., rank from Aug. 16, '62, (Brevet 
Major, N. Y. V.) discharged Sept. 17, '64 ; Noah 
B. Kent, Capt, rank from Aug. 19, '62, discharged 
Oct. 2, '63 ; Andrew W. Wilkin, 2d Lieut., rank 
from Dec. 3, '62, promoted to 1st Lieut. Nov. 13, 
'63, to Capt. Dec. 24, '64, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.) 
mustered out June 23, '65 ; James B. Hall, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Mar. 6, '63, promoted to ist 
Lieut., July 4, '63, Capt. Sept, 17, '64, discharged 
Jan. 8, '65 ; George H. Gilbert, 2d Lieut., rank 
from Feb. 9, '6^, promoted to ist Lieut. Oct. 24, 
'6^, (Brevet Capt., N. Y. V.) discharged May 24, 
'64; Francis M. Potter, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. 
I, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. Sept 19, '64, muster 
revoked Feb. 9, '65 ; Samuel C. Trowbridge, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Aug. i, '64, promoted to ist 
Lieut., Feb. 28, '65, (Brevet Capt., N. Y. V.) 
mustered out June 23, '65 ; Charles G. Nye, ist 
Lieut., rank from Aug. 14, '62, resigned Feb. 10, 
'63; William Webb, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. 14, 
'62, promoted to ist Lieut. Feb. 25, '6^ ; Francis 
M. Wooster, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. 19, '62, 
promoted to ist Lieut. Mar. 5, 1S63, killed in action 
at Cold Harbor, Va., June i, '64 ; Amasa Chase, 
2d Lieut , rank from Sept. 19, '62, promoted to ist 
Lieut. Mar. 6, '65, mustered out June 23, '65 ; 
Joseph E. Cameron, ist Lieut., rank from Aug. 14, 
'62, resigned Dec. 3, '62 ; James Burton, 2d Lieut., 
rank from Aug. 15, '62, promoted to ist Lieut. Jan. 
I4,'63, discharged Sept. 19, '6^ ; Martin L.Wilson, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Dec. 3, '62, promoted to ist Lieut. 
Nov. 13, '6^, died of wounds received in battle of 
the Wilderness, June 19, '64 ; John V. Simms, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Oct. 9, '63, promoted to 1st Lieut. 
July 8, '64, killed in action near Winchester, Va., 
Sept. 19, '64 ; Curtis L. Rich, 2d Lieut., rank from 
Dec. 31, '64, promoted to ist Lieut, June 16, '65, 
mustered out as ist Sergt., Co. F, June 23, '65 ; 
Alexander Tome, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 25, 



'6s, promoted to ist Lieut. June 23, '6s, mustered 
out June 23, '6s ; Michael Donovan, 2d Lieut, 
rank from Mar. i, '6s, mustered out June 23, '65 ; 
Jacob Brand, ist Lieut., rank from Aug. is, '62, 
resigned Feb. i, '64; Henry H. Hoyt, 2d Lieut, 
rank from Aug. is, '62, promoted to 1st Lieut May 
1 1, '63, killed near Petersburg, Va., June 21, '64; 
George G. Gilson, 2d Lieut, rank from June 21, 
'64, promoted to 1st Lieut. Dec. 30, '64, mustered 
out June 23, "es ; Guy J. Gotchis, 2d Lieut, rank 
from Dec. 3, '62, promoted to ist Lieut. Mar. s, 
'63, discharged May 26, '64; Drayton Eno, 1st 
Lieut., rank from Aug. 15, '62, resigned Dec. 3, 
'62 ; Adolph Wilman, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. i, 
'63, promoted to ist Lieut. Sept 3, '63, discharged 
July 7, '64; Hiram A. Britton, 2d Lieut , rank from 
Sept. 9, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. Feb. is, '6s, 
mustered out June 23, '65 ; Ruell P. Buzzell, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Sept. 3, '64, promoted to ist 
Lieut. Feb. 15, '6s, mustered out June 23, '6s ; 
Otto W. Parrisen, ist Lieut., rank from Jan. 15, 
'64. discharged Sept, 22, '64 ; Justin Howard, ist 
Lieut., rank from Aug. 19, '62, discharged Oct. 4, 
'63 ; Dennis Murphy, 2d Lieut., rank from Feb. 6, 
'65, promoted to 1st Lieut. Mar. 25, '65, mustered 
out June 23, '65 ; Merrick C. Smith, 2d Lieut., 
rank from May IS, '6s, mustered out June 23, '6s : 
George A. Wait, 2d Lieut , rank from Oct 24, '63, 
not mustered; Arthur J. Mead. 2d Lieut., rank 
from Aug. 14, '62, discharged Sept. 29, '63 ; Wil- 
liam H. La Rue, 2d Lieut., rank from Dec. 29, '62, 
discharged Sept. 29, '63 ; John W. Taylor, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Mar. i, '6^ ; discharged Oct. 11, 
'63 ; Charles W. Ostrander, 2d Lieut., rank from 
May 2S, '63, (Brevet ist Lieut., N. Y. V.,) dis- 
charged Mar. 10, '6s ; Charles A. Eaton, 2d Lieut., 
rank from Mar. 10. '6s, mustered out June 23, '6s ; 
George E. P'isher, 2d Lieut., rank from June 20, '6s; 
mustered out June 23, '6s ; Geo. H. Devoe, 2d Lieut., 
rank from Feb. 6, '6s, mustered out June 23, '6s ; Thos. 
H. Scott, 2d Lieut., rank from Feb. 6, '6s, mus- 
tered out June 23, '6s ; Charles H. Eldridge, 2d 
Lieut., rank from March 6, '6s, mustered out June 
23, '65 ; Gates D. Parish, 2d Lieut., rank from 
Dec. 31, '64, mustered out June 23, '6s ; Robert 
Ealdon, 2d Lieut., rank from June 20, '63, mustered 
out June 23, '6s ; Peter A. Blossom, 2d Lieut., 
rank from Aug. 13, '62, resigned Dec. 3, '62 ; Mor- 
ris E. Wright 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. i, '63, dis- 
charged Sept. 28, '63 ; Oscar F. Swift, 2d Lieut., 
rank from Aug. 13, '62, resigned Dec. 3, '62 ; Wil- 
liam G, Tracy, 2d Lieut., rank from Nov. 3, '62, 
discharged July 28, '63 ; Daniel F. Hammell, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Aug. i, '64, discharged May 31, 
'6s ; George H. Casler, 2d Lieut., rank from Feb. 
6, '6s, mustered out June 23, '65. 

The Fifteenth Cavalrv. 
The isth New York Cavalry was organized at 
Syracuse, to serve three years. The companies of 
which it was composed were raised in the coun- 
ties of Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Oneida, 
Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Genesee, Erie and Tomp- 
kins. It was mustered into the service of the 



ii8 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



United States from August 8. 1863, to January 14, 
1864. It was consolidated with the 6th New York 
Cavalry, June 17, 1865, and the consolidated force 
designated the 2d New York Provisional Cavalry. 
The following are the dates of the mustering in of 
the respective companies : 

Co. A— Michael Auer, Capt.. Aug. 8, 1863 

Co. B— Thomas G. Putnam, Capt., Aug. 8, 1863. 

Co. C— Jcttcrson C. Higclow, Capt.. Aug. 8. 1863. 

Co. D — Orson R. Colgrove, Capt., Aug. 26, 1863. 

Co. E— George M. Kilicott. Capt., Aug. 15. 1863. 

Co. F— L. F. Hathaway, Capt., Aug. 26, 1863. 

Co. G— Wallis M. Hoycr, Capt., Aug. 26. 1863. 

Co. H— John F. Moshell, Capt., Sept. 5. 1863. 

Co. I — Scth J. Steve, Capt , Nov. 30. 1863. 

Co. K— John S Hicks, Capt., Oct 15.1863. 

Co. L — Marshall M. Loydcn, Capt, Jan. 20, 1864. 

This regiment was an important one to Onondaga 
county and the city of Syracuse, inasmuch as it 
saved the draft pending in 1863. It was slow in 
being made up, but late in the year Col. Richard- 
son succeeded in securing an order from the War 
Department granting a bounty of S300 to each en- 
listed man, which had the effect to secure the quota 
required and save the draft, which had been or- 
dered, from being executed. The rolls were sent 
in to the War Department, and upon their examina- 
tion it was found that the quota of the district was 
full, and an order was immediately sent for the 
draft to be stopped. 

The officers of the 15th Cavalry from Onondaga 
county were : 

Robert M. Richardson, Col., rank from Jan. 6. 
'64, resigned Jan. 19. '65 ; Augustus J. Root, 
Lieut-Col., rank from Sept. 16. '63, killed in action 
April 8, '65; Michael Auer. Capt., rank from July 24, 
'63, promoted to Major Nov. 9, "64, discharged Mar. 
6, '65 ; J. H. Wood, Major, rank from Sept. 16, '63. 
discharged April 14, '65; F. Mann, Adjutant, rank 
from May 22, '64, discharged by reason of consoli- 
dation, June 17. '65 ; Edward R. Trull, Quarter- 
master, rank from June 12, '63, discharged by rea- 
son of consolidation, June 17, '65 ; Isaac O. Fill- 
more. Chaplain, rank from April 25, '64, not mus- 
tered ; Thomas G. Putnam, Capt., rank from July 
30. '63. discharged by reason of consolidation. June 
17. '65; Jefferson C. Higelow. Capt.. rank from 
Aug. 30. '63, discharged bv reason of consolidation, 
June 17. '65; George N. Truesdell. ist Lieut., rank 
from Jan. 6, '64, promoted to Capt. June 17, '65, 
with rank from May 8, '65 ; Orson R. Colgrove, 2d 
Lieut., rank from July 30, "63, promoted to Capt. 
Nov. 30, '63, mustered out on exijjration ol service, 
Dec. 24, "64 ; Charles G. Hampton, 2d Lieut., rank 
from Oct. 5, '63, promoted to Capt. April 11, '65, 
with rank from Feb. 13, '65, discharged by reason 
of consolidation, June 17, '65 ; George M. Eliicott, 
Capt., rank from Aug. 13, '63, promoted to Major, 
June 17. '65, with rank from June 9. '65, discharged 
by reason of consolidation, June 17, '65 ; Cortland 



Clark, Commissary, rank from Jan. 6. '64, discharged 
by reason of consolidation, June 17, '65 ; Burritt N. 
Hurd, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 5, '63. promoted to 
1st Lieut. Dec. 29, 1863. promoted to Capt. Nov. 9, 
'64, mustered out on expiration of term of service, 
Dec. 12, '64 ; John F. Moshell, Capt., rank from 
Sept. 5, '63, transferred to 2d Provisional Cavalry, 
June 17, '05 ; William F. Weller, ist Lieut., rank 
from Dec. 26. '63, promoted to Capt. June 17. '65, 
with rank from June 8. '65. transferred to 2d Provi- 
sional Cavalry June 17. '65 ; Joseph LaBeff. ist 
Lieut., rank from July 24, '6}, discharged Nov, 30, 
'63 ; Edgar N. Johnson, 2d Lieut., rank from Nov. 
9, '64. promoted to ist Lieut. Feb. 15. '65. di»- 
charged by reason of consolidation June 17, '6$ ; 
William P. Shearer, ist Lieut . rank from July 30, 
'63, missing since Oct. 30. '64 ; William Stanton, 
2d Lieut., rank from Oct 14, '64, promoted to ist 
Lieut. Feb. 15, '65; Edgar L Miller, 2d Lieut., 
rank from Oct. 14, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. Mar. 
9, '65, transferred to 2d Provisional Cavalry. June 
'7> ^5 ; Joseph Herron, ist Lieut., rank from Sept. 
5. '63. discharged Dec. 28, '63 ; Edward Pointer, 
2d Lieut., rank from Feb. 12, '65, transferred to 2d 
Provisional Cavalry, June 17, '65 ; Lorenzo Hatch, 
2d Lieut., rank from Oct. 14. '64. killed in action; 
James Holahan, 2d Lieut., rank from Feb. 12, '65, 
transferred to 2d Provisional Cavalry. June 17. "65 ; 
John W. F^razer. 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 25. '65, 
discharged June 28. '65 ; John Gallagher, 2(1 Lieut., 
rank from Feb. 12, '65, transferred to 2d Provisional 
Cavalry June 17, '65 ; Levi Kraft, 2d Lieut., rank 
from Oct. 5, '63, discharged Dec. 11, '63; Peter 
Boehm, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 3, '6^, discharged 
by reason of consolidation, June 17, '65 ; Anthony 
Dever and Emory Ornisby, 2cl Lieuts., on records 
of War Department, not commissioned. 

The isth Cavalry participated in the following 
battles and engagements : Lynchburg, ( Hunter's 
raid) 1864; New Market, (under Sigel) 1864; 
Winchester, July 10, 1864; Piedmont (near Stan- 
ton) ; capture of Martinsburg, and the series of 
battles about Petersburg, resulting in the capture 
of Lee's Army. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

The One Hundred and Fortv-Ninth New 
York Volunteeks— Okganization — Camp at 
Bolivar Heights — Chancellorsville— Get- 
TvsuuRG — Losses of the Regiment — Last 
E.xpekience in the Army of the Potomac. 

THE One Hundred and Forty-Ninth New 
York Volunteer Infantry was a full 
regiment of Onondaga County men, organized at 
Syracuse, and mustered into the United States ser- 
vice September 18,1862. Henry A. Barnum, for- 
merly Major of the Twelfth New York, was Colo- 
nel ; John M. Strong, Lieutenant-Colonel ; Abel 
G. Cook, Major; Walter M. Dallman, Adjutant; 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



119 



Moses Summers, Quartermaster ; James V. Ken- 
dall, Surgeon ; Horace Nims, Assistant Surgeon ; 
and Rev. Arvine C. Bowdish, Chaplain. The com- 
panies were organized under the following line 
officers : Company A — Solomon Light, Captain ; 
Samuel Bonner, ist Lieutenant; Mathevv West- 
cott, 2d Lieutenant. Company B — Nicholas Grum- 
bach. Captain; Philip Eckel, ist Lieutenant ;' Ja- 
cob Knapp, 2d Lieutenant. Company C — James 
Lynch, Jr., Captain ; Edward D. Murray, ist Lieu- 
tenant ; William Savage, 2d Lieutenant. Company 
D — J. Forman Wilkinson, Captain ; Park Wheeler, 
ist Lieutenant ; William M. Mosely, 2d Lieuten- 
ant. Company E — Ira B Seymour, Captain ; Or- 
son Coville, 1st Lieutenant; Edward F. Hopkins, 
2d Lieutenant Company F — Judson H. Graves, 
Captain ; Henry H. Burhans, ist Lieutenant ; The- 
odore E. Stevens, 2d Lieutenant. Company G — 
E. G. Townsend, Captain ; Byron A. Wood, ist 
Lieutenant ; Thomas A. Benedict, 2d Lieutenant. 
Company H — Robert E. Hopkins, Captain ; Ohio 
L. Palmer, ist Lieutenant; Thomas Merriam, 2d 
Lieutenant. Company I — David J. Lindsay, Cap- 
tain ; George K. Collins, ist Lieutenant ; John T. 
Bon, 2d Lieutenant. Company K — James E. Do- 
ren, Captain ; John Van Wie, 1st Lieutenant ; 
Benjamin F. Breed, 2d Lieutenant. 

Company A, of this regiment, was composed of 
Jewish citizens, organized in the Synagogue ; Com- 
pany B was a solid German company, and Com- 
pany C consisted of Irish, with but few exceptions. 
At the time of its organization. Col. Barnum lay 
wounded at his home in the city, having been shot 
through the hip by a rifle ball while doing gallant 
service as Major of the Twelfth Regiment at the 
battle of Malvern Hill. He was, however, elected 
Colonel of the Hundred and Forty-Ninth, and 
joined his regiment at Fairfax in Januaiy, 1863. 

On the 23d of September, 1862, the Hundred 
and Forty-Ninth regiment left Camp White, at 
Syracuse, «i rojite for the general rendezvous at the 
National Capital ; whence they were ordered to 
Harper's Ferry via Frederick city, and occupied a 
camp in Pleasant Valley till about the 30th of Oc- 
tober. No incident of importance occurred while 
here except an expedition a few miles down the 
river to Knoxville, and the loss of about forty men 
who enlisted in an Engineer regiment encamped in 
the vicinity. On the 31st of October they were 
ordered to Louden Valley, where they remained long 
enough to construct comfortable quarters, but were 
not permitted to enjoy them, being soon ordered to 
Bolivar Heights, at Harper's Ferry, where they 
remained till Dec. lOth, relieving the monotony 



of camp life by two raids towards Charlestown and 
Winchester, and taking their first lessons in those 
foraging expeditions for which the regiment sub- 
sequently became famous. 

In the absence of Colonel Barnum, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Strong had command of the regiment, but 
here the latter was obliged to resign in con- 
sequence of a dangerous illness, and the command 
devolved upon Major Cook, a youthful yet energetic 
and competent officer ; the regiment was attached 
to General Geary's division, and assumed the white 
star as its emblem of military glory. December 
10, in the depth of a Virginia winter, they broke 
camp at Bolivar Heights, and marched to Fairfax 
Station. The Quartermaster, who was also the 
scribe of the regiment and who has furnished the 
materials for this history of the 149th, refers to one 
or two expeditions from camp at this point towards 
Dumfries, speaking of it as " a locality which calls 
up vivid recollections of an ocean of mud and the 
hardest kind of fare." After spending a dismal 
Christmas and New Year's in this fearfully muddy 
region, on the 28th of January, they marched 
through the memorable Dumfries mud to Aquia 
Creek where the regiment was comfortably quar- 
tered in an old camp just vacated by a German 
regiment of engineers. The camp here was beau- 
tifully located and a little labor soon sufficed to 
make it a model of neatness and taste. But the 
place was unhealthy ; fever soon broke out in the 
camp and the ranks were rapidly thinned by its 
ravages. On the 15th of February the regiment 
moved to a more healthy location at Brook's Sta- 
tion, where it remained till the stirring events of 
Chancellorsville called them from camp life and 
idleness to meet the enemy, on a field which 
though hotly contested, was disastrous to the 
regiment and the Union cause. They broke camp 
and marched towards Chancellorsville on the 9th of 
April, 1863. The battles in and about Chancellors- 
ville were fought on May 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th, 1863, 
the heaviest engagement being on Sunday, May 3d. 
The Union forces met with a severe defeat, and the 
149th suffered their share of the disaster. 

On Sunday, May 3, in the great battle in which 
Slocum's corps ( 1 2th) was engaged, nearly 4,000 of 
his men were disabled, including three of his 
division commanders ; Berry and Whipple killed, 
and Gen. Mott of the New Jersey brigade wounded. 
Says Greeley, " the ground was lost by misfortune 
or bad generalship, not by lack of valor or endur- 
ance in our soldiers." As an evidence of this, on 
Saturday, May 2d, Pleasanton, in order to gain 
time to get his batteries in readiness to sweep the 



I20 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



on-rushing masses of the rebels, ordered Major 
Keenan, of the 8lh Pennsylvania, to charge into 
the woods at whatever cost. " I will," was the 
calm, smilinj; reply, althou};h he well understood 
that the order was his death-warrant. Ten minutes 
later he was dead and a large part of his regiment 
lay bleeding around him. But this gallant action 
gave the artillery time to get in readiness and to 
deal death and destruction into the rebel ranks. 
In front of these batteries, on that memorable day, 
fell Stonewall Jackson mortally wounded. His loss 
was the greatest yet sustained by either party in 
the fall of a single man. 

The day was probably lost to the Union army 
because Gen. Hooker could not send aid to Slo- 
cum, he having been stunned by a rebel shot strik- 
ing the " Chancellorsvillc House," against which he 
had been leaning, so that when the message came 
to him from Gen. Slocum he was unconscious and 
could not attend to it. So testified Slocum before 
the Committee on the Conduct of the War. 

On Monday, the 4th of May, in the forced re- 
treat of Sedgwick's division, about 5,000 men were 
lost. Hooker gives the total loss in the series of 
battles while across the Rappahannock at no less 
than 17,197 men, as follows: 

Sedgwick's (6th) Corps 4.601 

Slocum's ( 12th) " 2,883 

Couchs'(2d) " 2,025 

Reynolds' ( 1st) " 292 

Sickles' (3d) " -4.039 

Howard's (nth) " 2,508 

Meade's (5th) " 699 

Cavalry, &c 150 

The rebel loss was 18,000 — Gen. Pa.xton killed 
and Gen. Heth wounded. 

In these severe battles the 149th participated, 
receiving its first baptism of blood, which conse- 
crated it to the national cause thenceforth to the 
close of the war. 

Major Cook was severely wounded in the foot and 
the command devolved upon Captain May, who had 
recently been transferred to the 149th from the old 
1 2th regiment. He was a gallant officer, and assum- 
ing command in an emergency, proved himself fully 
competent. 

The regiment returned to its old camp at Aquia 
Creek. It soon received orders to remove to a posi- 
tion near Falmouth, but the order was immediately 
changed to a lively pursuit of Lee, who, meantime, 
had invaded Maryland and Pennsylvania. Marching 
over their old track through Dumfries, P'airfax, 
Leesburg, Frederick City, and other well known 
localities, they at length encountered the enemy at 
Gettysburg, on the borders of Pennsylvania, where 



one of the most sanguinary battles of the war was 
fought. 

Gettysburg. — The engagements began on the 
1st of July and lasted till the 3d. Gen. Huford, 
with a division, arrived first at Gettysburg June 30, 
and encountered the van of the rebel army, under 
Gen. Heth, of Hill's corps ; the rebels were driven 
back on the division, and in turn drove our forces. 
At this moment the advance division of Reynolds 
(isti corps, under Gen. J. S. Wadsworth, coming 
in from Emmitsburg, at the familiar sound of vol- 
leys, quickened their pace, and rushing through the 
village drove back the rebel van, seizing and occu- 
pying the ridge that overlooks the place from the 
northwest. Gen. John F. Reynolds arrived with 
22,000 men, ist and i ith army corps ; while Wads- 
worth was forming his advance division, 4,000 
strong, Reynolds went forward to reconnoiter and 
was shot by a rebel sharp-shooter. Gen. Doubleday, 
arriving half an hour later, assumed command, fall- 
ing back and occupying Seminary Ridge, just west 
of the village, where the ist and nth army corps 
were soon drawn up in line of battle. Howard, 
ranking Doubleday, assumed command, assigning 
the nth corps to Schurz. Here the struggle was 
renewed with great spirit, our men having the bet- 
ter position and the best of the fight. At i o'clock 
p. M. Ewell's corps came rapidly into the battle, 
arriving from York, Rhode's division assailing the 
I Ith corps in front, while Early's struck hard on its 
right flank. The corps were outnumbered and put 
to rout, falling back in disorder to Gettysburg, 
under heavy rebel fire, mingling and obstructing 
each other in horrid confusion in the streets. The 
debris of these two corps, which half an hour before 
marched proudly through the streets, now fell back 
with scarcely half their number to Cemetery Hill, 
leaving their dead and wounded in the hands of the 
enemy. Thus ended the first day's fight, July i, 
the rebels not seeking to renew the contest. 

During this engagement Meade was at Taney- 
town, ten miles away, and did not hear of the battle 
or the death of Gen. Reynolds till i p. m. He 
immediately sent Gen. Hancock to command, or- 
dering him to turn over his (2d) corps to Gibbon. 
Hancock arrived on the field just as the broken ist 
and nth were retreating in wild disorder through 
the village, hotly pursued by the triumphant foe. 

The 149th, in Geary's division of Slocum's (12th) 
corps, was in advance and reached Gettysburg soon 
after Gen. Hancock. Slocum, outranking Hancock, 
assumed the chief command. 

During the night our army was all concentrated 
before Gettysburg, e.xcept Sedgwick's (6th) corps, 



41 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



121 



(15,400 Strong) which was at Manchester, 30 miles 
distant. Meade, in view of this fact, and because 
the rebels were in full force, resolved upon fighting 
only a defensive battle. The line was drawn up in 
the following order: The 12th corps (General 
Slocum's) held our extreme right, facing Johnson's 
division of Ewell's corps, which had been recently 
strengthened by Lockwood's Marylanders, 2,500 
strong, raising it to a little over 10,000 men ; 
Sickles' (3d) corps held the left, opposite Longstreet, 
supported by the 5 th (Sykes's), with Hancock's 
(2d) in our center, touching its right ; what was left 
of Howard's (nth), reenforced by 2,000 Vermont- 
ers under Stannard, and Reynold's (ist), now 
Doubleday's corps, held the face of Cemetery Hill 
looking towards Gettysburg and Early's division, 
but menaced also by Johnson's division on the 
right, and by Hill's corps, facing the left. 

The battle of the 2d was brought on by the 
temerity of Gen. Sickles, who in his eagerness to 
fight, had thrown forward his corps from half to 
three-quarters of a mile in the immediate presence 
of half the rebel army. Meade remonstrated ; but 
before the mistake could be remedied, Lee, seeing 
the advantage, ordered Longstreet to attack Sickles 
with all his might, while Ewell should assail 
Slocum, and Hill, facing the apex of our 
position, should only menace, unless our troops 
should be withdrawn to reenforce either the left or 
the right, in which case he should charge through 
our line. The position which Sickles had taken 
was commanded by the rebel batteries posted on 
Seminary Hill in front, and scarcely half a mile dis- 
tant. At the order to attack, a line of battle a 
mile and a half long swept up to his front and 
flanks, crushing him back with heavy loss, and 
struggling desperately to seize Round Top, a hill 
to his left which Meade regarded as vital to the 
situation. A fierce and bloody struggle ensued, 
Humphreys, on the right of Sickles, with one of 
Sykes's divisions, being attacked in front and flank 
and beaten back with a loss of 2,000 out of 5,000 
men. A division of the 12th corps was thrown in 
on the enemy's front, which turned the scale ; they, 
in turn, were repulsed with heavy loss, falling back 
to their original position and leaving our line as 
Meade had intended to place it. Meanwhile, the 
withdrawal of a division from Slocum had enabled 
Ewell to attack our right wing with a superior force, 
but he gained no decided advantage, only crowding 
a part of the line back and seizing a few rifle-pits. 
So ended the day of the second of July. 

Night closed with the rebels decidedly encour- 
aged and confident. Of the seven corps composing 
16* 



our army, three had been severely handled. At 
least half their effective strength had been demol- 
ished. Reynolds, commanding the 1st, and Brig. 
Gen. Zook, of Sickles' corps, had been killed; 
Sickles, of the 3d, had had his leg shattered with 
a cannon ball, and was out of the fight ; our total 
losses up to this hour were scarcely less than 
20,000 men ; and none were arriving to replace 
them. They had suffered heavily, but had reason 
for the hope that to-morrow's triumphs would 
richly repay all their losses. 

The battle opened July 3d, on our right ; the 
division sent to relieve Sickles' corps, having re- 
turned, Slocum pushed forward to retake his lost 
rifle-pits, and did it after a sharp conflict. Both 
sides were reenforced, the rebels with three fresh 
brigades under Pickett,* and our side by the ar- 
rival of Sedgwick's corps. Every preparation was 
made for the grand decisive battle. 

The battle of the 3d of July opened with the 
most brilliant artillery duel on record. The rebels 
had massed a battery of 1 15 heavy guns on the hill 
in front of the centre of their line, and on Cemetery 
Hill, in front of Meade's headquarters, the Union 
artillery numbering about 100 guns was stationed; 
and all was in readiness for action. "There was a 
pause of anxious expectation, fitfully broken by 
spirts of firing here and there, while the rebels were 
finishing their preparation for the supreme effort 
which was to decide this momentous contest." At 
length at i p. m., the signal was given and the bat- 
teries on the rebel side opened their throats of fire ; 
for nearly two hours the hill, just over the crest of 
which was Meade's headquarters, was gashed and 
seamed by round-shot and torn by bursting shells, 
while 100 guns from our side made fit reply. Gen. 
Doubleday said in his testimony before the Com- 
mittee on the Conduct of the War : "They had 
our exact range, and the destruction was fearful. 
Horses were killed in every direction * * and 
quite a number of caissons were blown up." This 
cannonading was but the prelude to a grand in- 
fantry charge, and was designed by the rebels to 
disorganize the opposing forces. Our side was 
ready for it; our infantry, according to orders, 
crouched behind every projection and lay concealed 
in every hollow, awaiting the onset, when they 
should spring up at the right moment to meet the 
advancing columns of the enemy. The signal was 
given, and from behind the rebel batteries emerged 
columns of infantry in line of battle three or four 
miles in length, preceded by a cloud of skirmishers 
and supported by lines of r eserves. On they came 

* See 122d Regiment. 



122 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



swiftly to the charge, directing their main force 
against Hancock's center and in the direction of 
our batteries, and upon the entire front westward to 
Round Top. The charge was made in three lines 
with additional lines called wings, the object of 
which was to prevent the main force from being 
flanked. They came with such resistless sweep 
that in some places they seemed to lift up 
and push back our lines. Hancock was wounded. 
Gibbon succeeding to the command. Ikave officer ! 
As the tempest of fire approached its height, he 
walked along the line and renewed his orders to his 
men to reserve their fire. The rebels, three lines 
deep, came steadily up. They were in point blank 
range. At last the order came ! From thrice si.x 
thousand guns there came a sheet of smoky flame, 
a crash, a rush of leaden death. The line literally 
melted away, but there came the second, resistless 
still. The instant was too brief to allow our men 
to gather themselves for a second effort, and on 
came the sweeping torrent ! Up to the rifle-pits, 
across them, over the barricades, the momentum of 
the charge, the mere machine-like strength of their 
combined action, swept them on. They were upon 
the guns, were bayoneting the gunners, were wav- 
ing their flags above our pieces. But they had 
penetrated to the fatal point. A storm of grape 
and cannister tore its way from man to man, and 
marked its track with corses straight down their 
line. They hail exposed themselves to the enfilad- 
ing fire of the guns on the western slope of 
Cemetery Hill, and that exposure sealed their fate. 
The line reeled back, disjointed, and in an instant 
was in fragments. Our men were just behind the 
guns. They leaped forward upon the disordered 
mass ; but there was little need for fighting now. A 
regiment threw down its arms, and, with colors at its 
head, rushed over and surrendered. All along the 
field smaller detachments did the same. Webb's 
brigaile brought in 800. taken in as little time as it 
requires to write this sentence. Gibbons' old divi- 
sion took 15 stand of colors. The battle was over. 
On the field of Gettysburj; was crushed the first 
and last great attempt of the rebels to gain a deci- 
sive victory on the soil of the North. The 149th 
had the proud consciousness, under their brave 
officers, and a gallant son of Onondaga, Gen. Slo- 
cum as chief commander in the first days' engage- 
ment and commander of the right wing during the 
battle, of contributing their share towards the grand 
victory. 

Meade states our losses in this series of battles 
at 2,834 killed, 13,709 wounded, and 6,643 missing, 
(mainly taken prisoners on the 1st of July; : total, 



23,186. He only claims three guns as captured 
this side of the Potomac, with 41 flags and 13,621 
prisoners — many of them wounded ; 24.978 small 
arms were collected on the field. The confederate 
loss was about 18,000 killed and wounded. 

Returning in pursuit of the rebel army, the chase 
led the 149th for the fourth time through Frederick 
City. They reached the Rappahannock at Ellis 
Ford, on the ist of August, and remained in camp 
several weeks. On the i6th of September, they 
were at Raccoon Ford, and on the i8th the division 
was ordered out to witness the execution of two 
deserters— the last of their experience in the Army 
of the Potomac. 



CHAPTER XXVHI. 

The One Hundred and Forty-Ninth with 
Shkrman — The Atlanta Campaign — Lookout 
Mountain — Entrance into Atlanta — Fall 
ofSavannah— March THROUGH THE Carolinas 
— Surrender of Johnston— List of Promo- 
tions. 

AFTER the battle of Gettysburg, the 1 ith and 
1 2th corps were consolidated, forming the 
20lh army corps, commanded by Gen. Hooker, and 
was sent south under Gen. Sherman. Gen. Hooker 
resigned in front of Atlanta, and Gen. Slocum was 
promoted to the command of the 20th army corps. 
From this change of organization, the fortunes of 
the 149th were identified with Sherman's move- 
ments till the close of the war. 

On the 29th of September, 1863, they started 
from Healton Station for the Southeast, and via 
Nashville reached Murfreesboro on the 7th of Oc- 
tober, just in time to be ordered into the intrench- 
ments to repel an attack of rebel cavalry. On the 
2Sth of October they started for the front, reaching 
the Wauhatchie Valley on the first of November. 
Here the regiment and division experienced one of 
the very few night attacks of the war, and a 
short but bloody and decisive battle was fought, 
about midnight of the first night of their occupa- 
tion of the valley. The Union forces were victori- 
ous, but the 149th suffered severely ; among the 
killed was their brave and gallant Color-Bearer, 
William C. Lilly, who was fatally wounded in the 
battle and died at Ikidgeport, Alabama, a few days 
afterwards. This victory was one of the most im- 
portant events of the war, as it effected an entrance 
for our army into the valley and finally enabled us, 
by the capture of Lookout Mountain, to open a 
communication with the Union forces at Chat- 
I tanooga, who were suffering for want of supplies. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



123 



and would have soon been obliged to retreat, and 
thus lose an important objective point on the 
route to the heart of the Rebel Confederacy. A 
lodgment being effected in the valley, the regiment 
and division remained encamped in the vicinity of 
Kelley's Ford, near the Tennessee River and under 
the frowning shadow of Lookout Mountain. 

On the 24th of November occurred the celebrated 
"Battle above the Clouds." The advance was led 
by the 149th, which added to its already well- 
established fame by the capture of four stand of 
rebel colors, and a number of prisoners, arms and 
ammunition. 

The following letter, written on the spot, is a 
truthful and graphic description of the battle and 
of the position of the 149th : 

"The advance was led by the troops of General 
Geary's division of the 12th corps. The men com- 
menced ascending the mountain over a mile from 
the front, and, regardless of the rebel picket fire, a 
line was formed leading from the base of an almost 
perpendicular ledge of rocks, on the left, to our own 
picket line, about three-fourths of the distance 
down the mountain. Three lines were formed, the 
2d division leading the advance and the 149th oc- 
cupying the left of the first line. When the order 
to advance was given, our men started forward with 
a cheer over the rugged sides of the mountain, 
totally regardless of any obstacle in their way and 
almost ignoring the sharp fire of the rebel infantry, 
who attempted to stop their progress. With an 
enthusiasm which knew no bounds, they rushed 
over hills and through gorges, climbing towering 
rocks, dashing through brushwood and fallen 
timber, and scarcely stopping even to take prison- 
ers. They swept over the side of the mountain 
and around its frowning front with the rapidity and 
force of the whirlwind, completely overcoming and 
conquering every obstacle, both natural and artifi- 
cial, which attempted to impede their progress. 

" No military achievement of this or any other 
war, e.xceeded, for dash and daring, personal bravery, 
contempt of extraordinary obstacles and complete 
and perfect success, this charge of the 2d division 
around the point of Lookout Mountain. The rebel 
forces were literally swept from the mountain side, 
driven from fastnesses and intrenchments they had 
considered impregnable, captured in their strong- 
holds, and every vestige of their power swept before 
us like leaves before the autumn gale." 

The battle of Lookout Mountain was followed by 
an immediate advance of the whole army, in which 
the 149th bore an active part. On the second of 
December, another severe fight took place, which 
resulted in the capture of the valley of the Ring- 
gold and its occupancy by the Union forces, with 
an officer of the 149th as Provost Marshal of the 
captured town. The campaign ending with the 
capture of Mission Ridge, our njen fell back to their 



old camping ground at the base of Lookout Moun- 
tain, where they remained till after New Year's, 
1864, enduring severe hardships and almost star- 
vation, in consequence of the impossibility of for- 
warding supplies. During this period the 149th was 
complimented by a public delivery of their captured 
rebel flags to Gen. Hooker ; and after being almost re- 
duced to starvation were removed to Stevenson and 
remained till spring in preparation for the next cam- 
paign. The stay here was a season of comparative 
ease and festivity ; rations plenty, supplies abundant 
and labor light. The few inhabitants treated them 
kindly. Capt. Park Wheeler was detailed to " keep 
hotel," and proved himself no unworthy landlord of 
the " Soldiers' Home." Among the attractions 
which rendered the stay in Stevenson pleasant to 
many of the 149th was the presence of ladies, the 
wives of several of the officers, who, during this 
season of quiet, visited their husbands and friends 
at camp — Mrs. Col. Ireland, Mrs. Surgeon Kendall, 
Mrs. Capt. Wheeler and others, whose presence lent 
a charm to camp life not elsewhere e.xperienced 
during the war. 

May 2, 1864, began the movement of the troops 
in the famous Atlanta campaign. Their progress 
was first intercepted at Resacawhere the rebel force 
under Johnston was concentrated and had burned 
the bridge across the Coosawattee River. Howard 
had entered Dalton on the heels of Johnston's force 
and had pressed him down to Resaca. Sherman 
at once set on foot a flanking movement to 
drive him out. Johnston made a counter move- 
ment by attacking Hooker and Schofield on his 
front and left. He was defeated in the bloody con- 
test which ensued. Hooker driving the enemy from 
several hills, taking four guns and many prisoners. 
The rebels retreated across the Oostenaula during 
the night, and our army entered Resaca in triumph 
next morning. From this time to the final 
triumphal entrance into Atlanta, was a constant 
series of skirmishes, battles and active military 
operations. For nearly one hundred days and 
nights our men were constantly under fire, passing 
through the thrilling experiences of the battles 
of Villanow Mill Church, Nickajack Creek, Burnt 
Hickory, Calhoun, Dallas, Cassville, Kingston, 
Pumpkin Vine Creek, Paices' Ferry, Chattahoochee 
River, Ackworth, Marietta, Big Shanty and Kene- 
saw Mountain. 

The most severe and disastrous battle of the 
campaign in which the 149th were engaged was 
at Peach Tree Creek on the 20th of July, 1864, 
where a partial surprise was effected, and almost in 
an instant of time the regiment lost 19 brave and 



124 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



generous soldiers, among whom were Col. C. B. 
Kendall and Capt. D. J. Lindsay, both as gallant 
officers as ever drew a sword in defence of their 
country. 

During this campaign Gen. Hooker resigned his 
position at the head of the corps, and Gen. Slocum, 
who had commanded the old I2th corps, was ap- 
pointed to the command of the 20th ; arriving just 
in time to accompany the triumphal entry into At- 
lanta, on the 2d of September. The losses of the 
I4f)th during the campaign amounted to 34 men 
killed, 138 wounded and 10 missing. But the ob- 
jective point was gained and the regiment was one 
of the first to enter Atlanta and hoist the Stars 
and Stripes upon the public hall. Col. Ireland, 
who commanded the 3d brigade, died shortly after 
entering Atlanta, and the command devolved upon 
Col. Barnum, promoted to the rank of Brigadier 
General, leaving the 149th under the command of 
Major Grumbach, promoted to the colonelcy. 

Among the interesting incidents of the camp at 
Atlanta was the voting of the soldiers at the No- 
vember election for President. The vote of the 
149th, with but few exceptions, was cast for 
" Honest Old Abe," showing that they had no de- 
sire to "swap horses while crossing the river," as 
Mr. Lincoln predicted would be the verdict of the 
American people. 

After the refitting of the troops and sending the 
sick and lame to the rear, the commissary wagons 
were loaded with hard-tack, coffee and sugar, and 
trusting to their own energy and perseverance to 
subsist upon the country, on the 16th of November 
the army left Atlanta, to plunge out of sight and 
hearing into the heart of the Rebel Confederacy. 
The famous " march to the sea " had been deter- 
mined upon. lixpcrience proved that Sherman 
had not overestimated the abundance of supplies in 
the country through which the army was to pass, 
nor miscalculated the capacity of his men to obtain 
their full share of the necessaries of life. The 
marching of an army composed of 60,000 infantry 
and 5,500 cavalry through an interior country of 
such e.\tent was a scene probably never witnessed 
before, and must have been an astonishing spectacle 
to the people of the country through which they 
passed. Thousands of negroes, sometimes in torch- 
light processions, followed the army " on the road 
to freedom." The army was formed into two grand 
divisions or wings : The right led by Gen. O. O. 
Howard, comprising the 15th corps. Gen. P. J. 
Osterhaus, and the 17th, Gen. Frank P. Blair; the 
left, led by Gen. H. W. Slocum, comprisingthe 14th 
corps. Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, and the 20th, Gen. A. 



S. Williams. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick led the 
cavalry, which careered in front and on either flank 
of the infantry. 

The 149th, with Slocum's wing, advanced by 
Covington, Madison and Eatonton, concentrating 
on Milledgeville, which was entered without opposi- 
tion. Sherman thus far accompanied the 14th 
corps. Slocum moved out of Milledgeville simul- 
taneously with Howard's advance from Gordon, 
and concentrated at Sandersville, driving out a small 
party of Wheeler's cavalry ; thence he followed the 
Central Railroad, breaking it up to the Ogeechee, 
which he crossed at Louisville, and thence kept 
north, striking out towards the Savannah. 

At Millen, on the Central Railroad, half way 
from Sandersville to Savannah, was a great prison 
camp where some thousands of our captured sol- 
diers had long endured unspeakable privations. 
Sherman was intent on reaching and liberating 
them, and for this purpose sent forward Kilpatrick 
with his cavalry; but the enemy took the alarm and 
removed the prisoners. Kilpatrick being harrassed 
and kept back by skirmishes with Wheeler's cav- 
alry. Our army visited this prison on their march 
after the prisoners had been removed. The 20th 
army corps, (Gen. Slocum's,) including the 149th, 
was the first to reach Savannah. It passed Mor- 
gan's and Carlin's divisions encamped about ten 
miles out, and hastened on to the city. On the loth 
of December, 1864, Savannah was completely be- 
leaguered, and Fort McAllister was that day carried 
by storm. Hardee, with 15,000 men, evacuated the 
city on the night of the 20th, escaping across the 
Savannah River on a pontoon bridge. He was un- 
observed by our pickets, as the night was dark and 
windy. Under cover of fire which he had kept up 
the day previous, he had destroyed the Navy ^'ard 
and two iron dads. Our troops now took posses- 
sion, the 149th being in advance and raising the 
flag on the dome of the City Hall. 

The taking of Fort McAllister by Hazen's divi- 
sion was a brilliant achievement. While the 
steamer sent by Gen. Foster and Admiral Dahlgren, 
to communicate with our army, was hesitating 
whether or not to approach the fort, at that moment 
Hazen's bugles sounded the charge ; when his divi- 
sion rushed over torpedoes and abatis, through a 
shower of grape, up to and over the parapet, and 
after a brief but desperate struggle, McAllister was 
ours. Her garrison of 200 surrendered, having 40 
or 50 killed and wounded to our 90. Among the 
spoils were 22 guns and much ammunition. Fort 
McAllister fell on the 13th of December; on the 
17th, Hardee was formally summoned to surrender 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



125 



the city ; on the 20th, the bombardment of the city 
commenced, and on that night Hardee evacuated, 
moving his force towards Charleston. 

The 149th was stationed as Provost Guard of a 
portion of the conquered city, and in this capacity 
had a season of relaxation and rest from the fatigues 
of the campaign, mingling in the social life of the 
city and enjoying balls and other pastimes. A loyal 
newspaper was printed and edited by a member of 
the 149th during their stay in Savannah, After 
being supplied with provisions and clothing, and 
leaving the city in charge of another corps, they 
were again on the march, and reached Sisters' 
Ferry with great difficulty on account of the floods 
and next to impassable condition of the roads. 
After some detention they crossed the Savannah 
River on pontoons and entered the State of South 
Carolina. Along their route the rebels had buried 
torpedoes, which exploded and severely injured 
several of the regiment. The march through South 
Carolina involved unusual hardships ; the weather 
having become exceedingly wet, the swamps flooded 
and the river high and swift. 

Fayetteville, North Carolina, was reached on the 
1 2th of March, 1865. Here the enemy halted three 
days, completely destroying the United States 
Arsenal and the costly machinery which had been 
brought here from Harper's Ferry at the time of its 
capture by the rebels in 1861. 

Sherman's movements from this point were very 
cautiously made. An immense army was concen- 
trating in his front ; Hardee from Savannah and 
Charleston, Beauregard from Columbia, Cheatham 
from the Tennessee, with considerable force drawn 
from North Carolina and her seaward defences un- 
der Bragg and Hoke, with Wheeler's and Hamp- 
ton's cavalry, making up a force of not less than 
40,000 men, mostly veterans, under the command 
of the able and wary Joe Johnston. It would no 
longer answer to move as hitherto ; our columns 
must be kept well closed up, the corps within easy 
supporting distance, on peril of surprise and disas- 
ter. True to his favorite policy, Sherman, on the 
15th of March, pushed four divisions of his left 
wing, covered by Kilpatrick's cavalry, directly north- 
ward to Averysboro, as a feint on Raleigh ; while 
Slocum's train, his two remaining divisions, and the 
right wing, moved by various roads nearly east, 
towards Goldsboro, his true destination. Sherman 
was on the left with Slocum, including the 149th, 
but had ridden across to the right wing, intent on 
reaching Goldsboro and meeting Gen. Schofield, 
when the sound of guns on the left again challenged 
his attention. Slocum, approaching Bentonville, had 



been assailed by Johnston with the entire rebel army. 
The divisions of the right wing were ordered at 
once to move on rapidly to the assistance of the 
outnumbered left. Slocum had encountered Dib- 
brell's cavalry, which he was driving, when he ran 
headlong upon the whole Confederate force, the two 
leading brigades of Carlin's division being hurled 
back upon the main body, with a loss of three guns 
and their caissons. Slocum thereupon very prop- 
erly stood on the defensive, showing a front of four 
divisions, and throwing up slight barricades, while 
Kilpatrick came into action on the left. Here our 
left withstood six assaults from Johnston's army 
inflicting heavy loss with our artillery, the enemy 
having brought up little or none. Johnston had 
hurried to this point by night from Smithfield, ex- 
pecting to crush Slocum before he could be sup- 
ported, but he was mistaken. Night fell without 
giving him any ground, and before morning Slocum 
got up his wagon train, with its guard of two divi- 
sions, while Hazen's division of the isth (Logan's) 
corps, came up on the right, rendering his position 
secure. The enemy not risking further attacks, 
Slocum awaited the arrival of Howard with the 
entire right wing. In the night Johnston retreated 
on Smithfield and Raleigh, so precipitately as to 
leave his pickets and his severely wounded behind. 

Our total loss here was 191 killed, 1,108 wounded, 
and 344 missing, in all 1,643. We buried here 267 
rebel dead, and took 1,625 prisoners, many of them 
wounded. 

No further resistance being made, our army moved 
on to Goldsboro, where it rested and was reclothed, 
much to the satisfaction of our 149th, for having 
passed through the tar regions of North Carolina 
and burned a number of rosin manufactories, they 
were so blackened and begrimmed with the smoke 
and cinders as to resemble more a regiment of col- 
ored troops than white soldiers. Their clothes 
were also worn and tattered, so that, as remarked 
by their Quartermaster, " fat, ragged and saucy," 
was a more apt description of them than any other 
combination of words in the English language. 

From Goldsboro the troops containing our regi- 
ment were marched to Raleigh, where they arrived 
on the 14th of April. While here news of the sur- 
render of Lee and his forces to Gen. Grant at 
Appomattox reached our headquarters and was 
hailed with tumultuous rejoicing by the whole 
army. A demonstration was made towards John- 
ston, but like a prudent commander, he also, after 
some formal negotiations, surrendered, and the 
great civil war was at an end. 

The order, " On to Richmond "—now much more 



126 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



easily executed than at the beginning of the warr — 
was heard through the ranks, and our army moved 
forward, reaching the " Rebel Capital " on the loth 
of May, passing in review through its principal 
streets. From Richmond to Washington, they 
passed through Chickahominy swamp and over their 
old stamping grounds, crossing the Rappahannock 
at United States Ford, and pausing a few moments 
on the field of their first battle at Chancellorsville. 
A rapid march brought them to Alexandria, whence 
they were moved across the Potomac to Washing- 
ton and soon after mustered out of the service. 

The remnant of the 149th soon returned home 
to receive the warm welcome of a grateful and 
generous people, who had watched their career in 
the army with pride and satisfaction. It is not too 
much to say that the 149th had as varied an experi- 
ence and made for themselves as honorable a 
record during the war of the rebellion, as any volun- 
teer regiment in the Union service. Their dead 
sleep in honored graves, and their living, many of 
them, have won that respect, both in military and 
civil afiTairs, to which their merits and sacrifices 
justly entitle them. 

Official Recokd ano List of Promotions of 
THE 149TH Regiment. 

Henry A. Harnum.Col., rank from September 17, 
'62, promoted to Hrig.-Gen., May 3i,'65 ; Nicholas 
Grumbach, Capt.. rank from September 2, '62, 
promoted to Major August 2, '64, to Lieut. -Col. 
May II, '65, to Col. June 7. '65, (Brevet Col., 
U. S. V.,) mustered out June. 12, '65; John M. 
Strong, Lieut. -Col., rank from September 5, '62, 
resigned March i. '63 ; Abel G. Cook. Major, rank 
from Sept. 8, '62, promoted to Lieut. Col. March i, 
'63, ( Hrevet Col , N. Y. V.) discharged July 2C, '64 ; 
Charles H. Randall, Major, rank from March 17, 
'63, promoted to Lieut.-Col. June 5, '63, killed in 
action July 20, '64 ; Edward U. Murray, Jr., ist 
Lieut , rank from Sept. 4, '62, promoted to Capt. 
March 4, '63, to Lieut.-Col. July 20, '64, mustered 
out June 12, '65 ; Henry H. Hurhans, ist Lieut., 
rank from Sept. 8, '62, promoted to Capt., Nov. 24, 
'62, to Major May 11, '65, mustered out June 12, 
'65 ; Walter M. Dallman, Adjutant, rank from Aug. 
29, '62, (Hrevet Major, N. Y. V.) discharged Mar. 
15, '65; Bela P. Hitchcock, Adjutant, rank from 
Mar. 15, "65, (Hrevet Capt., N. Y. V. ), mustered 
out June 12, '65 ; Moses Summers, Quartermaster, 
rank from Aug. 28, 'C2, promoted to Capt. and A. 
Q. M. July I, '64, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.) ; Ham- 
ilton D. Borden, Q. M., rank from July i, '64, 
(Brevet Capt., N. Y. V.) mustered out June 12, '65 ; 
James V. Kendall, Surgeon, rank from Aug. 22, 
'62, (Brevet Lieut.-Col.. N. Y. V.) mustered out 
June 12, '65 ; Horace Nims, Assist.-Surgeon, rank 
from Sept. 19, '62, resigned March 17, '63 ; Henry 
F. Adams, Assist.-Surgeon. rank from April 2, '63, 
(Brevet Major, N. Y. V.) mustered out June 12, 



'65 ; Albert W. Phillips, Assist.-Surgeon, rank from 
Oct. 9, '62, resigned Nov. 24, "63 ; Arvine C. 
Bowdish, Chaplain, rank from Sept. 18, '62. (Brevet 
Major, N. Y. V. 1, resigned Sept. 3. "63 ; Solomon 
Light, Capt., rank from Aug. 30, '62, resigned Jan. 
17, '63 ; Oliver T. May, Capt., rank from Jan. 
17. '63, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.'i mustered out 
June 12, '65 ; Jacob Knapp, 2d Lieut., rank from 
Sept. 2. '62, promoted to ist Lieut. April 4, '63, to 
Capt. Aug. 2, '64, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.), 
mustered out June 12, '65 ; James Lynch, Jr., Capt., 
rank from Sept. 4, '63, resigned F^cb. 15, '63 ; Thos. 
GatTncy. ist Lieut., rank from April 24, '63, pro- 
moted to Capt. Oct. 31, '64, resigned June 3. '65 ; 
Morris K. Baker, ist Lieut., rank from April 12, 
'64, promoted to Capt. June 7, '65, mustered out 
June 12, "65 ; J. Forman Wilkinson, Capt, rank 
from Sept. 4, '62, resigned Dec. 7, '62, ( Brevet Ma- 
jor N. Y. v.): Park Wheeler, ist Lieut., rank 
from Sept. 4, '62, promoted to Capt. Dec. 30, '62, 
resigned Aug. 7, '64 (Brevet Major N. Y. V.); 
Oliver L. F. Brown, 2d Lieut., rank from Dec. 7, 
'62, promoted to ist Lieut. June I, '64, to Capt. 
Oct. 31, '64, ( Brevet Major N. Y. V.,i mustered 
out June 12, '65 ; Ira B. Seymour, Capt , rank from 
1 Sept. 5, '62, (Brevet Major U. S. V.,) mustered out 
June 12, '65 ; William Pullen, 2d Lieut., rank from 
I May 3, '63, promoted to ist Lieut. Aug. 12, '63, 
, to Capt. June 7, '65, (Brevet Major, N. Y. Vols.,) 
mustered out June 12, '65 ; Judson H. Graves, 
Capt., rank from Sept. 8, '62, resigned Oct. 23, '62 ; 
Theodore E. Stevens, 2d Lieut , rank from Sept. 
8, '62. promoted to ist Lieut. June 10, '64, to Capt. 
May 1 1, '65, (Brevet Major U. S. V.), mustered out 
June 12, '65 ; Eben G. Tosvnsend, Capt., rank from 
Sept. 9, '62, discharged Feb. 4, '64 ; Andreas Cas- 
sard, Capt., rank from April 20, '64, declined ; Geo. 
G. Truair, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. 9, '63, pro- 
moted to 1st Lieut. July 14, '64, to Capt. April 22, 
'65, ( Brevet Major N. Y. V.,1 mustered out June 12, 
'65 : Robert E. Hopkins, Capt., rank from Sept. 
10, '62, promoted to Major Feb. 29, '64; Orson 
Coville, 1st Lieut., rank from Sept. 5, '62, promoted 
to Capt. F"eb. 29, '64, mustered out June 12, '65, 
(Brevet Major N. Y. V.); Thomas Merriam, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Sept. 10, '62, promoted to ist 
Lieut. Aug. 14, '63, to Capt. July 14, '64, (Brevet 
Major N. Y. V.,) mustered out June 12, '65 ; David 
Lindsay, Capt., rank from Sept. 12, '62 ; killed in 
action near Atlanta, Ga., July 20, '64 ; Alexander 
[ McKinstry, 2d Lieut., rank from Jan. 13, '63, pro- 
moted to 1st Lieut. May 15, '63, to Capt. July 20, 
I '64, discharged May 15, '65 ; James E. Doran, 
' Capt., rank from Sept. 17, '62, discharged Feb. 5, 
I '64; Charles E. Coville,*Capt.. rank from Mar. 29, 
' '64. not mustered ; Samuel Bronner, ist Lieut., 
rank from Aug. 30, '62, resigned Feb. 8, '63 ; Mathew 
H. Westcott, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. 30, "62, 
! promoted to ist Lieut., March 4, '63, (Brevet Capt. 
; N. Y. v.). discharged Feb. 5, '64 ; William Wills, 
1st Lieut., rank from March 16, '64, mustered out 
June 12, '65 ; Philip Eckle, ist Lieut., rank from 
1 Sept. 2, '62, discharged Dec. 21, '63, (Brevet Capt. 
I N. Y. V. ) ; John F. Wheeler, 2d Lieut., rank from 
May 7, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. June 7, '65, ( Bre- 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



127 



vet Capt. N. Y. V.,) mustered out June 12, '65 ; 
John B. Foote, ist Lieut , rank from Feb. 15. '6t„ 
declined ; George W. Phillips, 2d Lieut., rank from 
Aug. 7, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. April 22, '65, 
mustered out June I2, '65 ; William W. Mosely, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Sept. 4, '62, promoted to 1st 
Lieut. Dec. 30, '62, discharged May 11, '63 ; Elisha 
Houghkirk, 2d Lieut, rank from March 15, '65, 
promoted to ist Lieut. June 7, '65, (Brevet Capt. 
N. Y. V.,) mustered out June 12, '65 ; Edward F. 
Hopkins, ist Lieut., rank from Jan. 30, '64, resigned 
Sept. 14, '64; Nicholas Cooney, ist Lieut, rank 
from Dec. 22, '64, declined ; Philip Hiorsh, ist 
Lieut., rank from March i, '65, (Brevet Capt. N Y. 
v.), mustered out June 12, '65 ; William Gleason, 
1st Lieut , rank from Nov. 25, '62, resigned May 25, 
'64; Joseph Gay, ist Lieut., rank from May 

11, '65, (Brevet Capt. N. Y. V..) mustered out 
June 12, '65 ; Byron A. Wood, ist Lieut., rank 
from Sept. 9, '62, resigned Dec. 6, '62 ; Willis 
S. Barnum, 1st Lieut., rank from Feb. 7, '6^, ( Brevet 
Capt. N. Y. V.) resigned May 24. '64 ; John H. 
Patterson, 2d Lieut., rank from July 3, '64, pro- 
moted to 1st Lieut., Aug. 7,'64, (Brevet Capt, N. Y. 
V.) mustered out June 12, '65 ; Ohio L. Palmer, ist 
Lieut., rank from Sept. 10, '62, resigned June 24, 
'6^ ; George H. Diety, ist Lieut., rank from Aug. 
28, '65, (Brevet Capt. N. Y. V.) mustered out June 

12, '65 ; George K. Collins, ist Lieut., rank from 
Sept. 12, '62, (Brevet Capt. N. Y. V.) resigned April 
24, '64; John Kohl, 1st Lieut., rank from June 7, 
'65, (Brevet Capt. N. Y. V.) not mustered ; John 
Van Wie, 1st Lieut., rank from Sept. 17, '62, re- 
signed Jan. 13, '63 ; Benjamin F. Breed, 2d Lieut, 
rank from Sept. 17, '62, promoted to ist Lieut. May 

3, '63, killed in action at Chancellorsville May 3, 
'63 ; Burnett E. Miller, 2d Lieut., rank from Oct 
14, '63, promoted to 1st Lieut. Jan. 6, '64, mustered 
out June 12, '65 ; Joseph Seymour, Jr., rank from 
Feb. 8, '6s, discharged Aug, 9, '6^ ; Philip M. 
Sours, 2d Lieut., rank from June 3, '64, not mus- 
tered ; William Savage, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 

4, '62, resigned Mar. 29, '63 ; Fred'k O. Waters, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Aug. 12, '63, not mustered ; Abram 
H. Spore, 2d Lieut., rank from Dec. 7, '62, resigned 
Mar. 3, '64 ; Harvey Siver, 2d Lieut., rank from 
Mar. 29, '64, mustered out June 12, '65 ; Edward 
F. Hopkins, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 5, '62, pro- 
moted to 1st Lieut. April 4, '64 ; mustered out June 
12, '65 ; Jacob Waling, 2d Lieut., rank from June 
7/65, not mustered, (Brevet ist Lieut. N. Y. V.) ; 
Lucius W. Ramsey, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 15, 
'65, mustered out June 12, '65 ; Thomas A. Bene- 
dict, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 9, '62, resigned 
Dec. 6, '62 ; David R. Wilson, 2d Lieut., rank from 
June 14, '64, not mustered, deserted ; Francis 
Becker, 2d Lieut., rank from June 7, '65, not mus- 
tered, (Brevet ist Lieut. N. Y. V.) ; Z. Carter Pat- 
ten, 2d Lieut., rank from Feb. 23, '64, resigned July 

5, '64; George H. Deitz, 2d Lieut., rank from July 
5, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. April 22, '65 ; John 
T. Rowe, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 12, '62, re- 
signed Dec. 12, '62 ; Joseph A. Davis, 2d Lieut., 
rank from Dec. 12, '62, killed in action at Chancel- 
lorsville May 3, '63 ; William O'Reiley, 2d Lieut., 



rank from July 3, '64, not mustered, (Brevet ist 
Lieut. N. Y. V.) ; Andreas Cassard, 2d Lieut., rank 
from March 24, '64, declined ; Franklin Sours, 2d 
Lieut., rank from April 20, '64, not mustered ; Jacob 
Schwartz, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 28, '65, not 
mustered, (Brevet ist Lieut. N. Y. V. ) ; David Gere, 
2d Lieut., rank from June 7, '65, not mustered, 
(Brevet ist Lieut. N. Y. V.) ; Adolphus J. Fi.x, 2d 
Lieut., rank from June 7, '65, (Brevet ist Lieut N. 
Y. v.), not mustered ; Milton E. Miller, 2d Lieut., 
rank from Mar. i, '65, mustered out June 12, '65 ; 
George P. Frost 2d Lieut, rank from Jan. 7, '65, 
not mustered, (Brevet ist Lieut. N. Y. V.) 

Brevet Commissions Issued by the Governor 
TO Enlisted Men of the 149TH Regiment. 

^a'/k. Name. Brevet Rank. 

Sergeant, John W. Vaugh 2d Lieut 

Q. Sergeant, Dudley D K. Marvin, 2d Lieut. 

Sergeant Augustus P. Brown, 2d Lieut 

Sergeant, Joseph F. Thomas, 2d Lieut 

Private, William Fehrenz, 2d Lieut. 

Private, George W. Chase, 2d Lieut 

Private, George I. Sager, 2d Lieut. 

Com'sary Sergt., Henry L. Purdy, 2d Lieut 

Private, Oliver Ormsby, 2d Lieut. 

Sergeant, Howard B. Sloan, 2d Lieut 

Sergeant William Cross, 2d Lieut 

Sergeant, William Cahill, 2d Lieut 

Medals of honor were awarded by the Secretary 
of War to the following : 

First Lieutenant, N. F. Potter ; Private, Peter 
Kappesser ; Private, Philip Goettel. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

The One Hundred and Eighty-Fifth New 
York Volunteers — Organization — Arrival 
in Front of Petersburg — Destruction of 
the Weldon Railroad — Winter Quarters 
— Battle of Hatcher's Run — Attack on 
Fort Steedman. 

THE 185th was the fourth complete regiment 
of volunteer infantry from Onondaga county, 
raised late in the war, and composed largely 
of artisans, farmers, mechanics and profes- 
sional men. It was its peculiar fortune to be 
mustered into the service when hard fighting had 
to be done, which continued with little interruption 
to the close of the war. The 185th was organized 
as follows : 

Field and Staff Officers— Edwin S. Jenney, 
Colonel ; Gustavus Sniper, Lieutenant-Colonel ; 
John Leo, Major ; Byron Mudge, Adjutant ; 
William Gilbert, Quartermaster; Charles W. 
Crarey, Surgeon ; G. L. Newcomb, Assistant Sur- 
geon ; Chester W. Hawley, Chaplain. 

Line Officers— Company A : Stephen O. How- 
ard, Captain; Ephraim F. Bander, ist Lieutenant; 



128 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



William A. Brooks, 2d Lieutenant. Company B: 
John Listman, Captain ; William A. RofT, ist 
Lieutenant ; John Herron, 2d Lieutenant. Com- 
pany C : Henry D. Carhart, Captain ; John T. 
Hostler, ist Lieutenant; Charles J. Rector, 2d 
Lieutenant. Company D : Daniel N. Lathrop, 
Captain; Theo<lore M. Barber, ist Lieutenant; 
Henry L. Kinf^sley, 2d Lieutenant. Company E : 
Robert F. Bush, Captain ; Robert C. Rorepaugh, ist 
Lieutenant ; Pembroke Pierce, 2d Lieutenant. 
Company F: John W. Strowbridge, Captain ; An- 
drew J Lyman, 1st Lieutenant : Harrison Givins, 
2d Lieutenant. Company G : Albern H. Barber, 
Captain ; Hiram Clark, ist Lieutenant ; Daniel 
Minier, 2d Lieutenant. Company H : Daniel 
Christler, Captain ; Stephen S. Jordan, ist Lieu- 
tenant ; Stephen R. Hitchcock, 2d Lieutenant. 
Company I : Jarcd F. Abbott, Captain ; H. Wads- 
worth Clarke, 1st Lieutenant; Jacob M. Doran, 2d 
Lieutenant. Company K : Abram H. Spore, 
Captain ; Cyrus A. Phillips, ist Lieutenant ; Lewis 
S. Edgar, 2d Lieutenant. 

This regiment was organized at Syracuse and 
mustered into the service September 22, 1864. On 
the 23d they left for City Point, where they arrived 
t/rf F"ortress Monroe on the 30lh, and were that 
night ordered into action, an attack being made on 
the Union forces at Warren Station, where a light 
skirmish ensued. On the 4th of October the regi- 
ment was assigned to the First Brigade, First Divi- 
sion, Fifth Army Corps : Gen. S. Warren, Corps 
Commander. The division was commanded by 
Gen. Charles Griffin, and the brigade by Gen. 
Sickles. The regiment moved on the 4th from 
Warren Station to Poplar Grove Church, where 
they went into camp and remained till Sunday the 
i6th. On Saturday, October 8, an attack was made 
by the rebels and the 185th was ordered to sup- 
port Gen. Aycrs, in command of a brigade of the 
9th corps. A fight ensued in which the rebels were 
repulsed. No further incident of interest occurred 
while in camp here, e-xcept the capturing of a rebel 
spy by one of the pickets of the 185th. He was 
an engineer and had a complete map of the whole 
Union lines and defences from City Point to the 
e.xtremc left, extending over twenty miles. The 
map was concealed next his person. He offered 
money to be allowed to escape ; but was tried by 
court-marshal and shot by order of Gen. Warren. 

October 16. The brigade and division moved to 
the Squirrel Level Road in front of Petersburg 
and went into camp. Here the officers of the 185th 
presented Colonel Jenney with a horse. On the 
27th, a move was made on the South-side Railroad, 
where an engagement occurred in which three men 
of the 185th were wounded. After the battle they 
returned to the same camp on the 29th of October. 
On the 3d of December the army was ordered to 



move on the Weldon Railroad for the purpose of 
destroying the track, to prevent the communication 
of the rebel army stationed about Petersburg with 
their base of supplies at Weldon. This road was 
used by the enemy in transporting supplies from 
North Carolina nearly up to our lines, whence they 
were wagoned around our left to Lee's camps. The 
expedition consisted of Warren's 15th 1 corps, Mott's 
division of the 2d corps and Gregg's mounted divi- 
sion. They moved down the railroad as far as the 
Meherrin, across which to Hicksford the rebels 
were driven, while the road was effectually destroyed 
down to that point — some twenty miles. The 
track was taken up and the rails heated and bent 
so that they could not again be used. The im- 
mense amount of rebel supplies at this point was 
captured ; in this expedition the 185th bore a 
conspicuous part. On the 12th of December, they 
went into camp at the Gurley House near Warren 
Station. The snow, sleet and rain were terrible ; 
and on the march, without preparations to with- 
stand the inclemency of the weather, the regiment 
suffered severely ; one man, being compelled to 
march, fell out by the way and was never heard of 
afterwards. He probably perished. 

Here the division went into winter quarters, con- 
structing their camp in a dense pine forest and 
clearing the ground, so that not a stump remained, 
in an incredibly short time. The Quartermaster, 
by order of Gen. Griffin, detached 125 men to raid 
into the country to secure materials for the officers' 
quarters. This was successfully accomplished and 
in due time neat and comfortable quarters were 
erected, which were occupied till the 5th of P'ebru- 
ary, 1865. During the winter a large church sixty 
feet long was built of pine logs hewed on the inside, 
which made a comfortable place of worship. It 
was roofed with tent-cloth furnished by the Chris- 
tian Commission ; a platform at one end for the 
preacher was built of some of the pine lumber ob- 
tained on the raid ; and seals were constructed of 
hewed pine slabs set upon legs. Here Sergeant 
Brcgg was killed by rebel guerrillas — shot through 
with five bullets and stripped of his clothes. The 
health of the regiment during the winter was excel- 
lent. Gen. Warren here sent an invitation to Col. 
Sniper and staff to make him a New Year's call at 
his headquarters, in compliment to the gallant ser- 
vices of the 185th Col. Jenney was then absent 
on a visit to the east. 

On the 4th of February, 1865, orders were re- 
ceived to be in readiness to march at a moment's 
warning, and on Sunday morning the 5th, before 
daylight, our forces were ordered to move in the 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



129 



direction of Hatcher's Run ; and on the afternoon 
of the same day occurred the second battle of Hatch- 
er's Run, lasting till next day, in which the 185th 
suffered severely. Two men in Company A were 
killed ; one in Company C ; Capt. John Listman, 
Company B, wounded in the thigh so badly that 
his leg had to be amputated close to the body ; 
Major Bush taken prisoner and sent to Libby Prison. 
Among the privates a considerable number were 
wounded. 

During the early part of this engagement the 
185th Regiment was held in reserve. About the 
middle of the afternoon, however, the first brigade, 
commanded by Col. Sickle, composed of his regi- 
ment (the 198th Pensylvania) and the iS5th New 
York, was hastily ordered forward to relieve the 2d 
division of the 5th corps. This division, composed 
largely of regulars and commanded by Gen. Ayers, 
a regular army officer, occupied a position in front 
of a piece of woods. In its front was an open field, 
upon the opposite side of which were one or two 
small buildings and a sudden declivity in the ground, 
occupied by the enemy and answering the purpose 
of an intrenchment. Gen. Ayres' division had 
here suffered terribly. 

As our brigade marched for nearly half a mile 
along the road through the woods, we met the 
wounded from this division being borne back by the 
hospital corps ; some hastily bandaged, others with 
undressed, gaping wounds ; some besmeared with 
blood, others pallid as though in the grasp of death. 
It was a trying ordeal for our men — a severe test of 
their courage ; even the bravest pushed forward with 
blanched cheek. 

As we moved upon the field Ayers' division 
moved off. An occasional shot developed the near 
presence of the enemy, but the fight there seemed 
to be over. We had scarcely moved from flank into 
line, however, before a terrific fire was opened upon 
us by the enemy. Our brigade commander was 
one of the first wounded and as he was carried off 
the field sent his staff to report to Col. Jenney, who 
was thus left in command of the brigade. 

Col. Jenney appreciated the danger of attempt- 
ing to hold his open position against an enemy 
substantially covered, and instantly ordered the 
brigade forward. The brigade moved in excellent 
form. No command to charge was given. It 
would have probably been dangerous to do so, as 
the enemy were upon both our flanks and it was 
necessary to keep the troops well in hand. For- 
ward went the brigade, through the smoke and 
against the bullets. It was the work of a few 
minutes only. There was no wavering — con- 
17* 



stantly, steadily forward ! The firing slackened, 
ceased— the enemy was gone. We were the 
masters of the field. 

Many brave fellows fell, but the loss was slight 
compared to that which must have occurred if the 
enemy had not at once been driven from the field. 

We retained our position until evening when un- 
der cover of darkness we retired to the main line. 

After the engagement Col. Jenney sent Major 
Bush to reconnoiter our right Bank and station 
pickets ; in performing which duty, when scarcely 
out of speaking distance from his regiment, con- 
cealed from them only by the intervening under- 
brush, he was captured with a squad of his men. 
He was sent to Libby prison, and the regiment, 
during most of its subsequent service was deprived 
of one of its best officers. 

The brigade was warmly commended by Gen. 
Griffin for its gallant service, and its praise was fairly 
earned, for seldom had a single brigade accom- 
plished so important results at so small a sacrifice. 

After this engagement the regiment went into 
camp at Hatcher's Run. Here, on the second day 
after the battle, Colonel Jenney took his departure 
from the regiment. At the time he was commis- 
sioned as Colonel of the regiment he was Major 
of the 3d New York Artillery and acting as Provost 
Judge of North Carolina at Newbern and had, after 
notice of his promotion, been taken prisoner by 
the enemy, as has been stated in the narrative 
of "Jenney's battery." Notwithstanding the fact 
that he was a paroled prisoner he had been mustered 
in as Colonel of the regiment, and taken the regi- 
ment into the field. He expected to obtain an im- 
mediate exchange. Rut while he regarded himself 
as bound by his parole, the War Department was 
of the opinion that the officer who captured and 
paroled him had sufficient authority to capture, but 
none to parole, and that Col. Jenney was therefore 
to be regarded as an escaped rather than a paroled 
prisoner. 

In this situation Col. Jenney remained during 
his term of service with the regiment. He en- 
deavored to induce the Secretary of War to relieve 
him from the responsibility of his situation by mak- 
ing an order declaring that he was not paroled and 
ordering him upon duty, but the Secretary of War 
refused to do so lest an embarrassing precedent 
might thus be established. 

His only relief from this unfortunate situation 
seemed to be to retire from the service, and accord- 
ingly he had forwarded his resignation about the 
mfddle of January. This resignation had been 
accepted, and an order honorably discharging him 



«30 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



from service had been received by Gen. Griffin just 
before the last cni;agement. At his request, how- 
ever, it had been retained by the General until the 
advance then contemplated had been made, and 
now was delivered to him. 

Upon the morning of his departure the regiment 
was formed in square, and the command turned 
over to Lieut.-Col. Sniper in a short speech, praising 
the regiment, highly complimenting Col. Sniper, 
and reluctantly saying farewell. 

Col. Sniper was immediately promoted, and com- 
manded the regiment during the remainder of its 
service. 

The regiment remained in camp at Hatcher's 
Run till March 29, 1865, when the grand movement 
for the closing struggle of the rebellion was made. 
On the 25th of March, the division was ordered out 
before daylight, at 3 o'clock, a. m.. the rebels having 
made an assault upon Fort Steedman, near City 
Point. It was stated in the order that an attack 
was probably being made along the whole line, and 
that a general engagement was imminent, which 
proved true. General Lee, foreseeing clearly the 
speedy downfall of the Confederate cause, unless 
averted by a prompt concentration of his remaining 
forces, and a telling blow delivered thereby on some 
one of our encircling aimies, which were now prob- 
ably crushing out the life of the Rebellion, resolved 
to anticipate Grant's initiative by an attack on his 
lines before Petersburg and Richmond. This attack 
was made on Fort Steedman, nearly east of Peters- 
burg, where its success would have cut our army 
in two and probably compelled a hasty reconstruc- 
tion to recover our lines and works ; thereby open- 
ing a door for the unassailed withdrawal of the rebel 
army southward by the most direct route to unite 
with that of Johnston, and thus overpower Sher- 
man. The assault was delivered by Gordon with 
two divisions— all the disposable rebel army of Vir- 
ginia being collected just behind the assaulting 
column and held in hand as a support. Gordon 
charged at daybreak on the 25th of March. His 
men rushed instantly across the narrow space sepa- 
rating the confronting lines, and pouring into Fort 
Steedman, which was held by the 14th New York 
Artillery, completely surprised and captured the 
garrison. The guns, whereof three batteries were 
taken by the rebels, were instantly turned on the 
adjacent works of Fort Haskell, next to Fort Steed- 
man on the left. Here their triumph ended. They 
failed to rush forward and sieze the crest of the 
ridge behind the forts. 

The 20,000 men whom Lee had massed in the 
rear of the charge were either not ordered forward 



or failed to respond. The result was that instead 
of cuttmg our army in two as they had intended, 
they had divided their own and isolated a portion of 
it in the midst of an army of foes. Our forces 
rallied and swept the field, capturing 2,000 prisoners. 
The battle lasted till after nightfall. About 3 
o'clock p. M. an attack was made on the extreme 
left, where the 185th were on the right of the 2d 
corps and in the thick of the fight. A terrible 
battle soon raged along the entire line. The ground 
was soon covered with the dead and wounded, 
among whom fell several of the 185th. The rebels 
were driven back with heavy loss. The reports of 
the battle make the loss about equal on both sides 
— 2,500 besides the 2,000 rebel prisoners taken by 
our army. After the battle our soldiers returned 
to camp at Hatcher's Run and remained till the 
29th of March, at which date Gen. Grant had de- 
termined to advance the left wing of his army. On 
the 28th, orders were received to move at 3 o'clock 
ne.xt morning. Three divisions of the Army of the 
James, now commanded by Gen. Ord, being with- 
drawn from the banks of the James River, where it 
had menaced Richmond, and brought over to the 
left of our lines facing Petersburg. V\'arren's (5th) 
and Humphreys' (2d) corps moved quietly out 
southward till they had crossed Hatcher's Run, 
when, facing northward, they advanced cautious- 
ly, feeling for the enemy's right. Sheridan was on 
our extreme left at the head of nearly 10.000 cav- 
alry, acting under orders directly from Gen. Grant. 
The 9th (Parke's) and one of Ord's divisions were 
left to hold our extended lines under the command 
of Gen. Parke ; all dismounted troopers being ordered 
to report to Gen. Benham, who guarded our im- 
mense depot of supplies at City Point. 

Humphreys crossed Hatcher's Run at the 
Vaughan Road ; Warren, moving further to the 
left, crossed four miles below (the stream here, since 
its junction with Gravelly Run, being Rowanty 
Creek,) and moved up the Quaker Road, to strike 
the Boydton Plank Road ; Sheridan moved nearly 
south to Dinwiddle Court House, where, at 5 p. m., 
he halted for the night. Warren's corps alone, en- 
countered any serious resistance on this day, the 
29th. Continuing their march till about 2 o'clock, 
they arrived at Quaker Farm and were there met 
by the enemy. A fierce engagement ensued. 
During the action our forces were being repulsed, 
the 2d division retreating in great disorder, when 
Gen Chamberlain, in command of the ist briga.de, 
rode up to the Colonel of the 185th, saying : " For 
God's sake, Col. Sniper, can you save the day with 
your regiment ?" The Colonel replied : " General, 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



i.^i 



I can try." He immediately formed his regiment 
in line of battle. The balance of the brigade, con- 
sisting of the 189th Pennsylvania, had shared in the 
retreat, leaving the 185th to stand the ground alone. 
They were ordered to charge the enemy. The 
charge was made with great spirit over an eminence, 
where they met the advancing columns of the rebels 
in pursuit of our retreating forces, and, making a 
desperate charge, hurled back the foe, but with 
great loss to our gallant regiment. The killed and 
wounded were 180 ; all the officers of some of the 
companies were either killed or disabled ; so that 
there were not line officers enough to command the 
regiment. 

This charge lasted scarcely more than half an 
hour, but it was one of the most desperate and im- 
portant in its results of any during the war. The 
aim of the rebels seemed to be to shoot down our 
colors. William Tyler, of Company D, was Color- 
Bearer of the regiment. He was shot first. The 
colors were then seized by a private, who was im- 
mediately shot. Private Benjamin Wilson, of Com- 
pany D, then seized and bore aloft the fallen stand- 
ard, but was instantly shot and wounded. Then 
Private Herman Rice, of Company B, sprang for- 
ward and raised the colors, but the arm which lifted 
them was immediately pierced by a rebel ball, and 
they again fell. Col. Sniper being dismounted in 
the thick of the charge, seeing the colors drop, 
rushed forward and seized them, and whirling them 
above his head, shouted, "Men of the 185th, for- 
ward !" A wild yell was sent up from the ranks, 
and rushing forward with their gallant leader, the 
day was won. After the engagement the general 
officers complimented Col. Sniper in person upon 
the gallantry and valor of his regiment in that ter- 
rible charge, and said that they had saved the day. 

March 30th and 31st. While the Union forces 
were driving the rebels, several minor engagements 
occurred. Warren had pushed forward skirmishers 
on his left to seize the White Oak Road beyond the 
rebel right, and had ordered Ayers to advance 
Winthrop's brigade through the woods to support 
the effort. At half past 10 a. m., Lee dealt him an 
unexpected and staggering blow, striking Ayres 
heavily in flank and rear, hurling his division back 
on Crawford's, which likewise broke. For a 
moment there was a prospect of another Chancel- 
lorsville. But behind these two stood Griffin's 
division, well posted in more open ground, whence 
it refused to be driven. It held its ground against 
the rebel advance till the routed divisions rallied and 
formed behind it, enabling Warren to assume the 
offensive. Humphreys sent in Miles' division on 



Warren's right to strike the enemy's left flank. 
Before these well-timed charges the enemy recoiled, 
taking refuge behind his intrenchments along the 
White Oak Road, and losing heavily in prisoners. 
Meantime Sheridan had advanced to Five Forks 
and had fought the rebels from there to Dinwiddle 
Court House and back— one of the most brilliant 
actions of the war. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

One Hundred and Eighty-Fifth Regiment 
Continued — Battle of Five Forks — Bom- 
bardment OF Petersburg — Lee's Telegram 
to Jeff. D.a^vis — Evacuation of Richmond — 
Flight and Capture of the Rebel Army — 
Return Home of the Regiment — List of 
Promotions. 

THE battle of Five Forks, one of the most 
memorable of the great campaigns which 
closed the rebellion, was begun on Saturday, April 
I, at about 3 p. m., and continued without cessation 
of firing till Sunday morning at daylight. Nearly 
the entire force on both sides was engaged. The 
5th corps was on the right and in the hottest part 
of the contest. The rebels were strongly intrenched 
and fought with desperation, knowing their fate 
depended on the battle. Adjutant Mudge, of Col. 
Sniper's staff, was severely wounded in the arm, 
which resulted in the permanent loss of its use, and 
several officers and privates were killed and wounded. 
During this battle 4,022 rebel prisoners were taken. 
Greeley, speaking of this battle, says : '■ The Con- 
federates, facing their foes in each direction, stood 
bravely to their arms. * * * In a few minutes 
Ayers' division burst over their flank intrenchments 
taking 1,000 prisoners ; while Griffin struck their 
refused flank in the rear, capturing 1,500 more ; and 
Crawford, resisted only by skirmishers, pressed for- 
ward rapidly to the Ford Road, running northward 
from their center, precluding the retreat towards 
Lee ; and then turning southward on that road, 
came rapidly down upon their rear, taking four guns 
■ — our cavalry all the time sharply assailing their 
front and right, and at length charging over their 
intrenchments, as Ayers and Griffin, having turned 
their left out of its works, bore down upon its re- 
newed front, hurling all that remained of the 
enemy in disorderly flight westward, charged 
and pursued for miles by our cavalry, until long 
after dark, and until our prisoners exceeded 5,000 ; 
while our total loss this day (April i.) was about 
1,000. At this cost Lee's right wing had been sub- 
stantially demolished. Among our killed was Brig. 



>32 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Gen. Frederick Winthrop, Colonel of the 9th New 
York, and cousin of Major Theodore Winlhroj), 
killed at Big Bethel." Griffin was now ordered 
with two divisions of infantry to Gravelly Church, 
some miles towards Petersburg, to reopen his com- 
munication with the rest of the army, while 
Griffin's own division (now Bartlett's) supported 
McKinzie's cavalry, which had pushed northward 
up the Ford Road to Hatcher's Run. As darkness 
set in, our guns in position in front of Petersburg 
opened from right to left, making the night lurid 
with a bombardment that proclaimed the signal 
victory just achieved on our left, and predicted 
more decisive triumphs at hand. Parke and Ord 
assaulted the rebel works at daybreak on Sunday 
morning, April 2, carrying with the 9th corps the 
outer line, but being intercepted by an inner line 
behind them, which he could not force. Wright, , 
on his left, with the 6th corps, supported by two 
divisions of Ord's, charging at dawn, drove every- 
thing before him up to the Boydton Road, on which, 
wheeling to the left towards Hatcher's Run, he 
swept down the rear of the rebel intrenchments, 
capturing many guns and several thousand prison- 
ers. Meantime Ord'solher division had forced the 
enemy's lines at the Run, and now Wright and Ord 
swung to the right, pressing on Petersburg from the 
west, while Humphreys, to the left, with Hayes' 
and Mott's divisions of the 2d corps, having stormed j 
a redoubt in his front, came up with two divisions, 
closing in on their left. Thereupon the rebel lines 
defending Petersburg on the south were assaulted 
by Gibbon's division of Ord's corps, which carried 
by storm two strong and important works — Forts 
Gregg and Alexander. This shortened our be- , 
sieging lines, and weakened the rebel defence of the 
city. Lee, seeing that Petersburg must soon fall, 
telegraphed to Jeff. Davis at Richmond at half-past 
10 A. M.. on Sunday, April 2 : ' 

" My lines are broken in three places. Richmond 
^ust be evacuated this evening." 

The message reached Davis at 1 1 a. m. in church, 
when he quietly read it and retired. It produced a 
profound dread and apprehension of the impending 
fate of the city. " Men, women and children 
rushed from the churches, passing from lip to lip 
the news of the impending fall of Richmond ; or, 
whispering with white lips, the foe, thej' come, they 
come." 

This was a terrible revelation to burst in upon 
the calm of that beautiful spring Sunday morning. 
Says Pollard : " It was difficult to believe it. To 
look up to the calm, beautiful sky of that spring 
day, unassailed by one single noise of battle, to 



watch the streets, unvexed by artillery or troops, 
stretching away into the quiet, hazy atmosphere, 
and believe that the capital of the Confederacy, 
so peaceful, so apparently secure, was in a few hours 
to be the prey of the enemy, and to be wrapped in 
the infernal horrors of a conflagration ! " 

Richmond was evacuated that night. The rebels 
set fire to the city with their own hands. The 
flames were quenched before producing utter de- 
struction by Union soldiers who first entered the 
city under Gen. Weitzel, Monday morning. April 3, 
1865. Before noon of that day the news of Rich- 
mond's fall had been flashed across the loyal States, 
and was soon confirmed by telegrams from President 
Lincoln, then at City Point, and from the Secretary 
of War at Washington. Petersburg was evacuated 
simultaneously with Richmond, and so noiselessly 
that our pickets, scarcely a stone's throw from the 
abandoned lines, knew not that the enemy were mov- 
ing till morning showed that they were gone. The 
rebel government, with its belongings, had passed 
down the railroad several miles north of Petersburg 
to Danville, where it halted, and whither Lee hoped 
to follow with the rest of his army, and thence form a 
junction with Johnston in North Carolina. Here 
the last important battle before the surrender, oc- 
curred, in which our arrhy took 1,400 prisoners. 
On the 6th of April, Gen. Davies struck Lee's 
train, moving in advance of his infantry, at Paine's 
Cross Roads, and destroyed 180 wagons, capturing 
four guns and a large number of prisoners. Ord, 
on the same day, reaching out from Jetersville, 
struck the head of Lee's advancing columns at 
Farmville, as it was preparing to cross the Appo- 
matto.x. Here a sharp engagement took place. 
Brig.-Gen. Theodore Read was killed. The attack, 
however, arrested the march of the enemy. Lee 
crossed the Appomattox on the night of the 6th, 
and his rear guard had just crossed and set fire to 
the bridges at dawn on the morning of the 7th, when 
the second corps (Humphreys') which had now 
taken the lead, rushed up in time to save the bridge 
on the wagon road. Over this Barlow's division 
crossed, capturing 18 guns which had been aban- 
doned by the rear guard of the rebels in their hasty 
retreat. The rebels halted and intrenched them- 
selves four or five miles north of Farmville, where 
they were attacked by a portion of our forces, and 
again retreated on the night of the 7th to Appo- 
mattox Station. Here they were overtaken on 
Sunday the 9th by our main force. Griffin and 
Ord, with the 5th,24lh,and one division of the2Slh 
corps, by a forced march, reached Appomattox Sta- 
tion about daylight in the morning. Greeley gives 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



133 



the following account of the situation, when the two 
armies confronted each other for the last time as 
belligerents : 

"Sheridan was with his cavalry near the Court 
House, when the Army of Virginia made its last 
charge. By his order, his troopers, who were in 
line of battle, dismounted, giving ground gradually 
while showing a steady front, so as to allow our 
weary infantry time to form and take position. 
This effected, the horsemen moved swiftly to the 
right and mounted, revealing lines of solid infantry 
in battle array, before whose wall of gleaming 
bayonets the astonished enemy recoiled in blank 
despair, as Sheridan and his troopers, passing 
briskly round the rebel left, prepared to charge the 
confused, reeling mass. A white flag was now 
waved by the enemy before Gen. Custer, who held 
our cavalry advance, with the information that they 
had concluded to surrender. Riding over to Appo- 
mattox Court House, Gen. Sheridan was met by 
Gen. Gordon, who requested a suspension of hostili- 
ties, with the assurance that negotiations were 
then pending between Gens. Grant and Lee for a 
capitulation." 

The correspondence had begun between the 
two generals on the 7th of April, and the capit- 
ulation was completed on the 9th. Lieutenant 
Hiram Clark of Company G, in the 185th regiment, 
was the last man killed in the war. He had com- 
mand of the skirmish line at Appomatto.x before 
the surrender, and while the flag of truce was be- 
ing borne in, was struck and completely disem- 
boweled by a rebel shell. He was buried under 
a chestnut tree near Appomattox Court House. 
He was a noble officer and much beloved by his 
regiment. 

After the surrender, the i8sth, with some other 
regiments, were detailed to take charge of the rebel 
prisons and to collect the rebel arms and munitions 
of war ; and were thus occupied for four or five 
days. The arms and ammunition were sent to 
Burksville. Among them were 52 brass cannon, 
very fine pieces, which had been dismantled and 
buried by the Confederates on the field at Appo- 
mattox. 

The Union forces, except the 2d corps, were 
ordered towards Danville to assist Gen. Sherman, 
and were sent forward to Burksville. The 185th, 
after three days in camp, were ordered to Wilson's 
Station on the South-side Railroad, where they re- 
mained in camp till the first of May, and were thence 
ordered to move to Manchester, across the James 
from Richmond. On the 5th of May they received 
marching orders for Alexandria, started on Satur- 
day morning, the 6th, and that day crossed the Pa- 
munkey River on pontoons ; passing through Bow- 
ling Green, they crossed the Rappahannock at Fred- 



ericksburg, and arrived at Arlington Heights on 
the 13th, at 8 o'clock a. m., after a tedious all-night 
march. They remained in camp at Arlington 
Heights till the grand review in the City of Wash- 
ington, on the 23d of May, 1865, when the Presi- 
dent reviewed the entire army. Returning to camp 
after the review, they remained till they were mus- 
tered out of the service on the 30th day of May, a. 
D., 1865. Leaving Arlington at 3 p. m., on the 
31st, they met with a grand reception of citizens on 
their way home, at Geneva, N. Y., and arrived in 
Syracuse on the 3d day of June, where a committee 
of their fellow-citizens were in readiness to give 
them a welcome home. On the loth of June, at 
Camp White, they were paid off and discharged by 
Major Littlefield, Paymaster. 

Official Record and List of Promotions of 
THE 185TH Regiment. 

Edwin S. Jenney, Col., rank from Sept. 19, '64, 
discharged Feb. 3, '65 ; Gustavus Sniper, Lieut. - 
Col., rank from Sept. 17, '64, promoted to Col. 
Feb. 14, '65, (Brevet Brig.-Gen., U. S V.) mustered 
out with the regiment May 30, '65 ; Theodore M. 
Barber, ist Lieut., rank from Sept. 19, '64, promoted 
to Capt., Jan. 3, '65, to Lieut.-Col. Mar. 30, '65, 
mustered out May 30, '65 ; John Leo, Major, rank 
from Sept. 19, '64, died of disease Dec. 3, '64; 
Robert P. Bush, Capt , rank from Sept. 24, '64, 
promoted to Major Dec. 3, '64, mustered out May 
30, '65 ; Byron Mudge, Adj't, rank from Sept. 7, 
'64, mustered out May 30, '65 ; William Gilbert, Q. 
M., rank from Sept. 2, '64, mustered out May 30, 
'65 ; Charles W. Crary, Surgeon, rank from Sept. 
17, '64, mustered out May 30, '65, (Brevet Lieut.- 
Col., N. Y. V.j ; Gilbert \. Newcomb, Assistant- 
Surgeon, rank from Sept. 26, '64, mustered out 
May 30, '65 ; William M. Bradford, Asst. -Surgeon, 
rank from Sept. 26, '64, mustered out May 30, '65 ; 
Chester W. Hawley, Chaplain, rank from Oct. 10, 
'64, resigned April' 29, '65 ; Stephen O. Howard, 
Capt., rank from Sept. 2, '64, mustered out May 
30, '65 (Brevet Major, U. S. V. ); John W. Strow- 
bridge, Capt., rank from Sept. 7, '64, mustered out 
May 30, '65 ; Albert H. Barber, Capt., rank from 
Sept. 13, '64, mustered out May 30, '65 ; John List- 
man, Capt., rank from Sept. 17, '64, mustered out 
May 30, '65 ; E. M. Bander, ist Lieut, rank from 
Sept. 2, '64, promoted to Capt. Feb. 3, '65, not mus- 
tered, died April 15, '65; W. A. Rapp, ist Lieut, rank 
from Sept. 17, '64, promoted to Capt. May 11, '65, 
mustered out May 30, '65 ; Henry D. Carhart, 
Capt., rank from Sept. 19, '64, died before muster ; 
John T. Hostler, ist Lieut., rank from Sept. 19, '64' 
promoted to Capt. Dec. 24, '64, (Brevet Capt. U. 
S. V.,) discharged June 2, '65, (Brevet Major U. S. 
V.) ; Daniel L. Lathrop, Capt, rank from Sept. 19, 
'64, mustered out May 30,'65; David Chrysler, Capt, 
rank from Sept. 19, '64, mustered out May 30, '65 ; 
Jared T. Abbott, Capt, rank from Sept. 19, 64, 
mustered out May 30, '65 ; Abram Spore, Capt., 



»34 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



rank from Sept. 19. '64, mustered out May 30, '65 ; 
Daniel Minicr, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 13, '64, 
promoted to ist Lieut. Feb. 3, '65, killed in action 
March 29, '65 ; Andrew J. Lyman, ist Lieut., rank 
from Sept. 7, 64, mustered out May 30, '65 ; Hiram 
Clark, 1st Lieut., rank from Sept. 13, '64, killed in 
action April 9, '65 ; Henry H. Kelsey, ist Lieut., 
rank from April 27. '65, mustered out May 30, '65 ; 
Pembroke Pierce, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 17, 
'64, promoted to ist Lieut. May 11, '65, mustered 
out May 30, '65 ; Herbert C. Rorepaugh, ist 
Lieut., rank from Sept. 17, '64, mustered out 
May 10, '65 ; F. Augustus Schemerhorn, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Dec. 23, 64, promoted to ist 
Lieut. Jan. 23, '65, mustered out May 30, '65 ; 
Lewis Edgar, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 19, '64, 
promoted to ist Lieut., Dec. 24, '64, mustered out 
May 30. '65 ; Stephen S. Jordan, ist Lieut., rank 
from Sept. 19, '64, discharged Feb. 27, '65 ; Jerome 
C. Gates, 2d Lieut., rank from Dec. 4, '64, promoted 
to 1st Lieut. Mar. 30, '65, mustered out May 30, 
'65 ; H. Wadsworth Clarke, 1st Lieut., rank from 
Sept. 19, '64, (Brevet Capt. X. Y. V. 1, mustered 
out May 30, '65 ; Cyrus A. Phillips, ist Lieut., 
rank from Sept. 19. '64, not mustered, commission 
revoked ; Thomas S. Wallace, ist Lieut., rank from 
Dec. 23, '64, not mustered, failed to report to regi- 
ment; William A. Brooks, 2d Lieut., rank from 
Sept. 2, '64, discharged Mar. 20, '65 : William H. 



Hamilton, 2d Lieut., rank from April 27, '65, 
mustered out May 30, "65 ; Harrison Givins, 2d 
Lieut., rank from Sept. 7, "64, discharged Dec. 28, 
'64; A. A. Abbott, 2d Lieut., rank from April 27, 
'65. resigned May 22. '65 : John L Isaacs, 2d Lieut . 
rank from Feb. 3, '65, mustered out May 30, '65 
John Hcrron, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 17, '64! 
mustered out May 30, '65 ; J. W. Mercer, 2d Lieut.] 
rank from April 27, '65, mustered out May 30, '65 ; 
Warren L. Winslow, 2d Lieut., rank from" May 19, 
'65, not mustered ; Charles G. Rector, 2d Lieut., 
rank from Sept. 19, '64, (Brevet Capt. U. S. 
v., I mustered out May 30, '65 ; Henry Q. Kings- 
ley, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 19, '64, died of 
disease Mar. 31, '65 ; Norman W. Smith. 2d Lieut., 
rank from April 27, '65. mustered out May 30, '65 ; 
Stephen Hitchcock, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 19, 
'64, not mustered, commission revoked ; Daniel L. 
Baker, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 21, '65, mustered 
out May 30, '65 ; Jacob M. Doran, 2d Lieut., rank 
from Sept. 19, '64, discharged Mar. 20. '65 ; Hiram 
Wiard. 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 20. '65, mustered 
out May 30. '65 ; B. H. Smith, 2d Lieut., rank 
from Mar. 20, '65, not mustered ; Frederick H. 
Bremen, 2d Lieut., rank from April 27, '65, not 
mustered. 

Private A. Everson, of this regiment, was awarded 
a medal of honor by the Secretary of War. 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



CITY OF SYRACUSE 



INTRODUCTION. 

THE City of Syracuse is situated on the line 
of the New York Central Railroad, a very 
little over three hundred miles from the city of New 
York, and is the county seat of Onondaga county. 
From its central location both in the county and the 
State, it has also received the appropriate name of 
the Central City. Besides the Central Railroad, 
which cuts through its center, there are the Oswego 
and Syracuse division of the Delaware, Lackawanna 
and Western, the Syracuse, Binghamton and New 
York, the Syracuse Northern and the Syracuse and 
Chenango Valley railroads, lending their trade and 
commerce, together with the Erie and Oswego 
canals. The growth of the city has been remarka- 
ble, considering the condition of things in this 
locality sixty years ago, when the site was a dismal 
and unhealthy swamp, and there were no roads nor 
other means of communication with the outside 
world. The few huts then planted in the wilder- 
ness have given place to palatial residences, grand 
and imposing business structures, elegant churches 
and broad and spacious streets and avenues. On 
every hand may be seen a wealth of architectural 
beauty and a profusion and elegance of public and 
private grounds, parks, lawns, cultivated trees, 
shrubbery and flower gardens, which contrast strik- 
ingly with the rude and straggling hamlet of even 
fifty years past. From a small village of about 
three hundred inhabitants, Syracuse has emerged 
into a city of nearly sixty thousand people. It is 
interesting to trace the history of such a city from 
its beginning, and to note its different steps of pro- 
gress, till it has attained the eminent position it 
holds to-day among the centers of commercial 



wealth, civilization and social refinement, of our 
country. 



Original Site of the City. 

The original site of Syracuse was known as the 
" Walton Tract." It consisted of two hundred and 
fifty acres of the Salt Springs Reservation, sold by 
act of the Legislature in 1804, and purchased by 
Abraham Walton in June of that year, for the sum 
of six thousand five hundred and fifty dollars, or 
about twenty-six dollars and twenty cents an acre. 
The land was located and surveyed by James Ged- 
des, under the direction of the Surveyor-General, 
Simeon DeWitt, and the proceeds applied to the 
improvement of a portion of the old Seneca Turn- 
pike, running from lot No. 49 in Manlius to lot No. 
38 in Onondaga. The boundaries of this tract ap- 
pear from the old maps of Syracuse to have been 
laid out by Mr. Geddes in a very irregular form, 
owing to his attempt to avoid the swamp, which, 
however, he was unable to do. A considerable 
portion of the land lay under water most of the year. 
In the advertisement for the sale of the land it was 
announced that the tract contained a good mill site. 
But it was so low and swampy that certain parties 
at Salina and Onondaga Hollow ridiculed the idea. 
This aroused the Surveyor-General, and putting a 
spirit-level in his gig he drove all the way from 
Albany to Syracuse to personally inspect the 
premises and put the question of the water power 
at rest. Judge Geddes was employed to make the 
survey of the mill site, and it is a curious illustra- 
tion of how small a circumstance will often change 
the whole current of a man's life, when it is re- 
membered that this single use of the Surveyor- 



«36 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



General's spirit-level by Mr. Geddes was the incit- 
ing cause which led him to become the surveyor 
and engineer of the Erie Canal. 

First Acting Treasurer of Syracuse. 
The Commissioners to receive and disburse the 
money arising from the sale of the Walton Tract 
were James Geddes, Moses Carpenter and John 
Young. Mr. Geddes was appointed Treasurer, but 
on account of his absence from home during the 
construction of the road, Mrs. Geddes acted in his 
place, paying out the money upon the orders of the 
contractors. Thus a woman, Mrs. James Geddes, 
mother of Hon. George Geddes of Fairmount, be- 
came the acting treasurer in the first financial trans- 
actions relating to Syracuse. 

First Tavern in Syracuse. 

Although the avails of the sale of the Walton 
Purchase were required by the act of 1804 to be 
appropriated to the improvement of a road, as above 
mentioned, there was a stipulation in the terms of 
sale making it obligatory upon the purchaser to 
cause to be erected within a certain specified time 
a suitable building for a tavern or house of enter- 
tainment for the accommodation of travelers. Mr. 
Walton, accordingly, in 1804, upon laying out lots 
for a village, sold to Henry Rogardus for the con- 
sideration of $300, half an acre of ground, binding 
him to erect within a reasonable time a suitable 
house for a tavern and to keep or cause one to be 
kept. The half acre included the site of the pres- 
ent Empire Block, on which Mr. Bogardus erected 
his tavern in 1806. It was a wooden building, 
thirty-five by forty-five feet on the ground, and two 
stories high. Mr. Bogardus was succeeded by Mr. 
Burlingham in 1808, by Joseph Langdon in 1810, 
by James Ingalls in 1812, and by Sterling Cossit 
in 1815. 

First Cabins on the Site of Syracuse. 

Besides the trading house of Ephraim Webster, 
vvhich had been established on the west bank of 
Onondaga Creek, a short distance south of its con- 
fluence with the lake, at a place subsequently 
known as "Webster's Landing," in 1786, several 
persons had erected log cabins in the vicinity of 
where Mr. Bogardus built his hotel, before the origi- 
nal tract had been purchased by Mr. Walton. The 
full names of these parties have been unfortunately 
lost, but some of them given by Mr. Clark are as 
follows: Mr. Hopkins in 1797, and Mr. Butler in 
1799. The cabins of these pioneers were located 
a little west of the Oswego Canal bridge, near a 
spring north of the late General Granger's residence. 

In the Spring of 1800, Calvin Jackson became a 



resident, building a small log house a little south of 
where the Central Railroad crosses Genesee street. 
Here, on the 28th of December, 1800, was born 
Albion Jackson, supposed to have been the first 
white child born in Syracuse, outside of that part 
of it formerly known as Salina. Mr. Jackson was 
the father of John J. Jackson, late a resident of the 
town of Onondaga, and formerly Indian Agent at 
the Reservation. 

William Lee and Aaron Cole, the first blacksmiths, 
opened a shop in 1805. In the same year Amos 
Stanton, father of Rufus Stanton, located near the 
Salina Street bridge. Dr. Swan erected a small 
frame house in 1807. Jonathan Fay settled near 
the site of the Old Court House in 1808. Rufus 
Stanton kept a tavern near the Salina Street 
bridge in 181 1. The building is still standing on 
the east side of the street just south of the bridge, 
and is occupied by Mr. David Ouinlan as a private 
residence. This, or a house built by Mr. Walton 
in 1805 or in 1806, for some of his mill hands, a 
portion of which may still be seen near the railroad 
crossing south of West Genesee street, is ]-)robably 
the oldest building now remaining in Syracuse. 

Sale of the Walton Tract. 
A portion of the Walton Tract was sold to 
Michael Hogan and Charles \\'alton, who held it in 
common with the original proprietors for some 
time, and finally, after some unimportant changes, 
it was transferred to Forman, Wilson it Co., in 
1 8 14, for about $9,000. From these proprietors 
it passed into the hands of David Kellogg and 
William Sabin, in 181 8, who sold it, in 1823, to 
Henry Eckford, the celebrated ship-builder of New 
York. In May, 1824, the tract was transferred to 
the Syracuse Company for the consideration of 
$30,000. The company consisted of Messrs. Wil- 
liam James, Isaiah and John Townsend, and James 
McBride. The tract was deeded in trust to Messrs. 
Moses Burnet and Gideon Hawle)', and from that 
time village lots were extensively sold. 

First Pork Packing Establishment. 
At the lime Forman, \N'ilson & Co., purchased 
the Walton Tract, they erected a large slaughter 
house in a fine grove in the rear of what was after- 
wards General Granger's lot, north of Church 
street. Here they packed beef and pork on a large 
scale, continuing the business till 18 17. During 
the war of 1812-14, they had a heavy contract for 
supplying the army with these articles. 

Second Survey of Syracuse. 
In the spring of 1819, Owen Forman, a younger 
brother of Judge JoshuaForman, and John Wilkin- 






HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



•37 



son, Esq., father of J. Forman and Alfred Wilkin- 
son, bankers of this city, then a young lawyer, 
came down from Onondaga Hollow, under the 
direction of Judge Forman, to lay out the Walton 
Tract into village lots. The old .survey of Mr. 
Walton was entirely disregarded, except so far as 
the original boundary lines of the tract were con- 
cerned. But so undefined were the ancient land- 
marks that it was with extreme difficulty that they 
ascertained with any degree of certainty the old 
starting point. Although they had an excellent 
description of the tract, made by Judge Geddes at 
the time of the original survey, yet it is thought 
that, but for a certain " plum-tree " therein men- 
tioned, the lines as originally run could not have 
been traced. They began their survey in the 
month of June, and after a fortnight of hard labor 
the village was again laid out, so far as related to 
the Walton Tract. That portion not included in 
the village was laid out into " farm lots " of from 
five to ten acres each. 

Eakly Na.mes of the Village. 
In the infancy of the Salt City it seemed difficult 
to find a name for it that proved satisfactory. At 
the first laying out of the village it was called 
" South Salitia." The tavern built by Mr. Bogar- 
dus was called the "South Salina Hotel." The 
name South Salina, however, not being received 
with general approval, was after a time changed to 
" Milan" which name it bore till an attempt to ob- 
tain a post-office revealed that there was one already 
of that name in the State, and the name was 
changed to " Corinth " by Judge Forman. Subse- 
quently for several years, the place went by the 
name of " Cossit's Comers," from Sterling Cossit, 
who succeeded Mr. Ingals in the hotel. In 1820, 
the village was named " Syracuse," by John Wil- 
kinson, Esq., the first Postmaster. 

The Original Clearing. 

When the second survey was made by Forman 
and Wilkinson in 18 19, there was but a small clear- 
ing in the village. It extended from the canal near 
Clinton street, south to Fayette street and east to 
Warren street. On the north side of the canal the 
clearing extended as far back as Church street and 
east to Warren street, the rest of the dry ground 
being a pine grove interspersed with oak bushes. 

It may not be amiss to remark in this place, that 
the valley in which Syracuse is now situated was 
originally covered with heavy timber and thick un- 
derbrush, the prevailing kinds being hemlock, birch 
and soft maple in the western part, and in the east- 
ern portion, cedar and pine. 

i8» 



In 1808, Mr. Young and others cut down a large 
hemlock tree over four ft. in diameter, for the purpose 
of hewing it into timber. After cutting into the 
tree a foot and a half, they found nearly one hundred 
bullets which had been deposited in a box cut in the 
tree, and covered with one hundred and fifty-two 
concentric circles, which had grown over them in 
as many years since the balls had been placed there 
by the hand of some one familiar with the use of 
fire-arms. Subtracting 152 from 1808. leaves 1656, 
a date at which the French had established colonies 
and missions in this valley. 

Handsome Harry — Reminiscence of an Indian 
Feud. 

On the west bank of Onondaga Creek, in the 
vicinity of the old Webster trading house, was col- 
lected at an early time quite a large Indian village. 
Onondagas gathered here for convenience of trade, 
and were here met by the Cayugas. The bones 
which have been disinterred in this locality show 
that feuds broke out between portions of these 
tribes, and that in the conflicts which ensued many 
of the Indians were slain. An incident connected 
with one of these feuds has been preserved by tra- 
dition, and is worthy of record. 

" In 1795, a feud broke out between a clan of the 
Onondagas and another of the Cayugas, which 
raged fiercely. At intervals several parties on both 
sides were killed. The last victim of this deadly 
strife was an Onondaga called Handsome Harry. 
He had been followed by a party of Cayugas from 
Tuscarora and back, and was overtaken at the sand 
bank, afterward the property of Mr. Henry Young, 
situated not far from the Syracuse Pump House. 
When he found his pursuers hard upon him, he 
made no effort to escape, but quietly kneeling down, 
bared his bosom and was instantly shot dead with 
an arrow. Handsome Harry was reputed the hand- 
somest man in his nation. He was buried on the 
spot where he fell, and two favorite sisters for a 
long time daily visited his grave and mourned his 
death with the deepest sorrow."* 

Syracuse in 1819. 
When Judge Forman removed to Syracuse in 
1 8 19, he occupied a house a little west of the Town- 
send Block. At this time there were only two 
frame houses in the village, beside the hotel. Log 
houses and plank and slab cabins were scattered 
over the dry portion of the ground, most of the 
latter having been tenanted by laborers on the 
canal. The pasture of Judge Forman ran back 
some fifty rods and east to Salina street, most of it 
being a pine grove. Another lot of twenty acres 
commenced where the Syracuse House now stands, 
and was accessible by a set of bars opening into the 

* CUrlc'i Onondaga. 



138 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



lot where the front door of the hotel now opens on 
Salina street. This lot was used as a pasture till 
1820. 

So dense was the forest about Syracuse in 1819, 
that two young ladies, the present Mis. E. VV. 
Leavenworth and Mrs. M. D. Hurnet, in taking a 
morning stroll over Prospect Hill, became bewild- 
ered among the thick brushwood and lost their way. 
They rambled about till the day was far spent, and 
strength and courage almost exhausted, with noth- 
ing before them but the dreary prospect of being 
obliged to pass the night in the wilderness. At 
length, late in the afternoon, they found themselves 
in the vicinity of the Lodi Locks, where they 
recognized familiar ground and were able to make 
their way home in safety. 

The Site of Syracijse Rendered Health v. 
We have spoken of the unhealthfulness of Syra- 
cuse in the early stage of its history. It was so 
very sickly during a considerable portion of the 
year that probably it never could have been per- 
manently settled had not the foresight and sagacity 
of Judge Forman prompted him to lake measures 
to secure the draining of the swamp and marshes. 
An instance illustrative of the sickness of the place 
is related of a Mr. Merrill who built a small frame 
house in the vicinity of Mr. Bogardus' hotel about 
the year the latter building was erected, but 
there was so much sickness in the neighborhood 
that he became discouraged and pulling down his 
house moved it away. During the building of 
the Erie Canal, from 1817 to 1820. the prevail- 
ing fever was very fatal. Dr. Hasset, was the 
physician and did a vast amount of medical busi- 
ness among the suflerers on the works, nearly all of 
whom were sick with malarial diseases peculiar to 
the locality. The site of the village at that time 
has been described as a " dreary waste of swamp, 
approached only by means of 'corduroy' and 
' gridiron ' roads. All along where is now lo- 
cated the beautiful F'ayette Park, was then a 
famous shooting ground for partridges and rabbits, 
and in the lower places were plenty of mud turtles 
and swamp rattlesnakes. In the spring the water 
did not usually subside sufficiently to allow people 
to pass with any degree of comfort till May or 
June, and those going from Onondaga to Salina 
were obliged to pass round on the high grounds 
east of Syracuse, over by-roads which were cut in 
every direction through the Reservation for the 
purpose of collecting wood in winter for the salt 
works. A person passing over the present im- 
proved streets and solid highways leading in and 
out of the flourishing city which has taken the 



place of the dreary swamp of those days, can form 
no just conception of the impassable condition in 
which the roads then were in the spring and fall. 
In fact the only time when they were endurable 
was in the winter when they were perfectly frozen 
and covered with a good body of snow."* 

Such was the state of things amidst which Judge 
Foiman and his associates laid the foimdations of 
Syracuse It was no easy task to build a city in a 
swamp such as Syracuse then was. Indeed, it was 
no less a herculean undertaking than the building 
of Chicago in a sunken mud prairie on the shore of 
Lake Michigan. Both, however, have been suc- 
cessfully accomplished, and furnish an illustration of 
what human energy and enterprise can accomplish 
in the face of obstacles apparently insurmountable. 

To the foreseeing mind of Judge Forman it was 
clear that something must be done to improve the 
health of the place, or his plans would fail. Ac- 
cordingly, in the winter of 1821-2, he procured the 
passage ol a law, in connection with an act author- 
izing the lowering of Onondaga Outlet, by which 
the Commissioners of the Land Office were to draw 
a map of the swamp and marsh about the villages 
of Salina and Syracuse, on which was to be desig- 
nated the route of several ditches and drains through 
the swamp and marsh lands, with an accompanying 
estimate of the sum necessary to be raised to efl'ect 
that object. The Judges of the County Courts 
were authorized to appoint three discreet free-hold- 
ers of the County, who should assess the amount 
of money necessary to be raised on the owners of 
the lands contiguous to the drains, in proportion as 
they were supposed to be benefited by the same. 
In case of the non-payment of any assessment, the 
lands after being advertised four weeks, could be 
sold for payment, and if not redeemed within six 
months, with ten percent interest and cost, the sale 
was made absolute and unchangeable. The law 
allowed the citizens to construct their own ditches 
on their own lands, according to rules prescribed by 
the Commissioners and the plan laid down on the 
map. In case they would not, the Commissioners 
were authorized to build them and charge the own- 
ers with the cost of construction and collection. 

This law was considered at the time highly 
arbitrary, but it was the only feasible method 
by which the lands could be drained and the locality 
rendered healthy. The great advantages resulting 
from the improvement, soon reconciled all parties to 
the means employed. This has since been regarded 
by thousands who have enjoyed its benefits as the 
wisest and most beneficent measure ever adopted in 

* CUrk'i Onondiga. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



139 



connection with Syracuse. The effect is thus de- 
scribed by Mr. Clark : "In the summer of 1822, 
the lands were brought under subjection by drain- 
ing, the place assumed an air of healthfulness, 
disease and sickness kept at a distance, a marked 
difference was manifest at once, confidence was 
placed in the future, and the past was quickly for- 
gotten. Since the draining of these lands they 
have been as healthy as any in the country." 

Judge Forman has justly been esteemed the 
founder of the village of Syracuse. After an ab- 
sence of five years, he returned on a visit to the 
city in 1831, and was everywhere received with de- 
monstrations of joy and respect. Every voice 
cheered him as the founder of a city and the bene- 
factor of mankind. The citizens of Syracuse 
through their committee, consisting of Stephen 
Smith, Harvey Baldwin, Amos P. Granger, L. H. 
Redfield, Henry Newton, John Wilkinson and 
Moses D. Burnet, availed themselves of the oppor- 
tunity to present to him a tribute of the high respect 
and esteem entertained for his talents and character, 
and in consideration of his devotion to their interests 
in the early settlement of the village. The plate, 
an elegant silver pitcher, bore the inscription : " A 
Tribute of Respect, Presented by the Citizens of 
Syracuse to the Honorable Joshua Forman, 
Founder of that Village." On the opposite side 
was a device representing the friendship of the 
city, of two hands united in fraternal grasp ; above 
this the word " Syracuse," and below, the date 
"1831." 

Early Merchants. 

Sidney Dole and Milan C. Taylor, the owners and 
occupants of the mill, in 18 14, opened the first store 
of general merchandise. Their store was next 
west of that afterwards kept by William Malcolm. 
The firm of Northrup & Dexter, who had a con- 
tract on the Erie Canal in 1817, were the success- 
ors of Messrs. Dole & Taylor, and continued in 
business till 1821. In that year General Amos P. 
Granger came down from Onondaga Hill and 
established himself as a dry goods merchant on the 
site of the present Syracuse Savings Bank Build- 
ing. At this time there was no other store in Syra- 
cuse, except two or three small groceries. From 
this time for two or three years merchants multi- 
plied rapidly. Mr. Henry Newton opened a store 
in 1822 ; Archy Kasson, hardware, 1822 ; Kasson 
& Hermans, dry goods, groceries and hardware, 
1823 ; G. M. Towle, commission and forwarding, 
April, 1823; George Davis & Co., general mer- 
chandise, July, 1823 ; Henry W. Durnford, gro- 
ceries, drugs and medicines, 1823 ; John Rogers & 



Co., (from New York,) November, 1823 ; William 
Malcolm, 1823; Haskell & Walbridge, saddlers and 
furnishers for the trade, 1824; J. Vanderheyden, 
Mead & Davis, A. N. VanPatten, and H. & W. 
Dowd, 1824 ; Hiram Judson, watchmaker and 
jeweler, 1824; H. Hyde & Co., forwarding mer- 
chants, 1824. These are the principal pioneer 
merchants who established business in the village 
of Syracuse prior to the completion of the Erie 
Canal. Since this important era merchants have 
become so numerous that it would be impossible to 
follow them in detail. 

The Empire Block. 
The hotel built by Bogardus was for many years 
called the "Mansion House." In 1845, the old 
patched up establishment, with its outbuildings, 
was torn away to make room for the present Empire 
Block. This block was finished in 1847, by John 
H. Tomlinson and Stephen W. Caldwell, of Syra- 
cuse and John Thomas, of Albany. On its comple- 
tion Mr, Tomlinson became sole owner. Mr. Tom- 
linson was killed by a railroad accident at Little 
Falls in 1848. The block was then sold at auction, 
and after several changes became the property of 
Colonel James L. Voorhees, in 1850. 

The Syracuse House. 

The lot on which the Syracuse House stands was 
purchased by Messrs. Buell & Safford, who began 
the erection of the "Syracuse Hotel" about 1820. 
While the building was in progress Mr. Safford was 
killed by a fall from a scaffold. The property then 
passed into the hands of Mr. Eckford, who com- 
pleted the hotel in 1822. It was three stories high, 
and the first brick building of any considerable 
dimensions erected in the village. For several years 
it was kept by Mr. James Mann. After the Syra- 
cuse Company came into possession of the premises, 
the house was rebuilt, and has since been enlarged 
and improved to its present ample dimensions and 
style. At the time of the rebuilding it was named the 
" Syracuse House" after which it was kept by Mr. 
George Rust, then by Daniel Comstock and H. T. 
Gibson, then for a long time by P. N. Rust, Esq., 
who was succeeded by Gilbert & Knickerbocker in 
1848. 

Townsend Block was erected in 1842; Market 
(now City) Hall in 1845 ; Granger Block in 1844, 
burned in 1849, rebuilt in 1866; Globe Building in 
i846-'47 ; Malcolm Block, in 1847 ; Bastable Block 
in 1849, rebuilt '" 1 863-' 64; Corinthian Block in 

1853- 
Wieting Block and Hall were erected and finished 

in i849-'50. On the 5th of January, 1856, one of 



I40 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



the coldest days during the winter, this block was 
burned to the ground. Dr. VVicting at once took 
measures for its rcerection, and soon completed a 
larger and more elegant block. The new hall was 
dedicated on the 9th of December, 1856. eleven 
months after the destruction of the former build- 
ing. 

First Postoffice 

The first Postoffice in the village was established 
in February, 1820; John Wilkinson, Esq, Post- 
master. It is said that Mr. Wilkinson used to carry 
the mail in his hat and deliver it to parties whom he 
met about the village. For some time the office 
was kept in General Granger's store, when, for 
greater convenience, it was deemed advisable to 
move it to John Durnford's printing office. Mr. 
Durnford at first objected on account of lack of room, 
but when he found that Mr. Wilkinson had brought 
the whole contents of the office, mail matter, bo.xes, 
letter bo.\es, &c., on his shoulder, without the ne- 
cessity of returning for another load, he waived his 
objection, and the postoffice was fairly installed in 
the office of the first newspaper in Syracuse. 

Sale of State Lands. 

In 1822 a considerable portion of the Onondaga 
Salt Springs Reservation was sold under the direc- 
tion of the Surveyor-General. It was parceled out 
into small lots and sold to individuals. Several of 
these lots were taken by Messrs. Kellogg & Sabin, 
and eventually passed into the hands of the Syra- 
cuse Company. A large portion of the present 
site of the city, now covered with costly buildings, 
was included in these sales, the land being pur- 
chased for mere nominal prices. Such were the 
lots on James street on which now stand stately 
mansions — probably the finest residence avenue in 
the city — together with a large tract including the 
old cemetery. These brought at the sale from 
eighteen to thirty dollars an acre. The lands east 
of Fayette Park sold for si.x dollars an acre. 

General Granger took several lots in the swamp 
near Lodi, between the canal and turnpike, at ten 
dollars and fifty cents an acre. Citizens agreed not 
to bid against him on condition that he would clear 
the land immediately. This was done at great 
expense the same season and put into a crop of 
wheat. Most of this ground is now covered with 
fine buildings. 

In 1828 there was another sale of State lands, 
embracing the lots in the vicinity of the old Court 
House, and on other portions of the Reservation. 

First Packet-Boat at Svracuse. 
The first packet-boat on the canal was named 



the " Montezuma." It arrived at Syracuse on the 
2 1 St of April, 1820. This boat was built and fitted 
up by a company of gentlemen at Montezuma from 
a model furnished by Col. Comfort Tyler. It was 
seventy-si.\ feet long and fourteen feet wide. Its 
arrival created great excitement. Hundreds of 
anxious spectators lined the banks of the canal to 
witness the wonder, and this practical illustration 
of the benefits of the canal was not without its in- 
fluence. It hushed the hostility of opponents of 
the enterprise and strengthened the more timid ; 
visionary theories yielded to simple fact, and wild 
speculation to tests of experiment. The canal was 
now navigable from Montezuma to Utica, ninety- 
four miles, and at once business received a new and 
vigorous impulse. 

Independenxe Day— 1820. 

" The 4th of July, 1820,* was a glorious day for 
Syracuse. The canal was in practical operation, 
the prospects of the future city began to brighten ; 
a most brilliant day dawned upon a land heretofore 
a swamp and bog. It was hailed as a day of joy, 
festivity and rejoicing. Invitations had been e.v- 
tendcd to the friends of the canal throughout 
the State, particularly in the Western District. 
Thousands of guests from the surrounding counties 
came to witness the novelty of canal navigation, 
and to celebrate the day. Some of the most dis- 
tinguished men in the State were present, among 
whom were Governor Clinton and suite. General 
VanCortland, Myron Holley, Thomas J. Oakley 
and John C. Spencer. Judge VanNess adjourned 
the Circuit Court then in session at the Court 
House, and the Court and Bar attended in a body. 
Thaddeus M Wood, Esq., presided on the occasion. 
The declaration was read by N. P. Randall, Esq., 
and the oration delivered by Samuel Miles Hopkins, 
Esq., to more than two thousand people. The 
numerous procession was formed in front of Mr. 
Cossit's tavern, escorted by the Salina band. They 
proceeded to the pine grove directly in the rear of 
the Townsend Block. The platform upon which 
were seated the orator, the reader and distinguished 
guests, was under a large spreading pine, which has 
long ago bowed its towering head to make way for 
the rapid and substantial improvements which have 
since been made. This was the first celebration of 
our national independence at Syracuse, and those 
who w«re present number it among her proudest 

days." 

James Street in 1824. 

In 1824 James street was only an Indian trail 

*x Clirk't Onondaga, p. 98. 




Gen. Amos P. G-ranqer was born in Siiffield, Hartford Co., 
Conn., 1789. He removed to Manlius, Onondaga County, in 1811, 
and entered upon mercantile pursuits at that place. About 1820 
he removed to the village of Sj'racuse, and became one of the 
first residents, and one of the most active promoters of the busi- 
ness interests of the place. For a number of years subsequent to 
his removal to Syracuse he was a merchant, his store standing on 
the ground occupied by the Syracuse Savings Bank. He early 
invested largely in real estate, the rise in the value of which made 
him one of its wealthiest citizens. 

The first election of officers of the village of Syracuse occurred 
on March 3, 1825, and Joshua Forman was chosen president, 
with Amos P. Granger, Moses D. Burnet, Herman Waldridge, 
and John Rogers as trustees. In the "War of 1812, General 
Granger raised a company of militia, and proceeded to Sacket's 
Harbor. He continued in the militia service after the war, rising 
through successive gradations to the rank of general, which was 
his distinguishing title through life. He was often honored with 
positions of trust by the citizens of Syracuse. One very marked in- 
stance of this was his selection to deliver the reception address on the 
memorable occasion of Gen. Lafayette's visit to Syracuse, in 1825. 

General Granger was always an active, energetic, and enthusi- 
astic politician. He was a member of the Whig party, and was 
among the very first in the country to protest against the aggressions 
of the slave power, and to divine that a new organization of ex- 
isting parties must take place before they could be successfully 
resisted. 

Elected a delegate from Onondaga County to the anti-Nebraska 
convention held at Auburn, in October, 1853, of his own volition 
he offered the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the Baltimore platforms adopted by the Democratic and Whig 
national conventions, without authority, and in direct violation of the sentiments of 
a vast majority of th's State, we, Whigs and Democrats, hereby repudiate for the 
past, the present, anil the future. 

This and three other resolutions offered by General Granger 
were unanimously adopted by the convention, and formed the 
basis on which was ;iftcrwards erected the Republican party of this 
State, if not of the nation To General Granger, as much as to 
any other one man, the Republican organization owes its existence. 



Shortly after his return from Auburn he was elected by the 
liberal Whigs of this district to the Thirty-fourth Congress. He 
was an active and useful member. His voice and vote was always 
on the right side. He was an effective speaker. 

If lack of earlj' education had deprived his phrases of scholastic 
finish, it could not divest them of a sharp incisive power, which is 
oftentimes more effective than polished oratory. One incident 
characteristic of his courage and self-reliance to meet opposition 
in other ways than by reason and force of words is related. A 
Virginia bully, a congressman, attacked him in a public convey- 
ance in Washington. The attack was made by a young and 
vigorous man upon one much advanced in years ; but his years did 
not diminish the ardor of the general, who, strong in his principles 
of freedom, offered to "waive his age," and try physical results 
with a scion of Virginia chivalry. 

Since 1858, General Granger occupied no official position, but 
was strong in his advocacy of true political ideas. Through the 
war he was an enthusiastic and outspoken advocate of the Union 
cause. During the campaign of 1864, though suffering from 
paralysis, he attended the Union meetings, that he might show 
by his presence the feelings of his heart. General Granger was 
for half a century a consistent member of the Protestant Episcopal 
church. There was no layman so well read as he in the history 
of that church. Upon coming to Syracuse he was, in 1826, one of 
the first to organize a parish there, and attempt the erection of a 
small wooden church, he being at the time of its completion, as 
he often related, " the only solvent man in the congregation, and 
himself with only a dollar or two in advance." General Granger 
was among the first vestrymen, and was warden of the same for 
over thirty-five j'ears. 

In the year 1813 he married Miss Charlotte, daughter of Benja- 
min Hickcox and IluUlah Holmes, of East Haddam, Conn. She was 
born in Hampshire Co., Mass., in the year 1790, and has survived 
her husband some eleven years, being now in her eighty-eighth 
year, possessing at that age an active mind and great energy of 
body. She united with the Episcopal church as early as 1825, 
and has been a consistent member of the same for some fifty-three 
years. 

General Granger died Aug. 20, 1806. 




-/*' 




Plintu. 1*3 llonlii .V CiirUM, 8>niflMC. 



The subject uf ihi.s sketch was born in ibo town ot" Sliafts- 
bury, Vt., June 1, ITSl. He wil-* seeoml wm, in a Cainily ot" 
five sons and three daughters, of I'arley llowlett and Barsiieba 
Parker, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter a native 
of Connecticut. 

The family of Howlett is descended from Parley llowlett, 
one of three brothers (the other two naim-d William and John) 
who emi;rniled from Kngland in the shi|« " Mayflower," and 
landiMl at Plymouth Kock, 16J0. 

His fatlier eaini' to ( )iioiidafri County with his family, and 
wttleil in the town of ()nondaj;a, in the year ITU", on one of 
the hills of that town now bearing his name, jiurclixsed land, 
and was one of the pioru'en* of this county, and died in ISO!^. 

Parley spent his minority clearing; lan<l anil farming, receiviiif; 
a Very limited education from books ; but in early life he be- 
came so inured to self-reliance and habits of industry as to nuike 
his subseijucnt years a worthy record in the history of Onon- 
diifra County. 

At tlic a<n' of twenty-three yesirs he purchased one hundred 
acrcH of land, and be-ran clearinf; the same. To this purehiise, 
in IH14, he addeil some two hundreil aeri'S more, very nearly the 
whole id" which he cau.sed to be cleared, and. after the .salt in- 
terest iH'fian, he cau.sed the tindMT to be cut into wood, hauled 
the wihhI to (ieddes, and used it in the manufacture of .H:dt. He 
early en;;a;;ed in the s<dt business : first nsin;; eiirhl kiltlebloeks, 
al\cTwards usinjr si.xtecn, and Hubs4M|uently ihirty-two kettlc- 
bloeks. He was the first man who shipjied .salt west, boat in;; 
it down the ()swc;:o river, thetice by the lake, drawin;; it with 
teams around the falls; found a market first at Silver Creek, 
utlerwards Kric, Pa., and Ashtabuli, ( )hio, and sub.scijuently at 
Cleveland ; exehanjiin;; his sjdt for horses and cattle, he drove 
them liack to this county. After two years he killed his cattle and 
packed the meat for the eastern market. After the canal wius 
finished he packed his meat in Synicu.se, his packint;-lious<' bein;; 
located ojiposite the present way-locks in tlie city. He .shipped 
the first beel' and pork in barrels, by the Krie canal, that was 
sent cast from ()ni>iida<;a County. 




The history of Mr. Howlett's operations wirst '^oes back so 
far in the early .setlliinint of the country lie passed throiiLdi with 
his stock in returning; home, that he related p:Lssin;_' throuiih 
twenty-five miles of woodland, by marked trees, from one clearing; 
to another. His whole life was spent in active business until 
within a few years of his death. He lived and died on the farm 
he had purcha.sed in 18(17. He was liberal in his views of edu- 
cational interests, and ;,'ave larj^ely for the snjiiKirt of the .•Miiiic. 

In jKililies he was identified with the Anti-Ma.sonie party, 
with the Wliij: party, and U|>oii the formation of the Hepnbliean 
party became a warm sup]nirter of its principles; and .so oppo.sed 
was he to the principles of slavery that, Ufion the breaking; out 
of the Hebellioii in 18(1(1, that fjuestion st-cmed to occupy his 
whole attention, and he desired that the war should never be 
ended nnlil that institution was abolished, but he only lived 
until May 1>>, IStJl, just at the bepnnin;: of the war. 

In the year 18(15, July 21, he married Miss Phebe Robbins, 
a native of Connecticut, but of this c<mnty at the time of the 
inarriajre. To them were born eleven children : Solomon K., 
llonilio (;., Myron P., Latitia E., Jane M.. Parley L., Alfred 
A., Celestia S., Daniel. Francis C , and Jerome Howlett, six of 
whom are now livinj; ; and Alfred A. desires by this sketch and 
portrait above to jilaee upon the pa^es of history a few facts re- 
latin;; to one of ()iionda;.;a's pioneer active business men. 

Parley Howlett was no ordinary person. He was a man of i|uiek 
apprehension and siroii;; convictions, frank and fearless in their 
e.\pre,ssioii. and energetic in carryin;; them out. He possi-ssed 
stroll;; common .sense in ;;reat abundance, uncommon .sapicily in 
businctts. Was .s«n;:uini' in his temjieranieiil. and lio|K'ful ; ready 
to nie«'t and siroii;; to overcome the difficulties in the way of 
Hclf-iiiade men. and admirably fitted by the pos-s^-ssion of lliesi' 
i|Unlities to fi;;lit the battles of a pioneer life. He was a ;;ooil 
nei;;lilMir and a warm friend. He commanded the rexpect of his 
fellow-eiti/.ens, and was thre<> times a candidate of the old Wlii;; 
party for the office of hi;;li sheriff of the county ; he failed not 
iiir the want of |>ersonal popularity, but only beeau.se the Dem- 
ocnitie party in those early ilays was larp'ly in the a.sceiideney. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



141 



leading over the hills to what was then Foote Settle- 
ment, now the first gate on the plank road. The 
eye of the lonely wayfarer on that trail was not 
gladdened by the sight of the lordly and palatial 
residences which now give so grand and aristocratic 
an appearance to this fine avenue. The only object 
on this trail was the dwelling house of Major 
Burnet erected that year by Rodney Sargents, of 
Auburn ; this house stood on a slight eminence 
occupied by the late residence of Major Burnet. It 
fronted towards the south and had a sort of tem- 
porary road leading directly to the tow-path on 
the Erie Canal. The house then stood far out of 
town and the only avenue of approach for teams 
was by the tow-path and the private road. Persons 
on foot could reach it by taking the trail and beat- 
h the underbrush. 



ing across throu 



Progress of the Village. 

The village of Syracuse was a mere hamlet of a 
few hundred inhabitants till the completion of the 
Erie canal. This work was a new era in the pro- 
gress of the village, from which its rapid growth 
may be dated. The village was incorporated by 
act of the Legislature April 13, 1825, the same year 
of the completion of the canal, with the usual 
powers granted to like incorporations. The charter 
was amended in 1829, and again in 1834, increas- 
ing the power of village officers, regulating water 
works, fire department, &c. In 1835, the bounds 
of the original village were considerably enlarged. 
In 1839 3nd in 1841, there were further amend- 
ments of the charter, so as to enable the trustees to 
hold real estate for the purposes of a village ceme- 
tery, which was subsequently laid out and beauti- 
fied. The charter was also further amended in 
1842 and in 1845, ^°^ ^^he improvement of water 
works, to empower the trustees to borrow money on 
the credit of the corporation, to purchase a lot for 
a market and other public buildings, and for other 
purposes. 

Municipal Officers — Village Government. 

At the first election for village officers under the 
charter, held at the school house in Syracuse May 
3, 1825, Joshua Forman, Amos P. Granger, Moses 
D. Burnet, Heman Walbridge, and John Rogers, 
were elected Trustees ; Joshua Forman was chosen 
President ; James Webb, Alfred Northam, and 
Thomas Spencer, Assessors ; John Wilkinson, 
Clerk ; John Durnford, Treasurer ; Daniel Gilbert, 
Justice of the Peace, presiding. 

The Trustees proceeded at once to lay out road 
districts, to organize a fire department, to purchase 
engines and apparatus, and other things for the 



welfare of the village. Our space will not allow us 
to follow the list of officers further. They will be 
found in the records of the village and city. 

Early Lawyers. 

John Wilkinson, Esq., was the first lawyer in Sy- 
racuse. He came to the place in 1819, and a few 
years after built an office on the corner now occu- 
pied by the Globe Hotel. The office was twelve 
by fourteen feet, and Mr. Wilkinson was heartily 
ridiculed for putting his office out in the field, as it 
was then, although the location is now in the heart 
of the city. 

Mr. Wilkinson was long identified with the growth 
and progress of the village, holding many offices 
with honor and distinction. When railroads were 
first put in successful operation, he closely investi- 
gated their workings and principles and entered 
largely into railroad affairs. He was for several 
years President of the Syracuse and Utica Railroad, 
and by his influence succeeded in having the work- 
shops of that road located at Syracuse. He was 
afterwards President of the Michigan Southern 
Railroad, and under his skillful management that 
road became one of the best in the Union. In 1824 
he built a residence a little south of his office where 
he resided till he built his fine residence on James 
street. 

The next attorney after Mr. Wilkinson, vyas Al- 
fred Northam, Esq., in 1824. Then came Harvey 
Baldwin and Schuyler Strong, Esqs., in 1826, and 
were soon followed by Messrs. Wheaton and Davis, 
Hon. E. W. Leavenworth, Hon. B. Davis Noxon, 
Hon. James R. Lawrence, and others who came 
with the removal of the Court House from Onon- 
daga Hill Hon. George F. Comstock was a law 
student herewith Messrs. Noxon and Leavenworth 
and began his legal practice among the early mem- 
bers of the Syracuse Bar. Hon. E. W. Leaven- 
worth came in 1827. Hon, Joshua Forman was 
also a lawyer, contemporary with Mr. Wilkinson, 
but his office at that early period was with his 
partner, Mr. Sabin, at Onondaga Hollow. He was 
made Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 
18 1 3.* Other early lawyers of Syracuse and the 
County were Grove Lawrence, John H. Hulburt, 
Daniel Gott, D. D. Hillis, George H. Middleton, 
Henry J. Sedgwick, William J. Hough, John Ruger, 
John G. Forbes, and J. W. Nye. 

Of the above list all are deceased except Hon. E. 
W. Leavenworth and Judge George F. Comstock. 

The following have also been members of this 
Bar, and have died within the past 24 years : Fin- 

* See Biography of Judge Forman. 



142 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



lay M. King, Thomas T. Davis, Z. C. Foot, N. B. 
Smith, James Barrett, H. S. Fuller, William J. 
Dodge, Col. A. W. Dwight, Barnard Slocum, Rich- 
ard Raynor, Col. C. M. Randall, Frank Wooster, 
S. L. Edwards, Jr.,D. J. Mitchell, John A. Clark, 
Henry Horton, Cyrus R. James, D. Redfield, John 
J. Miles, John Malloy, Charles C. Bates, V. M. 
Gardner, A. Coats, P. Outwater, Jr., Q. A. John- 
son, E. A. Brown, John Huning, G. D. Z. Griswold, 
E. A. Clapp, John H. Brand, H. H. Hitchcock, 
John Callamer, John L Ncwcomb, Thomas A. 
Smith, J. R. Lawrence, Jr., J. W. Loomis, Fred H. 
Gray, A. C. Griswold, D. G. Montgomery, Leonard 
H. Lewis, S. Rexford, J. J. Briggs, O. J. Rugcr, 
C. M. Brosnan, E. Butler, R. S. Corning, A. J. 
Henderson, Z. L. Beebe, J. F. Sabine, George 
Murphy, Robert F. Trowbridge, Andrew J. Lynch, 
H. E. Northrup, Clinton M. Smith, Nelson M. 
Baker, L. Harris Hiscock. 

The following attorneys have been in practice in 
Syracuse 24 or more years : R. H. Gardner, James 
S. Leach, Le Roy Morgan, Daniel Pratt, Hamilton 
Burdick, C. B. Sedgwick, Thomas G. Alvord, Israel 
S. Spencer, E. W. Leavenworth, B. Davis No.xon, 
George F. Comstock, Daniel F. Gott, William C. 
Rugcr, M. C. Mcrrinian, G. W. Gray, J. L. Bagg, 
H. C. Leavenworth, H. Ricgel, N. F. Graves, S. N. 
Holmes, D. Coats. 

The Powder E.xplosion. 

On the evening of Friday, August 20, 1841, oc- 
curred an event ever memorable to the people of 
Syracuse— the Powder Explosion, which killed 26 
citizens, and wounded 10 dangerously, and 43 others 
severely. It was caused by a fire originating in a 
joiner's shop on the tow-path side of the Oswego 
Canal, where twenty-five kegs of powder had been 
stored, and which exploded with terrific eflfect and 
with the sad consequences described. A gloom 
was cast over the whole village, and sadness filled 
every house and heart, at the terrible calamity. 

"The efiect of the explosion was felt for more 
than twenty miles around. A man upon the deck of 
a packet boat at Fulton, 26 miles distant, heard the 
report. At DcWitt and Jamesville; five miles ofl", 
persons were startled from their sleep, supposing 
their chimneys had fallen down. At Manlius, ten 
miles distant, the earth trembled, and crockery upon 
a merchants shelves rattled for the space of several 
seconds, like the ellect of a clap of thunder. At 
Camillus, it was compared to the crash o( falling 
timber. At Onondaga, it was supposed to be an 
earthquake. Although the concussion was tremen- 
dous at Syracuse, the report was not so loud as 
might have been supposed. Glass in the windows 
a hundred rods distant was broken. Papers in the 
County Clerk's office were thrown from their places 



upon the floor, and several buildings were more or 
less injured. 

"The instant the e.xplosion took place, the air 
was filled with fragments of the building, bits of 
lumber, &c., which lighted up the heavens with the 
brightness of day ; but in a twinkling it was total 
darkness ; the explosion had extinguished every 
particle of fire. The scene at the moment was 
horrible beyond description : men, women and chil- 
dren screaming in horror ; none knew the extent of 
the calamity, and all were anxious to learn the fate 
of their friends. Quickly some three thousand 
persons were gathered, anxiously looking for those 
whom they most regarded. Very soon lamps were 
brought ; the wounded were carried oft", filling the 
air with sighs and groans ; the dead were sought 
and found, many of them so disfigured that they 
could be recognized only by their clothes or the 
contents of their pockets. For a long time small 
groups of persons could be seen with lights in all 
directions, carrying either the dead or the wounded 
to their homes. The next day the village was 
shrouded in mourning ; the stores were all closed 
and business suspended. On Sunday the unfor- 
tunate victims were consigned to the tomb amidst 
the sympathies and tears of an afflicted com- 
j munity." 

Incorporation of Syracuse as a City. 

The rapid growth of the village in population and 

I importance induced the discussion of its incorpora- 
tion as a city in 1846. Meetings were held during 

I that and part of the following year without arriving 
at any definite conclusion, till the winter of 1847, 
when the question was brought before the Legisla- 
ture. Considerable difference of opinion existed 
among the inhabitants as to the extent of territory 
the city should include. Some were for having it 
embrace the entire Salt Springs Reservation ; others 
only the village of Syracuse. At several spirited 
meetings the subject was warmly discussed, and re- 

I suited in the plan of uniting the villages of Syra- 
cuse and Salina, under one city charter with the 
name of the latter. The act of incorporation was 

I passed December 14, 1S47, (Chap. 475, Session 
Laws,) and defined the limits of the city as fol- 
lows : 

" The district of country constituting a part of 
the town of Salina, and including the villages of 
Syracuse and Salina, in the county of Onondaga, 
within the following bounds, that is to say : 

" Beginning on the northeasterly corner of Man- 
lius L. , running thence to the northeasterly 

corner of the village of Salina, thence along the 
northerly line of said village of Salina, to the 
northwesterly corner of the same, thence south- 
westerly to the Onondaga Lake, thence along the 
southeasterly shore of said lake to the center of 
Onondaga Creek, thence southerly along the cent^ 
of said creek to the line of the village of Syracuse, 

I thence westerly and southerly along such line to 




^ y 

The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Onon- 
daga, Onondaga Co., July 6, 1808. He was the second child in 
a family of three children of Gerry Stevens and Charlotte Hard, 
the former a native of Killingworth (now Clinton), Conn., the 
latter a native of Washington Co., N. Y. His father came to 
Onondaga County about the year 1800, and hence was one of 
the pioneers of the county. 

From the historical collection of John L. Barber, of Con- 
necticut, it appears that the Stevens' came from the county of 
Kent, England, to Guilford, Conn. Among the first planters 
there appear the names of Thomas and John Stevens. These 
families removed to Killingworth in the year 1665, and among 
the first settlers there are the names of Thomas and William 
Stevens. The latter of these had a son, Josiah, also called 
Deacon Stevens, and sometimes called Captain Stevens, born a.d. 
1670, and died March 15, 1754, from whom the subject of this 
memoir traces his descent, through his grandfather, Jeremiah. 
There is little doubt that one of the ancestors, named Thomas, 
is the same spoken of in Fox's Book of Martyrs, who suffered 
martyrdom by being burned to death at Rye, in the county of 
Kent, England, 1557. 

Before George was three years of age his father died, leaving 
a wife and three children. She was afterwards married to Cyprian 
Heberd, a carpenter and joiner, who built some of the first manu- 
factories of coarse salt in Salina, and with whom George spent 
his early life learning the trade, attending the common school 
winters, and for two terms attended the Onondaga academy. 
At the age of sixteen he went to Troy, and afterwards to New 
York to complete his trade, and while there (1828) he laid a 
house-floor made of lumber matched with tongue and groove, 
and is said to be the first man in the United States, and possibly 
in the world, who laid such a floor. On arriving at age he 
returned to his native county, and for the next six years worked 
at his trade. He then built several salt manufactories in Salina, 
and was one of the fir.st to manufacture tine salt. Altogether 
he has spent thirty-three years in the manufacture of salt, and 



J.^'i.'-^^T^ 



has been closely identified with that interest. He also carried 
on in the meantime the grocery business for four years ; was 
a manufacturer of potash for three years, and a forwarding 
merchant for four years. Until within a few years his life has 
been one of great activity, and his efforts have been such as to 
perform his part in contributing to the best interests of the city 
of which he is now an honored citizen in his seventieth year. 
Highly esteemed by his fellow-men, he has held many offices 
of responsibility and trust, discharging the duties of the same 
with that integrity and consideration which has characterized 
his whole life. 

He has lived to see the city, with all of its present wealth 
and business, rise from a village of three hundred persons. He 
was next to the last president of the village before its organi- 
zation as a city, and since which time he has served several 
terms as assessor, overseer of the poor, and supervisor of the 
fourth ward, in which he resides. 

In the year 1864 he was elected police justice of the city, 
which office he held until a paraljftic stroke in the year 1867 
compelled him to relinquish the duties of that office and retire 
to private life. In the years 1851 and 1852 he represented 
his district in the State legislature. 

In 1852 he became a director b the Merchants' bank, and 
has held the office until the present time. He was president of 
the same the year previous to his illness. He has been a director 
of the Onondaga salt company from the time of its organization. 

For his first wife he married, in the year 1831, Harriet, 
daughter of Moses Stebbins, of Springfield, Mass., by whom 
he had two children, — Henry Howard (died in infancy) and 
Harriet (deceased), who married A. C. Chase, present postmaster 
of the city of Syracuse. His wife died in 183G, aged twenty-eight 
years. For his second wife, in 1840, he married Mrs. Lydia P., 
widow of Capt. Joseph Fitch, of New London, Conn., and 
daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Barns, of Westerly, R. I., by whom 
he has had four children,— Alice, George H. (deceased), Joseph 
F., and Kate. 



IJied April rth, 1S7N, since the publication ol the uliovo. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



143 



the south bounds of the town of Salina, thence east 
along the south bounds of the town of Salina to 
the east bounds thereof, thence northerly along the 
east bounds of said town to the place of beginning, 
shall hereafter be known as the ' City of Syracuse.' " 

Section second of the act divided the city into 
four wards, as follows : 

All that part of the city lying east of Onon- 
daga Creek and north of Division and Pond streets, 
was made the First Ward ; all the rest of the city 
lying north of the center of the Erie Canal, was 
made the Second Ward ; the Third Ward included 
that portion of the city lying south of the Erie 
Canal and west of Montgomery street as far south 
as Burt street, thence west of Salina street to the 
southern boundary of the city; the remainder of 
the city constituted the Fourth Ward. 

The following certificate of the Clerk of Onon- 
daga county shows that an election was held by the 
citizens of both villages, for the purpose of ratify- 
ing the charter, on the 3d of January, 1848 : 

" Whereas, By the provisions of an act entitled 
'An Act to Incorporate the City of Syracuse,' 
passed December 14, 1847, an election was held in 
each of the villages of Syracuse and Salina, on the 
third day of January, one thousand eight hundred 
and forty-eight ; and from the returns made and 
filed in the office of the Clerk of the County of 
Onondaga by the Trustees of said villages respec- 
tively, pursuant to said act, it appears that the whole 
number of votes given at said election at the poll 
held in the village of Syracuse, was one thousand 
eight hundred and forty-three ; of which the whole 
number of votes having thereon the word ' Charter ' 
was ten hundred and seventy-two, and that the 
whole number of votes having thereon the words 
' No Charter ' was seven hundred and seventy-one. 
That the whole number of votes given at said 
election at the poll held in the village of Salina, 
was four hundred and twenty-four ; of which the 
whole number of votes having thereon the word 
' Charter ' was three hundred and eighty-five ; and 
the whole number having thereon the words ' No 
Charter ' was thirty-nine. 

" A majority of votes at each of said villages 
having been thus given in favor of said charter, as 
appears from said returns on file in the office of the 
Clerk of the County of Onondaga, as aforesaid : I, 
Vivus W. Smith, Clerk of said County, in pur- 
suance of the provisions of the Seventeenth Sec- 
tion of Title X of said Act, do make and publish 
this statement, and certify that the said act of in- 
corporation becomes a law on the day of the first 
publication of this certificate. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 
[l. s.] my hand and affixed the seal of the said 
County of Onondaga, this 5th day of 
January, 1848. 

V. W. Smith, Clerk." 

First City Officers. 
At the first Charter Election, held on the first 



Ttiesday in March, 1848, the following officers were 
elected : 

Hon. Harvey Baldwin, Mayor. 
Aldermen. 

First Ward — James Lynch, Elizur Clark. 

Second ll'ard — Ale.xander McKinstry, John B. 
Burnet. 

Third Ward — William H. Alexander, Gardner 
Lawrence. 

Fourth Ward — Henry W. Durnford, Robert Fur- 
man. 

In January, 1849, ^ census was taken which 
showed that the city contained a small fraction less 
than 16,000 inhabitants. 

Mayors of the City of Syracuse. 
First Mayor, 1848, Harvey Baldwin; 1849, Elias 
W. Leavenworth; 1850, Alfred H. Hovey ; 185 1, 
Moses D. Burnet ; 1852, Jason C. Woodruff; 1853, 
Dennis McCarthy; 1854, Allen Munroe ; 1855, 
Lyman Stevens; 1856-57-58, Charles F. Willis- 
ton ; 1859, Elias W. Leavenworth ; i860, Amos 
Westcott ; 1861-62, Charles Andrews ; 1863, Daniel 
Bookstaver ; 1864, Archibald C. Powell; 1865- 
66-6"], William D. Stewart ; 1868, Charles Andrews ; 
1869-70, Charles P. Clark; 1871-72, Francis E. 
Carroll ; 1873, William J. Wallace ; 1874, Nathan F. 
Graves; 1875, George P. Hier ; 1876, John J. 
Grouse ; 1877-78, J. J. Belden. 

Postmasters. 
John Wilkinson, 1820; Jonas Earll, Jr., 1837; 
Henry Raynor, 1841 ; William W. Teall, 1845 ; 
William Jackson, 1849; Henry J. Sedgwick, 1853 
and 1857; Patrick H. Agan, 1861 ; George L. 
Maynard, 1865 ; D wight H. Bruce, 1871 ; A. C. 
Chase, 1876, present Postmaster. 

The Old Mill-Pond. 
An improvement of no little importance to the 
city was the conversion of the old mill-pond into 
valuable building lots, which are now occupied by 
substantial manufacturing estabhshments, business 
blocks, public buildings and residences. It will be 
remembered that the first dam and mills were 
built by Abraham Walton in 1805. The dam was 
constructed of logs across Onondaga Creek at West 
Genesee street, and at that time the Genesee Turn- 
pike passed over it. About a year after its con- 
struction, it was swept away by a heavy spring 
freshet, and another log dam was built at the cross- 
ing of West Water street, which was removed in 
1824, and a substantial stone dam erected in its 
place. Then came the stone mill erected by Samuel 
Booth for the Syracuse Company in 1825. The mill- 



'44 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



pond covered so large a surface and was for masy 
yearsthecauseof so much sickness in the village that 
it was finally emptied by tearing away the dam, and 
in 184S, under the administration of Mayor Bald- 
win, the work of improving this portion of the city 
was begun. It consisted of the straightening of 
Onondaga Creek and the filling in of portions of 
the mill-pond with earth from Prospect Hill. 

The work was carried forward under the adminis- 
tration of Mayor Leavenworth in 1849, who had 
Jefferson (now Regimental) Park laid out in about 
the center of the ground formerly occupied by the 
mill-pond. The land then belonged to the State, 
and comprised about nine acres, including the site 
of the pond and the neck of land extending to the 
center of Onondaga Creek. Mr. Leavenworth had 
a map made. of the land including the Park, and 
obtained the consent of the Commissioners of the 
Land Office for its sale, on condition that it 
would bring S9.000 ; otherwise the sale was to be 
null and void. The land was offered upon this 
condition, and at the sale brought over S 16,000. 

The center of this ground is now occupied by the 
fine State Arsenal, while the Binghamton Freight 
and Passenger Depots and other substantial struc- 
tures occupy other portions of it. 

The first Arsenal building was erected in 1858, 
in which year the site was conveyed to the State. 
The cost of the building was S8,ooo ; the State ap- 
propriated $5,000, and Si, 800 was raised by indi- 
vidual subscription. This building was destroyed 
by fire in 1871. The present building — a much 
larger and more ornamental structure — was erected 
in 1872 74, at a cost of ?8o,coo ; Horatio N. 
White, Architect. This building is known as the 
State Arsenal, and is the headquarters of the 51st 
Regiment. loth Brigade, 6th Division, &c., National 
Guard of the State of New York." 

BuKViNG Grounds — OAKwoon Cemetery. 

For the following brief sketch of the burying 
places in Syracuse, we are indebted to a little work 
entitled " Oakwood," a history of the incorporation 
and dedication of Oakwood Cemetery. The first 
white person who was buried within the limits of 
the city, and probably within the bounds of Onon- 
daga County, was Benjamin Nukerk, who came to 
the wilds of Onondaga as an Indian trader with 
Ephraim Webster in 1786. He died December 7, 
1787, and was buried on a little eminence which 
overlooks the Onondaga Lake and its shores, now 
embraced in Farm Lot No. 310, lying directly in 
the rear of the residence of William Judson, on 

* See Roiter oi Olficeri eliewhere. 



West Genesee street. The head and foot stones 
are still standing, bearing the inscription : 

Be.njamin Nukerk, 

Died Dec. 7th, 1787, 

Aged 37 years. 

About the year 1845, Joseph Savage, Esq., who 
owns the land occupied by this grave, had occasion 
to dig a trench two or three feet below the surface, 
and while doing so struck upon a line of graves. 
On examination they proved to be placed in a direct 
line for some twenty or thirty feet, and consisted of 
quite a number of bodies. The bones were mostly 
decomposed, except the skulls, and among them 
were found quite a number of bullets. Probably 
the ground was never used as a permanent burial 
place, but these bodies fell in some battle of which, 
perhaps, we have no record and were hastily buried 
here in the sandy loam of this beautiful little emi- 
nence. But it may be otherwise, as Mr. Savage 
found other remains in difierent places on the same 
little hillock, one, the skull of which had evidently 
been cleft by a tomahawk. A gun, brass kettle, 
flints and pipes were also found from time to time. 
Probably the Indians had occupied this spot after 
Ephraim Webster established his trading post here. 

The first burials in the village of Salina were 
made on ground now known as Lot No. 8 in Block 
No. 18, near the intersection of Spring and Free 
streets. They, however, ceased to bury there be- 
fore 1794, and began to make interments on the 
ground now embraced in Washington Park, and near 
the spot where the Presbyterian Church (recent- 
ly removed) was afterwards built. Mrs. Nancy T. 
Gilchrist, the mother of Ira A. Gilchrist, and several 
members of the families of Dexter and Herring were 
buried here, — Mrs. Gilchrist in 1794. Burials 
were made here also but a few years, when finding 
the location too near the dwellings, they began to 
bury upon the ridge which runs through Block No. 
40, in the rear of the residence of James Lynch, 
Esq., and in the immediate vicinity of that formerly 
occupied by the late Alfred Northam, Esq. This, 
too, was abandoned in 1801, when Sheldon Logan, 
at that time Superintendent of the Onondaga Salt 
Springs, laid out a piece of ground then owned by 
the State, for a public burying ground. It was used 
as such till the year 1S29, and a few of the bodies 
buried in Washington Park, including that of Mrs. 
Gilchrist, and perhaps some from Block No. 40, 
were removed to the new grounds. Block No. 59 
in the First Ward, covers the site of the grounds 
laid out by Mr. Logan. 

By an act of the Legislature passed in 1829, 
(Chap. 243) Block No. 43 was substituted for Block 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



145 



No. 59, for the purpose of a public cemetery. The 
trustees of the village of Salina, as by law directed, 
removed the bodies from the old ground to the new ; 
the former was sold at public auction, and Block No. 
43 has been used as a cemetery from that time to 
the present. The lots are nearly or quite all taken 
up and occupied. 

It may be proper to state here that Mr. Isaac 
VanVleck, one of the best known among the early 
settlers, was buried on Lot 8, Block 13, on what has 
been designated the Schouten Lot. 

In 1834, previous to the act of the Legislature 
(Laws 1835, Chap. 160,) incorporating Lodi with 
the village of Syracuse, the inhabitants of that lo- 
cality established a small cemetery upon the hill on 
Beech street south of East Genesee, on Farm Lot 
No. 197. The late Oliver Teall, Esq., who then 
held a contract for the lot, furnished the land and 
offered an acre of ground, or more if desired, on 
condition that the people in that vicinity would 
clear and fence it. About half an acre was en- 
closed, and it has been since mostly occupied, al- 
though of late years it has been almost entirely 
abandoned as a burying place. 

The first burials within the limits of what was 
formerly the village of Syracuse were made on land 
now enclosed in Block No. 105, near the intersec- 
tion of Clinton and Fayette streets. They did not 
probably exceed twenty or thirty in number, and 
the citizens ceased to bury there previous to 1819. 
When the village was laid out by Messrs. Owen 
Forman and John Wilkinson, and a map made 
of the same, no spot of ground seems to have been 
set apart for a cemetery, and from 18 19 to 1S24, all 
burials were made at Salina, Onondaga Hill, or On- 
ondaga Hollow. The first person buried in what 
is now designated the "Old Cemetery" was Mrs. 
Eliza Spencer, the first wife of Hon. Thomas Spen- 
cer, who died on the 2d day of April, 1824. After 
the village passed into the hands of the Syracuse Com- 
pany, they probably set apart this piece of ground 
for a cemetery ; and it continued to be used as such 
till 1 84 1. 

On the 1st of July, 1841, the grounds embraced 
in Rose Hill Cemetery, containing a fraction over 
twenty-two acres, were purchased of George F. 
Leitch, by the Trustees of the village in compli- 
ance with a vote of the citizens. There was much 
opposition to the purchase of this ground, on ac- 
count of its nearness to the village and for other 
reasons, and a second meeting was called, hoping 
that the citizens would reconsider their decision. 
A majority, however, voted in favor of it a second 

time, and the property was purchased and laid out 
19* 



as a cemetery. On motion of General Granger two 
hundred dollars were voted at the same meeting for 
the improvement of the grounds, which the Trus- 
tees proceeded at once to lay out. Ambrose S. 
Townsend, who died on the 24th of August, 1841, 
was the first person buried at Rose Hill. He was 
the eldest son of John Townsend, Esq , of Albany, 
and grandson of the late Ambrose Spencer. 

Oakwood. 

As a cemetery Rose Hill was never satisfactory 
to a large number of the citizens of Syracuse. 
The topography was unfavorable, more than half 
of the surface being a steep side hill, not easily ac- 
cessible, and the whole destitute of natural trees 
and shrubbery. It was by many deemed incapable 
of those high adornments which the public taste 
now demands. For these and other reasons an 
early desire was manifested by many prominent 
citizens to procure grounds for a cemetery more in 
conformity with the higher cultivation of modern 
taste on the subject. Accordingly, as early as 1852 
and the years immediately following, a number of 
meetings were held and the subject of a new 
cemetery was fully discussed. Committees were 
appointed for the purpose of thoroughly examining 
the vicinity of the city in all directions and finding 
the locality best adapted in all respects to the pur- 
poses of a rural cemetery. These committees care- 
fully performed their duty and the unanimous con- 
clusion was finally reached, that the hundred acres 
of land best fitted for all the purposes desired was 
that now embraced within the limits of Oakwood. 

The persons who most particularly interested 
themselves at this time were Messrs. Henry A. 
Dillaye, Charles B. Sedgwick, John B. Burnet, 
Robert B. Raymond, Charles Pope, Hamilton 
White, A. C. Powell, C. Tyler Longstreet, Israel 
Hall, John Wilkinson, Allen Munroe and E. W. 
Leavenworth. 

No immediate action was taken with regard to 
the purchase of the grounds, and in the midst of 
other pursuits of more pressing personal interest, it 
was delayed till the summer of 1857, when the sub- 
ject was again revived by Messrs. Hamilton White, 
J. L. Bagg, Lewis H. Redfield, C. Tyler Long- 
street, A. C. Powell, John Wilkinson and Henry A. 
Dillaye. The papers were drawn up preparatory to 
the organization of an Association ; the terms of 
the purchase of the grounds were verbally agreed 
upon, when the whole subject was suddenly put to 
rest by the great pecuniary revulsion of that year. 
A final and eventually successful effort was again 
made in the summer of 1858, principally by Messrs. 



146 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



White and Leavenworth, which was continued with 
little interruption till the summer of 1859. Having 
arranged with Charles A. Haker, Esq., for the pur- 
chase of the front twenty acres, and with Henry 
Raynor, Esq., for the balance of the ground, the 
first object to which attention was directed was the 
removal of the Jamesville Plank Road from the 
bounds of the proposed cemetery. It became nec- 
essary to procure the consent of a majority of the 
stockholders, — afterwards of a majority of the inhab- 
itants residing on the cast and west road crossing 
the said Plank Road near its first gate, to which the 
road was to be changed, — next of the Supervisors 
and Commissioners of Highways of the town of 
Onondaga, in which town the road is situated— and 
finally, to procuic a right of way for said Plank 
Road across the lands of Charles A. Baker, Esq., 
and Dr. David S. Colvin. 

After a year of laborious effort, and with much 
aid from Mr. Baker, these several objects were suc- 
cessfully attained, and all serious obstacles removed, 
except the raising of the necessary funds for the pur- 
chase. To that important service Hon. A. C. 
Powell for weeks devoted a large portion of his 
time, and with such aid as he had from Messrs. 
Hawley, White and Leavenworth, succeeded early 
in August in raising the necessary amount in sub- 
scriptions, payable in one, two and three years with 
interest. 

On the 15th of August, 1859, the subscribers to 
the fund met at the Mayor's office and organized the 
Association of Oakwood, and elected the following 
trustees : Hamilton White, J. P. Haskins, John 
Crouse, John Wilkinson, E. W. Leavenworth, Arch- 
ibald C. Powell, Austin Myers, Allen Munroe, 
Timothy R. Porter, Robert G. Wynkoop Thomas 
G Alvord, J. Dean Hawley. On the following day 
a meeting of the trustees was held at the office of 
Hon. E. W. Leavenworth and the following officers 
were chosen : E. W. Leavenworth, President ; A. 
C. Powell, Vice-President: Allen Munroe, Secre- 
tary, and Hamilton White, Treasurer. 

At the same meeting a resolution was adopted, 
on motion of Mr. Alvord, instructing the officers of 
the association to purchase of Messrs. Baker and 
Raynor the lands now embraced in Oakwood on 
the terms theretofore agreed upon, viz : ?9,5CXD for 
the twenty acres in front, bought of Mr. Baker, and 
;$iS,ooo for the seventy-two and seventy-nine one 
hundredth acres, bought of Mr. Raynor. Agree- 
ably to such resolution, the purchase was made and 
the papers exchanged on the 5th of September 
thereafter. 

All the lots in Rose Hill Cemetery, and also in 



that at Salina, having been sold, and the Common 
Council having resolved to sell the north eight acres 
of the former, the Trustees made immediate prep- 
arations for the improvement of the grounds, and 
early in October, Howard Daniels, Esq., an accom- 
plished landsdape gardener from the city of New 
York, with the aid of fifty or sixty men, commenced 
work and continued it till the month of December. 

The first person buried at Oakwood was Mrs. 
Nellie G. Wilkinson, who died on the 6th, and was 
buried on Tuesday, the 8th day of November, 1859 

The first monument of any kind erected within 
the bounds of the cemetery, was that of James 
Crouse, Esq., on Section No. 13, during the winter 
of 1 859-' 60. 

The little pamphlet from which we have selected 
the matter for this history closes its account of the 
progress of Oakwood in the following words : 
" Thus, at length, after nearly ten years of delays, 
difficulties and disajipointments, after the project 
had been more than once abandoned, and our hopes 
all but extinguished, this lovely spot of ground was 
secured for the final repose of our dead : to be 
visited, admired and hallowed in our memories 
while we live, by a thousand sacred and tender re- 
collections, and to be the beautiful resting place of 
our bodies when summoned to our final home." 
We may add that the grounds are the most beauti- 
ful and admirably adapted to the purposes of a rural 
cemetery of any in the country, and the art dis- 
played in their decoration and the rich and costly 
monuments will well repay the stranger for a visit 
to Oakwood. 

Dedication. 

On Tuesday, the 3d day of November, 1859, the 
grounds were dedicated with appropriate ceremo- 
nies to the sacred [uirpose of a resting place for the 
dead. The Hon. Wm. J. Bacon, of Utica, deliv- 
ered the Address, Alfred B. Street, Esq., of Albany, 
the Poem, and Rev. John Pierpont, of Boston, and 
Mrs. Thomas T. Davis, of Syracuse, furnished re- 
spectively an Ode and a Hymn for the occasion, 
which was one of deep interest to the people of 
Syracuse, many thousands testifying their apprecia- 
tion of the importance of the object attained by 
their presence on the ground. The day, which was 
lowery and threatening in the morning, became 
bright and beautiful and one of the plcasantest of 
the season. 

The exercises, including the opening address by 
Hun. E. W. Leavenworth, President of the Ceme- 
tery Association, and the oration by Hon. William 
J. Bacon, were all exceptionally interesting and 
appropriate, but we have space only for the Hymn 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



147 



of Mrs. Thomas T. Davis, and the Poem of Mr. 
Alfred B. Street, which deserve a place in the more 
permanent records of the city and county, as among 
some of the finest specimens of our mortuary lite- 
rature, 

HYMN. 

BY MRS. THOMAS T. DAVIS. 
Air — Pleycl's Hymn. 

Life and love with tender hand 
Guard and deck this Silent Land ; 
Cypress arch and willow wreath 
Shade the sacred sod beneath ; 
Sun and starlight gild the shrine, 
Flow'ry chaplets fondly twine ; 
Angel hosts, your vigils keep 
Where our loved and lost shall sleep. 

Loved, not lost ! No fear nor gloom 
Shrouds the portals of the tomb ; 
Death revealed immortal day 
When the rock was rolled away. 
Grave and crypt and pallid stone 
Mark not the realm of Death alone ; 
Life but sleeps, while Death survives, — 
Death shall die, and Life arise. 

Shed not then the frenzied tear ; 
Robe in light the pall, the bier ; 
Yonder see the shining shore 
Where our loved have gone before ; 
Rear the marble o'er the dead, 
Crown with flowers the dreamless head ; 
Calmly wait till Life shall be 
Blended with eternity. 

This hymn was sung by the members of the Syra- 
cuse Musical Institute, under the leadership of H, 
N. White, Esq. 

At the conclusion of Mayor Leavenworth's ad- 
dress, Alfred B. Street, Esq., of Albany, pronounced 
the following exquisitely beautiful and appropriate 

POEM : 

O'er life's fresh springtide, when the blithsome hours 
Dance to glad music through perennial flowers ; 
O'er bounding youth, when hope points ever on, 
No blossom scentless, and no color wan ; 
O'er stately manhood, when the mountain tread 
Seeks the far prize that stars the crag o'erhead ; 
O'er trembling age, when, worn with toil and woe, 
It turns from light above to gloom below ; 
Darkens a shade, mysterious, cold and black, 

Mantling the flowery as the wintry track ; 
Brooding where joy its diamond goblet quaifs ; 
Where daring, loud at every danger laughs ; 
Where strength securely rests on future years ; 



Where fame, wealth, pleasure, each its votary cheers ; 
Death is that shade, inexorable Death, 
With ever-lifted dart at all of mortal breath. 

But though the soul that lights the frame depart. 

The darkened dust is sacred to the heart. 

Around the spot that wraps the dead from sight, 

Lingers thought's tenderest, love's divinest light; 

Hallowed by suffering, it remains a shrine 

Where oft sad memory wends, its fairest flowers to twine. 

The land that trod through Deluge-ooze its way, 

Gave to the pyramid its mummied clay. 

The purple skies of Art and Song inurned 

The sacred ashes sacred fires had burned. 

The Parsee offered to his God, the Sun, 

On the grand crag the heart whose course was run. 

And the red roamer of the prairie sea 

Yields to the air his wrecked mortality. 

But not to pyramid, though mocking Time, 

The urn funereal, nor the sun sublime. 

Nor boundless air, nor yet the waste of waves, 

That stateliest, mightiest, most august of graves — 

But not in such drear, weltering vastness spread 

Should Christian hands consign the Christian dead. 

But to the earth, the warm, the steadfast earth. 

That, touched by God's own finger, gave us birth ; 

Where to the resurrecting sun and rain 

The seed but perishes to live again ; 

Where nature hides her life in Winter's gloom 

For warbling Spring to sing it into bloom ; 

Home of the tree that sheds its leafy showers 

For the new garland wreathed by vernal hours ! 

Home of the priceless fount ! the matchless gem ! 

The precious gold ! more precious grainy stem ! 

Yea, as we woke to life upon her breast, 

Her loving arms should fold our last and longest rest. 

And thus, oh lovely Oakwood, shalt thou spread 
Thy sylvan chambers, for the slumbering dead. 
Through thy green landscapes shall Affection stray, 
Weep the wild tear, with softened sadness pray. 
Within the glen, as murmurings fill the tree, 
A voice shall seem to whisper, " Come with me ! " 
And the green hill top — whence the sight is fraught, 
With the rich painting Nature's hand hath wrought; 
Woodland and slope, mount, meadow and ravine. 
The city's white, the water's purple sheen. 
And the dim mountain tops, until the gaze 
Pierces where distance hangs its tender haze — 
Tell that the soul, with onward pointed eye, 
Finds its far limit only in the sky. 
The grassy dingle and the leafy dell 
Shall tremble sadly to the tolling bell ; 
Where now wide solitude wraps slope and glade 
For winds to pipe to dancing sun and shade, 
Shall carved memorials of the dead be found 
Breathing their solemn eloquence around. 
Here, shall the son, in some prone trunk, descry 



148 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



The sire he saw in life's completeness die ; 

Here, shall the sire, in some green pine, survey 

The stately son, ere death had claimed its prey ; 

Here, in the flower, the mother again shall see 

The laughing child that perished at her knee : 

Here, the weird wind shall with long, melting moan, 

Mingle its sadness with the mourner's own. 

And the drear cloud, low brooding, seem a part 

Of the dark sorrow hanging on the heart ; 

Here, too, the joyful splendor of the sun 

Shall tell the life the loved and lost hath won. 

And warblings sweet, the landscape's ear that fill 

Of those glad strains the sounding heavens that thrill. 

Summer shall here hold green and leafy time, 

Emblem of those that perished in their prime ; 

Autumn shall shower its wreaths upon the air. 

Sign to the living also to prepare ; 

Winter shall spread in fierce and frowning might. 

Great type of death, its chilling robes of white ; 

But oh, glad thought ! in Spring's triumphant reign 

Nature shall bound in radiant joy again, 

Bid with her rapturous life Death's horrors flee. 

Type of that glorious truth — Man's Immortality. 

Population of Svracuse. 

The following statement of the population of 
Syracuse for May, 1877, is taken from Boyd's City 
Directory : 

I MALES. I FEMALES. | TOTAL. 



Wards. 



' 


_. 


• 


06 


J. 


« 


00 


M 


ri 


u 




b 


k. 


V 




-s 




c 


> 


c 


' 6 


D 





D 



ist 1,336 

2d 2,405 

3d 1,092 

4th 2,324 

5<h , 2.339 

6th 1,549 

7th 2,336 

8th 1,343 



1,247 
2,263 

937 
2,071 

>.:69 
603 

1.774 
1,071 



1,443 
2,236 
1,058 
2.739 
2,456 
1,671 
2,946 
',657 



1,189] 
2,061 

9451 
2,082 

1,759 

7«> 

',923 

i,o6ii 



5.215 
8,965 
4,032 
9,216 

8.323 
4.534 
8,979 
5-132 



Total 



14,724 11.735' i6,2o6, 11,731! 54,396 



Population in 1877 54>396 

Population in 1876 54, '76 

Increase 220 

Village of Geddes 5,4o3 



Syracuse (including Geddes) is 59.S04 

Svracuse City Water-Wokks. 
Among the first to advocate a system of water- 
works for supplying the village of Syracuse was 
Capt. Oliver Tcall, who was the first Superintend- 
ent of the middle division of the Eric Canal upon 
its opening in 1820. Captain Teall had taken a 
contract on the canal during its construction, and 
had removed from Manlius to the Lodi Locks as 



early as 18 19. He became largely interested in 
land in that vicinity, and erected mills at Lodi, 
having the right of the surplus water of the canal 
at that point, which right he retained till it was 
finally resumed by the State. In connection with 
Messrs. Aaron Burt and Harvey Baldwin, Mr. Teall 
became an enterprising and wealthy land-owner in 
that part of the city now included in the Eighth 
Ward, formerly Lodi, but incorporated in the vil- 
lage of Syracuse in 1835. (Laws 1835, Chap. 160.) 

As early as 1821, the subject of water-works in 
the village had been brought before the Legislature. 
The first act, entitled '• An Act to supply the vil- 
lage of Syracuse with wholesome water," was passed 
March 27, 1821. (Laws 1821, Chap. 176. 1 It 
granted the people of Syracuse the right to use 
sufficient water for supplying the village from any 
of the springs on adjacent lands belonging to the 
State, and provided for the election of three Trus- 
tees, at an election to be held at the house of Ster- 
ling Cossit, inn-keeper in said village, on the first 
Monday in May, 1821, who should have power to 
transact all business relating to the water-works, 
and to carry into eflect the provisions of said act. 
It does not appear that the provisions of said act 
were ever carried into effect or that anything was 
done under it towards supplying the few inhabitants 
then in the village with water. Probably the enter- 
prise would not pay at that stage of settlement. 
The villagers, however, wished to obtain the right 
and to keep it against a time of need, for the mid- 
dle division of the canal was then open, and all 
were anticipating a marvelous growth into the pro- 
portions of a city. 

The act incorporating the village, passed April 
13, 1S25, (Laws 1825, Chap. 124,1 vested all the 
rights, property, and powers of the Trustees of the 
Water-Works in the village corporation, and the 
hypothetical water-works were placed under the 
control of the trustees of said village till 1829. 
During this period it does not appear that the trus- 
tees did anything practical towards supplying the 
village with water. 

On the 23d of April, 1829, an act was passed, 
(Laws 1829, Chap. 236,) authorizing the Trustees of 
the village to convey to Oliver Teall, his heirs and 
assigns, all the rights, property and powers of the 
Trustees of the Syracuse Water-Works Company, 
as vested in said village by the act of incorporation, 
for a term of twenty years, and said Oliver Teall was 
invested with all the rights and powers granted by 
the original act of 1821. This act also prescribed 
the amount that Mr. Teall should charge the citizens 
for water, viz. : a private family, a sum not e-xceed- 




Pliotos. by 
W. V. KiiilgiT. 




William Mctcalf Clurke was burn iii Liinesboro, Berkshire 
Co., Mass., Ajiril 3, 1800. He was tlie lifth .son of Dr. Hczeldah 
ClarlvB, wlio was tile son of Dr. Jolin Clarl<e, of Lebanon, Conn.; 
son of Moses Clarice, of Lebanon, Conn. ; son of Daniel Clarke, 
of Colchester, Conn. ; son of Hon. David Clarke, who came to 
America in 1639, from Warwickshire, England, and settled at 
Windsor, Conn. By both his paternal grandparents he is de- 
scended, in the seventh generation, from Simon Huntington, of 
England, whose sons, Christopher and Simon, Mr. Clarke's ances- 
tors, settled at Saybrook in 1633, and finally at Norwich, Conn. 

His mother, Lucy Bingham, was a daughter of the Hon. Moses 
Bliss, of Springfield, Mass. In this line lie is in the seventh 
generation from Thomas Bliss, an early settler of Hartford, Conn. 

By his maternal grandmother he is descended, in the eighth 
generation, from Michael Metcalf, who came from England in 
1637, and settled in Dedhain, Mass. 

One of the paternal great-grandmothers of Mr. Clarke was 
Elizabeth Edwards, second daughter of Kev. Timoth}' Edwards, 
of Windsor, Conn., who married Colonel Jabez Huntington; and 
one of his maternal great-grandmothers was Abigail Edwards, 
sixth daughter of Kev. Timothy Edwards, who married William 
Metcalf; both sisters of President Jonathan Edwards. 

In the year 180.5, Mr. Clarke emigrated with his parents to 
Onondaga County, arriving at Pompey Hill Nov. 2, where they 
occupied the " Squire Wood House." The next year they moved 
on a farm lying ten miles east of the hill. Mr. Clarke's early 
educational opportunities were quite fair, and he improved them 
to the utmost. In 1815 he obtained a clerkship in Col. Camp's 
store, at Trumaiisburg, N. Y., whose confidence in him was so 
great that he often intrusted him with the execution of very difB- 
cult duties. He then went to Ithaca, and engaged as clerk until 
Jan. 1, 1819, when he returned home, and pursued his studies at 
the Pompey academy. Some time later he made a trip to Kentucky, 
where he experienced religion, and united with the Concord Pres- 
byterian church, Nichols county, in April, 1827. He taught school 
most of the time while there. 

In April, 18i!8, he returned to Pompey, traveling a distance of 
700 miles. In the year 1829 he was elected school commissioner 
of the town of Pompej- by the anti-Masonic party. The winters 
of 1880, 1831, and 1831! were spent in teaching the district schools 
of Lafayette Square, Camillus Village, and Pompey Centre. 

From the spring of 1832 to 1837 he was employed in mercantile 
houses at Manlius, principally that of Messrs. E. & H. Rhodes. 
While there he became acquainted with Clara Catlin Tyler, whom 
he married June 7, 1836, at Harford, Pa., where she was born 



to -Ce( ^r~€^ S- Q)/Ciyy K- 



April 9, 1810. She was a daughter of John Tyler, of Harford, son 
of Deacon John Tyler, of Ararat, Pa. ; son of Capt. John Tyler, 
of Attleboro, Mass. ; son of Ebenezer Tyler, of Attleboro, Mass. ; 
son of Samuel Tyler, of Mendon, Mass.; son of Job Tyler, the 
emigrant ancestor, who was born in 1019, and came to America, 
and settled in Andover, Mass., about 1640. 

By her paternal grandmother she is de.scended, in the eighth 
generation, from Eev. Peter Thacher, of Salisbury, England, 
rector of Saint Edmond's, in that city. His son. Rev. Thomas 
Thacher, came to America in 103.5, and became the first minister 
of the old South church, Boston. Mrs. Clarke's mother was Polly 
Wadsworth, daughter of Epaphrus Wadsworth, formerly of 
Litchfield, Conn. In this line she is descended, in the seventh 
generation, from Hon. William Wadsworth, who emigrated from 
England in 1632, and settled in Cambridge, Mass., and afterwards 
in Hartford, Conn. ; also from his son, Capt. Joseph Wadsworth, 
of " Charter Oak" fame. By her maternal grandmother she is, 
in the eighth generation, from Thomas Catlin, who emigrated 
from England, or Wales, as early as 1644, and settled in Hartford, 
Conn. The Catlins are of French origin. Mrs. Clarke received 
a good education, and was preceptress at one time in the Cazeno- 
via high school, and also in the Manlius academy. 

In 1838, Mr. Clarke was appointed deputy county clerk. In 
1841 was elected clerk of Syracuse, and the same year was ap- 
pointed collector by the board of trustees. In 1843-44 was a 
member of the firm of Clarke & Sloat, in the marble business. 
In 1850 became a co-partner of Lyman Kingsly, in the sash and 
blind business, which he continued three years. On Jan. 1, 1869, 
was appointed chief clerk of the searching department, which 
position he held ten consecutive years. In 1806 he purchased a 
residence, with fourteen acres of land, in Onondaga Valley, about 
two and a half miles from the city of Syracuse, whore he now 
resides. His son, Henry Wadsworth, is civil engineer and sur- 
vevor of Syracuse, born in Harford, Susquehanna Co., Pa., Nov. 
6, 'l837. Frances Amelia, his daughter, was born in Syracuse, 
Dec. 0, 1839, and now lives with her parents. Mr. Clarke is a 
man of excellent habits, neither chewing tobacco, drinking liquor, 
nor smoking. It has been his life's aim to stop, in his humble way, 
the spread of intemperance. He has identiBed himself with the 
great moral and .social ideas of his time in every way that he has 
been able. In all the many and intricate offices which have been 
intrusted to him, he has invariably discharged their duties with 
ability and integrity. He is still enjoying good health, and is 
pa.ssing away his declining years in the sweet consciousness of 
having led an upright and consistent life. 




rtiolc*. b]r N. 8. Bowdiib, Syraciuc. 




^ ^^n^cyfi^ *^ «^A.x^sLfi. 




ALBERT G. SALISBURY. 



The subject of tliin sketch was born in Woodstock, Oneida 
Co., N. Y., Aug. 23, 1H13. Hi' wits the younj;ast of three 
HODS of Sylvester Salisbury and Sarah F. Gleason, both of 
whom wore nalivf.s of Ma.s.f:ichu.<(!fts. He spent his cjirly life 
auionj; his relatives, liis fatlier liavinj; died wlien he was only 
three years of a^e. At about the a^e of seventeen he conceived 
the idea that an education was necessary to meet the future, 
and rcKoiviKl if jKKwible to obtain one. Aei-ordiii^iy, without 
means jiecuniarily, he entered the academy at PouijH'y Ifill, 
working for his boanl. llrre his time was a constant round of 
activity, but he advanced so ra]>idiy in his studies, both at 
Fompey and White.-iborci, that he was enabled afterwards to 
engage its a teacher in district .schoiils. Thus he nu't the 
obitacles 80 common to self-made men. 

About the year 1830 he came to Syracuse, opened a jirivale 
school, subs4-(|uently obtained a position in the ]iulilie sclustl, 
and by succi'ssive gradations he ro.se in the i-steem of the people 
until, uj)on the erection of the village of Syracu.se into a city, 
he was elected as the first superintendent of schools, which 
office he enjoyed for .some three years, and suKmNpiently held 
the same office for .several terms, and either ;ls teacher or super- 
intendent was connected with the schools of the city until 18ti4, 
a period of nearly thirty years. In this labor he was an inde- 
fatigable worker, possessing marked ability as an instructor, and 



more than ordinary executive ability, and many of the business 
men of the city to-day look back with honor to the faithful 
teacher who first gave them an insight to the road to wealth and 
prosperity. In the year lSt!4 he entered the Army of the 
Rebellion as additional paymaster United States volunteers for 
the department of the south, with the title of major, and was 
mustered out a brevet colonel, Oct. 21, 1807, by command of 
General Grant, K. D. Townsend being jussisljint adjutant-general. 

Returning to Syracuse, he received the appointment of warden 
and agent of Auburn prison, which position he held for one 
year and a half, and until the change of the State administration. 
Returning again to his own eily. he spent the balance of his life 
mostly in ((uicl at home. .^Ir. Salisbury was identified with the 
Republican party, an ardent supporter of its principles, a man 
of a retiring nature, never .solicitous of publicity, but stood 
prominently identified with every good work and cnt<'ry>ri8C 
tending to make society better. lie died April 29, 1874. 

On Oct. 12, 1842, he married Miss Sarah, daughter of John 
Tallman and Clarissa Vrooman, of Onondaga County. She 
was born Feb. 10, 1818, and still survive-s her luLsband at the 
time of writing this sketch. She early became a member of 
the Presbyterian church at Castleton, Ontario county, and in 
1840, coming to Syracuse, united with the Congregational 
church of this city, now culled Plymouth church. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



149 



ino- five dollars a year, a boarding house ten dollars, 
and a tavern ten dollars. In case Mr. Teall failed 
to exercise the rights and powers granted him by 
this act within one year from the date thereof, they 
were to revert again to the trustees of the village ; 
which they did, and were again conveyed to the said 
Oliver Teall, his heirs and assigns, for a period of 
thirty-five years, by an act passed April 22, 1834. 
(Laws, 1834, Chap. 151.) Nothing was further done 
till March 29, 1842, at which time an amendment to 
the former acts was passed, (Laws 1842, Chap. 108,) 
allowing Mr. Teall to charge ten dollars a year for 
supplying water to a private family, twenty dollars 
to a boarding house, and forty dollars to a tavern or 
hotel. 

Under this amendment Mr. Teall began the con- 
struction of his water-works. The first wooden 
pipes or pump logs were laid in 1842, or early in 
1843, and brought water to the village from the 
springs situated at the foot of the hill above Lodi 
street, on Blocks No. 404 and No. 504. Subse- 
quently Messrs. Ira Seymour and Aaron Burt were 
associated with Mr. Teall in the water-works, the 
firm being Teall, Seymour and Burt till 1849, or till 
sometime prior to the formation of the new com- 
pany. 

On the 15th of April, 1849, the present Water- 
Works Company was incorporated by special act of 
the Legislature under the name and style of the 
Syracuse City Water-Works Company. The orig- 
inal incorporators were Oliver Teall, Ira Seymour, 
John Wilkinson, Hamilton White and Robert Fur- 
man. 

The act of incorporation was amended April 8, 
1851, (Laws 1851, Chap. 104,) requiring the Com- 
pany to supply water on certain terms to the Com- 
mon Council of the city for extinguishing fires and 
other purposes. Again, it was amended March 22, 
1853, (Laws, 1853, Chap. 35,) so as to allow the 
Company to increase their capital stock from ^60,000 
to such an amount as the Directors might deem ad- 
visable not exceeding $150,000, such increased 
stock to be divided into shares of $$0 each. The 
third amendment, passed February 6, 1855, (Laws 
1855, Chap. 16,) conferred upon the Board of Di- 
rectors the power to establish rules and regulations 
for the use of water from their works so as to pre- 
serve the same from waste, and to impose such 
penalties as they should see proper for the violation 
of said rules and regulations, not exceeding in any 
case the sum of fifty dollars. Olher amendments 
were passed in 1864, 1865, and 1877. 

In 1849 the Company constructed a system of 
water-works described as follows : The springs 



in the valley of Furnace Brook, in the town of 
Onondaga, were selected for the supply of water. 
The water was conducted from these springs by 
aqueducts to a large stone well, about eighty rods 
distant from each, which was seventeen feet deep 
and constructed of substantial masonry. The well 
was on Lot 89, in the town of Onondaga. From 
this well there was a main culvert or aqueduct laid 
towards the head of the Cinder Road (West Onon- 
daga street) and terminating on the high ground. 
The length of this aqueduct was about a mile, and 
it was constructed of masonry two feet square in- 
side. At the termination was a large open reser- 
voir, capable of holding 3,000.000 gallons of water, 
from which the water was conducted down the hill 
through brick culverts and stoned wells to a point 
where a log aqueduct of nine inches bore conveyed 
it through Onondaga street to Fayette Park, and 
thence to the railroad in Lock street, where it con- 
nected with the aqueducts before laid. 

In 1853, the first iron pipe was laid— 852 rods, 
extending to Salina, around Fayette Park and on 
James street. A reservoir of 107 feet head above 
the Erie Canal at Salina street, and of 1,500,000 
gallons capacity, was also constructed during 1853. 
This large reservoir on Onondaga Hill was com- 
menced in 1862, and finished in 1865. During this 
latter year an additional distributing reservoir was 
constructed on Lot No. 89, town of Onondaga. 

Without attempting to follow the history of these 
works more in detail, we may say that the Syracuse 
City Water Works are located southwest of the 
city in the town of Onondaga, the water being ob- 
tained from Springs, from Furnace Brook and from 
Onondaga Creek. The main reservoir is at Onon- 
daga Hill, covering 19 acres, forty feet deep, and 
fed by Furnace Brook. There are two Distribut- 
ing Reservoirs— one of 165 feet head, and the 
other of 107 feet head, above the level of the canal 
at Salina street. The lower, (107 feet head) 
is supplied by springs, and in dry weather by 
water pumped from Onondaga Creek at the Pump 
Works. Two pumps are employed, viz : a Holly 
Pump of 3,000,000 gallons capacity, and a Worth- 
ington Duplex Engine of 10,000,000 gallons capac- 
ity daily. These pumps are connected with the 
reservoir by a 30-inch cast iron pipe. The water 
reaches the city by gravity pressure the mains 
connecting with the reservoirs being respectively 
10 inches, 12 inches and 24 inches in diameter. 
For fire purposes, steam engines being employed, 
the water is supplied by hydrants at the street 
corners, and in some instances at the middle of the 
blocks. 





^liAjAl uCnxt 



M*n^ 



' SKETCH, 



JOHN WILKINSON 

In addition to the casual refere' 
to the life and services ot Mr. \ 
nection with the history of the city and county in 
which he took so early an 
extended memoir would . 
more than forty years ot , 

Mr. 'A .Ikinson held a place > none m tht 

indiist'iai and social devc' his city and 

counTy, and has left behn •int proofs ol 

his ability and wisdom, in a tamiiy trained to lives 
of li- and honor ; .. 

slo'. onestly ; in 

city, .1': 1 in many enterpnst^s to which he gave the 
first impetus, tending to ensure the prosp»=rity of 
Syracuse. 

It may be said of IdW with truth. • and 

and tongue and pen the 

service of the city he i,.:. ■■ 
create. 

He was the fourth in ues(.eii 
Wilkinson of Harper' ■ .' ' ' 

Durham, England. I 

Lord Fairfax, leader of the v forces, 

wJiile serving his King v. 

•^afterwards Duke of Ne . 

battle of Marston Moor. His estates were sequest- 
ered by Parliament, but be Ir 
Lord Fairfax, and permitted t^ „ .- ' 
In the Register's office at Durham th' 
as follows, and may still be seen . " .V 

in Durham 1645-47. La^'- 

Lanchester, officer in arms, w 

On his arrival in the new worla, ham.g Utile in 



' '. settled in F Island. T' -■ 

.. '• First ~ 

, lie year il^- 
? iV ; «/ that colony, 

was Jo. 

kinson mamcu .. .^.^.. -■t-i 

His fifth child was Daniel Wilkinson, who was born 
June 8th, 1703, in the town of Smithfield, part of 
of the present city of Providence. Daniel Wilkin- 
son married Abigail Inman, September 22, 1740. 
His seventh child was named John Wilkinson, born 



Vr>,. 



/> 111 I .;■,- T ■> 



old wb- 



scot 

the i'iack 
crueltie-- 
After I,: 
pai. 
care >.: 
years i'; 
to Trov 



■ ^cv T,., •..■., Wilkinsu:; married, 
leth Tower, whose 
o! John Hancock, 
son was not seventeen years 
arms resounding through the 
ini.ounced the Revolution which 
' ' ' '■ ■• :. He 

iter the 
n of In e. By 

1 in the 
; harbor, 
these prisoners, 
'iose decks 
.L , died by 
■ ; lays by 
. by the 
onville. 
•ith im- 
ter the 
)rsome 
:moved 
lived there nine yens, and 
■'nciL iic iul^jectoi this sketch was born, September 

In February, 1799, John Wilkinson, the father, 
left his home in Troy, to create ''' a new 

one in the then wilderness of Cc ,. York. 

He performed the long and toilsome joi. ley on 
-foot, leading a cow. ilis wife and lit! le ones, to- 
gether with all his bd • ' ■ 1 : nods, rode upon a 
sledge drawn bv a At a sunnier 

season he h nc lovely lake of 

■"' — : ^ .nd for a 'arm in 

from its shores. 
lb ;o work hterally t!' hew a 

as it proved, ;; grave 

.ss than if'.-, years, 

.;ivcd while building a barn. He 

..; u.i iiis farm which still rer; :"> in the 

•n a loe house, in the nmUt of ? "^at forest 

Until 

., . oltaneateles. 

s mother, not daunti a by the additional 
buraen entailed upon herself in her struggle with 
the wilderness for the support of four children, by 
the loss of her son's help upon the farm, or by the 
expense incident to the scheme, determined to give 
him the best education the country afforded and to 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, 



JOHN WILKINSON. 

In addition to the casual references already made 
to the life and services of Mr. Wilkinson, in con- 
nection with the history of the city and county in 
which he took so early and important a part, a more 
extended memoir would seem to be necessary. For 
more than forty years of active and professional life, 
Mr. Wilkinson held a place second to none in the 
industrial and social development of his city and 
county, and has left behind him abundant proofs of 
his ability and wisdom, in a family trained to lives 
of usefulness and honor ; a large fortune accumulated 
slowly and honestly ; in buildings which adorn his 
city, and in many enterprises to which he gave the 
first impetus, tending to ensure the prosperity of 
Syracuse. 

It may be said of him with truth, that his hand 
and tongue and pen and pocket were always at the 
service of the city he named, loved and helped to 
create. 

He was the fourth in descent from Lawrance 
Wilkinson of Harperly House, Lanchester, County 
Durham, England. This ancestor was captured by 
Lord Fairfax, leader of the Parliamentary forces, 
while serving his King under General Cavendish, 
(afterwards Duke of New Castle) at the decisive 
battle of Marston Moor. His estates were sequest- 
ered by Parliament, but he himself was released by 
Lord Fairfax, and permitted to go to New England. 
In the Register's office at Durham the record reads 
as follows, and may still be seen : " Sequestrations 
in Durham 1645-47. Lawrance Wilkinson of 
Lanchester, officer in arms, went to New England." 

On his arrival in the new world, having little in 
common with the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay, 
by whose party he had been ruined and expatriated, 
he settled in Providence, Rhode Island. There 
his name may still be seen in the " First Book of 
Records" as signed by himself in the year i6so-'5i, 
as one of the original founders of that colony. 

He married Susannah Smith. His third child 
was John Wilkinson, born March 2, 1654. John Wil- 
kinson married Deborah Whipple, April 16, 1689. 
His fifth child was Daniel Wilkinson, who was born 
June 8th, 1703, in the town of Smithfield, part of 
of the present city of Providence. Daniel Wilkin- 
son married Abigail Inman, September 22, 1740. 
His seventh child was named John Wilkinson, born 



November 13, 1758. John Wilkinson married, 
December — , 1782, Elizabeth Tower, whose 
mother was a cousin of John Hancock. 

This John Wilkinson was not seventeen years 
old when the clash of arms resounding through the 
civilized world, announced the Revolution which 
preceded the birth of the new Republic. He 
entered the service of his country soon after the 
signing of the Declaration of Independence. By 
the fate of war he was captured and confined in the 
notorious Jersey Prison Ship in New York Harbor, 
The records of the sufferings of these prisoners, 
who were densely crowded between the close decks 
and even in the noisome hold, where they died by 
scores, have only been surpassed in former days by 
the Black Hole of Calcutta, and later, by the 
cruelties of Libby Prison and Andersonville. 
After nine months he was exchanged, but with im- 
paired health, which was only restored after the 
care of years. After his marriage he lived for some 
years in Cumberland, R. I. In 1790 he removed 
to Troy, N. Y. He lived there nine years, and 
there the subject of this sketch was born, September 
30, 1798. 

In February, 1799, John Wilkinson, the father, 
left his home in Troy, to create for himself a new 
one in the then wilderness of Central New York. 
He performed the long and toilsome journey on 
foot, leading a cow. His wife and little ones, to- 
gether with all his household goods, rode upon a 
sledge drawn by a yoke of oxen. At a sunnier 
season he had been attracted by the lovely lake of 
Skaneateles and had selected the land for a farm in 
the midst of the forest one mile from its shores. 
Thither he came, and set to work literally to hew a 
home for his family, and also, as it proved, a grave 
for himself; for he died in less than three years, 
from injuries received while building a barn. He 
was buried on his farm which still remains in the 
family. 

Here in a log house, in the midst of a great forest 
filled with game, John Wilkinson grew up. Until 
the age of twelve he went to school at Skaneateles. 
Then his mother, not daunted by the additional 
burden entailed upon herself in her struggle with 
the wilderness for the support of four children, by 
the loss of her son's help upon the farm, or by the 
expense incident to the scheme, determined to give 
him the best education the country afibrded and to 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



send him to the Academy at Onondaga. It was the 
nearest classical school, but it was thirteen miles 
from his home. With a perseverance and energy 
worthy of such a mother, he every week performed 
this distance on foot, walking over every Monday 
morning and returning Friday night to spend Sun- 
day with his mother. Part of the time he was 
accompanied by the late Hon. Asher Tyler, of 
Elmira, whose parents resided in the adjoining town 
of Marcellus. One winter, he, with three other 
boys, kept house in Onondaga. The supplies of 
corn meal, pork and potatoes, were provided by 
each in turn, and his share was carried on his back 
all the toilsome thirteen miles which lay between 
his home and school. 

While pursuing his studies in this arduous 
fashion, he attracted the notice of the Hon. Joshua 
Forman, then the great man of the county, and the 
principal patron of the Academy, and after he 
graduated he became Mr. Forman's clerk, and a 
member in his family. In the law office of Forman 
and Sabin he studied his profession. He was 
admitted to the bar in September, 1819, and was 
the first lawyer who settled in Syracuse. 

It will not be inappropriate to quote in this con- 
nection an extract from the " Reminiscences of 
Syracuse, by Mr. T. C. Cheney, published in 

1857: 

"In 1819, John Wilkinson, in company with 
Owen Forman, a brother of the Judge, came here 
from Onondaga Hollow, and, under the direction of 
Judge Forman, proceeded to layout the 'Walton 
Tract ' into village lots. This survey was not 
accomplished without the severest labor. The old 
lines and marks of the tract were nearly obliterated, 
and it was with the greatest difficulty that they 
found, with any degree of certainty, the starting 
point of the original survey. The survey was com- 
pleted after several weeks of hard labor. Part of 
the 'Walton Tract' was laid out into village lots, 
and the remainder into farm lots of from five to ten 
acres. After the completion of the survey, Mr. 
Wilkinson built an office on the corner now occu- 
pied by the Globe Hotel, and commenced the 
practice of law. Mr. Wilkinson was heartily 
ridiculed for putting his office out in the fields. 
That location, now forming the business center of 
a flourishing city, was then out of town. 

" In February, 1820, a postoffice was established 
in Syracuse, and Mr. Wilkinson was appointed 
Postmaster. In 1825, when the first election for 
village officers was held, Mr Wilkinson was elected 
Clerk. Mr. Wilkinson has since held several offices 
of profit and trust, with honor and distinction. 



When railroads were first successfully put in opera- 
tion, Mr. Wilkinson closely investigated their work- 
ings and principles, and his gigantic mind compre- 
hending in an instant their immense advantages, 
and ultimate supercedence of the common post- 
roads, he entered at once largely into railroad aflairs, 
and is now emphatically a Railroad King. 

" He was for several years President of the 
Syracuse and Utica Railroad, and by his influence 
succeeded in having the work-shops of that road 
built at Syracuse, thus adding the hardy popula- 
tion of the Fifth Ward to our city. He is now the 
President of the Michigan Southern Railroad, and 
under his skillful management that road is now one 
of the best in the Union. Mr. Wilkinson is a 
great favorite with the traveling public, and is loved 
and respected by all railroad men, who would do 
anything for him." 

As a lawyer, Mr. Wilkinson occupied a promi- 
nent place at the Onondaga Bar. The late Peter 
Cutwater, Esq., was associated with him for many 
years, and later, James L. Bagg, Esq As counsel 
and advisor he had few equals and no superior. 

The general estimate of his probity and wisdom 
was abundantly proved by the number of estates 
entrusted to him as executor, administrator, or trus- 
tee. In his later years, he derived much satisfac- 
tion from the fact that all trust funds committed to 
him had been increased in amount and enhanced 
in value while in his hands. 

Mr. Wilkinson was a director in the Onondaga 
County Bank from its organization in 1825, until its 
close. He was also President of the Bank of Syra- 
cuse, which he, together with the late Horace White, 
Esq., organized in 1838, on the passage of the gen- 
eral Banking Law, and so continued till his death. 
Both of these banks were managed with prudence 
and were exceedingly profitable to their stock-hold- 
ers. Both have now been closed, all the men who 
organized them having passed away. 

At Albany, February 24, 1825, John Wilkinson 
married Henrietta Wilhelmina Swart. Of eight 
children born to them, six are now living. Joshua 
Forman and Alfred Wilkinson are in business un- 
der the firm name of Wilkinson & Co., as bankers, 
on the site where their father's office stood and 
where they were born A rare instance of perma- 
nence in our mobile country. Maria H. Wilkinson 
married Mr, F. C, Welsch, and lives in Baden-Baden, 
Germany. Theodosia Burr Davis Wilkinson mar- 
ried Joseph Kirkland, and lives in Chicago. John 
and Dudley Phelps Wilkinson live in Chicago, and 
are among the leading merchants of that city. 
Mr. Wilkinson was appointed Postmaster Feb. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



24, 1820, which was announced in the Onondaga 
Register, as follows : 

" A new Postoffice has been established at 
Syracuse formerly Corinth, in the town of Salina, 
and John Wilkinson, Esq., appointed Postmaster. 
The name of this village was necessarily changed, 
there being a Postoffice of the name of Corinth 
previously established in the State." 

Mr. Wilkinson remained in office till July 26, 
1840, when, as President of the Syracuse and Utica 
Railroad Company, which was carrying the mails, 
he was held by the Postmaster-General to be a 
contractor within the meaning of the statute, and 
was therefore compelled to resign one office or 
the other. With that wisdom which characterized 
every action of his life, he gave up the postoffice, 
and permanently retired from active politics. 

In 1834 and 1835 he was elected Member of 
Assembly from Onondaga County, and occupied, 
while in that body, the position of Chairman of an 
important committee, viz.: On the Incorporation 
and Alteiation of Banking and Insurance Com- 
panies. 

Though an able debater, he never wasted time 
in forensic display, but spoke rarely and only upon 
business in his charge, or on that of which he was 
complete master. Therefore he never failed to 
command the attention of the House. 

His great effort was a speech delivered April 2, 
1835, in opposition to the State aiding in the con- 
struction of the Erie Railroad. What Mr. Wilkin- 
son then enunciated as a principle is now the settled 
policy of the State. 

It was during his second year that the bill was 
passed which changed his life from one purely pro- 
fessional to one of active business. In 1836 the 
Syracuse and Utica Railroad Company was char- 
tered. In the following year, when its organization 
was completed and the construction of that road be- 
came assured, he was unanimously chosen by his 
associate directors as President. The road was 
opened July 4, 1839. The fact that it was built for 
$200,000 less than the capital stock subscribed for 
the purpose of building it, is a striking commentary 
upon the capacity and integrity of Mr. Wilkinson. 

It is needless to say that from that hour till 1853, 
when the road was merged into the great New York 
Central Railroad, he had the absolute confidence of 
the stockholders. 

His management of a railroad was characterized 
by great study, unremitting attention, untiring vigi- 
lance and a watchful eye which nothing could es- 
cape. He made this railroad his sole care and 
thought and gave to it the fourteen best years of his 



life. Personally, in common with all of the stock- 
holders, he received his reward in large dividends, 
and in the enhanced value of his stock, but his 
salary as President never paid his family and per- 
sonal expenses. 

After the organization of the New York Central 
Railroad, he was appointed counsel to that company, 
a compliment which he richly deserved both as a 
lawyer and a railroad man. 

While President of the Syracuse and Utica Rail- 
road he was also prominent in the direction of the 
following railroads, viz: the Hudson River, the Buf- 
falo and State Line, the Oswego and Syracuse, and 
the Rochester and Syracuse. The two railroads last 
named he projected, organized, and may be said to 
have built, as he was the Chairman of their Con- 
struction Committees. 

Rival lines being under construction for the pur- 
pose of connecting the granaries of the West with 
the sea-board, Mr. Wilkinson felt the keenest anx- 
iety lest business should be diverted from the line 
in which he had a much greater interest than one 
of dollars solely— a line of which he had been a 
projector, constructor and manager, and he recog- 
nized the necessity of so improving the line from 
Albany to Buflalo, then managed by seven different 
companies, as to enable it to compete successfully 
with its future rivals. He found that the line be- 
tween Syracuse and Rochester could be shortened 
twenty-four miles and six hundred feet of grades 
could be eliminated by building a railroad on the 
line of the Erie Canal. This project of course en- 
countered the most vigorous opposition from the 
residents of Auburn, Geneva, Canandaigua, and 
lesser places on the Old Road, as well as from the 
stockholders of the two companies owning the line 
via Auburn. Their opposition ceased when they 
became convinced that Mr. Wilkinson was in earn- 
est, and that under the general railroad law, ad- 
vocated by him for this very purpose, a direct rail- 
road between Syracuse and Rochester was inevita- 
ble. The two companies then accepted Mr. Wil- 
kinson's plan of consolidation with the Direct 
Railroad— the consolidated company to build the 
new road. 

The consolidation of all the railroad companies 
between Albany and Buffalo into the great New 
York Central R. R. Company, closed one epoch in 
Mr. Wilkinson's active and useful career ; and before 
turning to other occupations, he resolved to allow 
himself that rest which he had so richly earned. 
To visit Europe had been a long cherished hope, 
and he availed himself of this opportunity to bring 
it to fruition. After a ycnr of tr.ivcl. all the advan- 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



tages of which his disciplined and wcll-slorcd mind 
fitted him to appreciate, he returned to his country 
and his home in the spring of 1854, ready to spend 
for both, his renewed strength. 

Among other positions tendered him was the 
presidency of the Michigan Southern and Northern 
Indiana Railroad, which he accepted. He filled 
this office with his characteristic fidelity and ability 
for two years. During that time he built nearly 
two hundred miles of railroad, including the Detroit, 
Monroe and Toledo Railroad. 

In the last years of his life, he operated theTerre 
Haute, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, in his own 
name for two years as Trustee and Receiver. He 
returned it to its owners a reorganized Railroad, all 
interests having been protected and cared for. His 
management in this instance was acknowledged to 
be a great financial success. 

After the death of Capt. Oliver Teall, he became 
President of the Syracuse Water-Works. He 
adopted the plan for collecting the water from 
sprmgs and small streams into a reservoir. Few 
people in Syracuse know that five hundred feet above 
them, on Onondaga Hill, there is stored up for their 
use in Wilkinson Lake 150,000.000 gallons of water, 
or forty-three days' supply, at the present rate of 
consumption. 

Mr. Wilkinson was engaged upon this work at 
the time of his sudden death. His plan embraced 
the construction of other reservoirs when they 
should become necessary. 

The water-works company have since tried two 
systems of pumping, and are now contemplating 
the rcadoption of what may be called the Wilkinson 
plan by the construction of another reservoir to 
hold 300,000,000 gallons. If this should be done, 
it will confirm the wisdom of his judgment. For this 



projected reservoir an appropriate name suggests 
itself It should be called Forman Lake, in honor 
of Joshua Forman. 

In Mr. Wilkinson's life he showed a solicitude that 
was almost pathetic that young people should start 
right, and he was never in their company without 
trying to give help in the right direction. It pained 
him to see them treat lightly the great advantages 
of later times, doubtless remembering the many 
weary miles he had walked to attain his education ; 
and if, as the old Hindoo said, " Man is man's 
mirror," we do well to hold up the mirror of Mr. 
Wilkinson's life to young men just entering on 
their career, that in it they may see the rewards 
which wait on industry, integrity and zeal. 

His noble mother, believing that knowledge is 
power, resolved that he should possess the key to 
unlock its treasure-house, and gave him, as we have 
seen, the best education in her power, at how great 
self-sacrifice no one but herself ever knew. Her 
wisdom it was, that laid the foundation of his suc- 
cess and she was rewarded by living to witness it. 

From the age of sixteen he fought the battle of 
life unaided, his only weapons the perseverance 
and determination which he had learned amid the 
privations of pioneer life. 

Never was the promise better exemplified. " Be 
faithful over a few things and I will make thee 
ruler over many things." With care and fidelity 
he, in his youth, had discharged every duty which 
devolved upon him and gained the confidence of the 
community in which he lived, until at last they 
were eager to thrust their most precious possessions 
upon him for safe keeping. 

Perhaps the best eulogy upon him is the simple 
testimony of a neighbor— a life-long friend and 
staunch supporter : " He was an honest man." 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



iSi 



Miles W. Bennett, Horace Wheaton, Thomas J. 
Gilbert, Elihu L. Phillips and Aaron Burt, were 
citizens of Syracuse and Onondaga County ; the 
rest were Utica and Albany men. 

The Syracuse and Utica Railroad Company were 
required by law to pay to the President and Direc- 
tors of the Seneca Road Company the amount of 
damages which the said road company might sus- 
tain by the construction of the railroad, and also 
to pay toll to the Canal Commissioners on all 
freight, other than the regular baggage of passen- 
gers, carried by the railroad during the season of 
canal navigation. The Schenectady and Utica Rail- 
road was absolutely prohibited in its original charter 
from carrying any freight. This prohibition was re- 
moved by act of March 7, 1844, and the Schenectady 
and Utica Road was allowed to carry freight during 
the suspension of canal navigation by paying the canal 
commissioners such tolls as would have been paid 
on the goods had they been transported by the Erie 
Canal. This opened all the roads to freight through 
to Buffalo, subject to the same conditions as those 
imposed upon the Schenectady and Utica Railroad. 

Prior to the removal of the prohibition on the 
Schenectady and Utica Railroad, freights had been 
to some extent carried through from Schenectady to 
Utica on sleighs in winter, and transferred to other 
points west of Utica by rail ; but very Httle freight 
reached Syracuse by the Utica Railroad till after 
March 7, 1844. 

Oliver H. Lee, of Syracuse, was the engineer in 
the construction of the Syracuse and Utica Railroad, 
and was appointed the first Superintendent. The 
original board of directors consisted of the following 
named gentlemen : 

John Wilkinson, President. 

Charles Stebbins, Vice-President. 

Vivus W. Smith, Secretary. 

David Wager, Treasurer. 
Oliver Teall, 
Aaron Burt, 
Holmes Hutchinson, 
John Townsend, 

Samuel French. 

Between the railroads of that day and this, and 
their equipments, there is a marked contrast. The 
first track consisted of six-by-six scantling, fastened 
to the ties by L-shaped chairs placed outside the 
rail and spiked to it and the tie beneath. Upon 
the scantling, parallel with the inner edge, a bar of 
iron two inches wide and three-fourths of an inch 
thick was spiked. Occasionally a bar-end came 
loose and endangered the safety of passengers by 
being thrust up through the car-floor. The first 



Horatio Seymour, 
James Hooker, 
Irad Hawley, 
John Stryker, 



engines were single-drivers, with small trail wheels 
under the cab, which consisted of a roof hung 
around with oil cloth during winter. The weight 
of the locomotive was from four to six tons. The 
first cars had four wheels. The conductor came 
along outside the compartments, which had two 
seats each, and collected the fare. In 1843, the 
cars had no projection over the platforms, and were 
low and ill-ventilated. It was quite a step in ad- 
vance when locomotives with four-drivers were 
placed upon the road, but even then there were no 
pilots ; some had two splint brooms set in front just 
in position to clear the track, and others flat iron 
bars bent forward and sharpened at the ends, This 
was the " cow-catcher." In winter a large wooden 
plow was placed in front of the engine. The first 
track was soon superceded by an eight-by-eight 
wooden rail, along the center of which was placed 
strap-iron the same width and thickness as that at 
first used. Iron rails were supplied in 1S41, and 
steel rails in 1872, 

The Syracuse and Utica Railroad was opened in 
1839. 

In locating the depots and route through Syra- 
cuse, certain conditions were required of the com- 
pany by a resolution prepared by Hon. E. W. 
Leavenworth, President of the village, and offered 
to the Board by Captain Putnam, viz : that the 
railroad company should construct a sewer along 
the track on Washington street from the stream 
known as Yellow Brook to Onondaga Creek, and 
should plant trees along both sides of Washington 
street as far east as Beech street. These con- 
ditions were performed by the company. The rows 
of trees now standing on East Washington street 
are those planted by the railroad company, and they 
form a pleasant and agreeable shade. The sewer 
constructed by the railroad company was the first 
of any importance in the village, and contributed 
largely to the draining of the swamp between Sa- 
lina street and Lodi, 

The company was also required to purchase cer- 
tain portions of the blocks on each side of the 
depot, so as to make sufficient space for the building 
and an alley-way along side of it. This was done, 
and the space now left where the old depot was lo- 
cated is known as Vanderbilt Square. 

Direct Road. 
The line from Syracuse to Rochester, composed 
of the Auburn and Syracuse and the Auburn and 
Rochester railroads, was 104 miles over a crooked 
route with heavy grades. In 1849 the attention of 
Mr. John Wilkinson and others was called to the 



152 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



necessity of constructing a more direct and level 
railroad between Syracuse and Rochester, and, with 
that object in view, they organized the Rochester 
and Syracuse Direct Railroad Company. The sur- 
veys were made by O. C. Childs and showed that a 
level railroad could be constructed twenty-two miles 
shorter than the old line. In 1S50 the three com- 
panies consolidated under the name of the Roches- 
ter and Syracuse Railroad Company and the Direct 
Road was built in the ensuing years under the direc- 
tion of James Hall, engineer, and opened in 1853, 
at the same time of the general consolidation form- 
ing the New York Central Railroad. 

Oswego and Svkacuse Railroad. 

The Oswego and Syracuse Railroad Company 
was formed April 29, 1839, and the route was sur- 
veyed during the summer of that year. The Com- 
pany was fully organized March 25, 1847, with the 
following Board of Directors : John Wilkinson, 
Thomas T. Davis, Allen Munroe, Horace White, 
Syracuse ; F. T. Carrington, Luther Wright, Syl- 
vester Doolittie, Alvin Bronson, Oswego ; Holmes 
Hutchinson, Alfred Munson, Thomas F. Fa.xton, 
Utica ; Samuel Willets, New York ; Rufus King, 
Albany. The first officers were : Holmes Hutch- 
inson, President ; F. T. Carrington, Secretary ; Lu- 
ther Wright, Treasurer. The road was opened in 
October, 1848. It is thirty-five and a half miles 
in length. In 1872 it came under the management 
of the Delaware, Lackasvanna and Western Rail- 
road Company, by whom it is still operated. 

Syracuse, Binghamton and New York Railroad. 

The Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad Com- 
pany was organized August 13, 1S51, under the 
general law passed in 1S50. The original directors 
were, Hamilton Murray, D. C. Littlejohn, Os- 
wego ; Horace White, James R. Lawrence, Thomas 
B. Fitch, Syracuse ; Daniel S. Dickinson, Hazard 
Lewis, Binghamton ; Jedediah Barber, Israel Boies, 
Homer ; Alanson Carley, Marathon ; Henry 
Stevens, Cortland ; John B. Rogers, Chittenango 
Forks ; Robert Dunlop, Jamesville. Henry 
Stevens, President ; Clinton F. Paige, Secretary ; 
Horace White, Treasurer ; W. B. Gilbert, Superin- 
tendent and Engineer for the construction of the 
road. The road was opened through, October 23, 
1854. It was sold October 13, 1856, on fore- 
closure of mortgage, and reorganized April 30, 
1857, under the title of the Syracuse, Binghamton 
and New York Railroad, its present title. In 1858, 
the company was authorized to purchase the Union 
Railroad to the canal at Geddes. The length of 
the road from Geddes to Binghamton is 81 miles. 



Under the second organization, Jacob M. Schem- 
erhorn was President, and Orrin Welch, Syracuse, 
Secretary. Then T. B. Fitch was President till 
1871 ; since which time the Presidency has been 
held by Samuel Sloan of New York. 

Through a controlling interest in the stock, the 
road came under the management of the Delaware, 
Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company in 
December, 1870. The new passenger depot at 
Syracuse was erected in 1877. 

SvRACLSE, Chenango and New York Railroad. 

The original incorporators and directors of this 
road were James P. Haskins, Elisha C. Litchfield, 
Henry TenEyck, John W. Barker, Dennis McCar- 
thy, George F. Comstock, Hiram Eaton, John Green- 
way, James J. Belden, S. D. Luce, J. I. Bradley, 
J. M. Wieting, Alfred A. Howlett. J. M. Wieting 
was elected President. The articles of association 
were filed April 16, 1868, the capital stock being 
S 1,000,000. The road was partly opened in 1872, 
and finished in 1874— length 42 miles. 

Harlow W. Chittenden succeeded J. M. Wieting 
as President. The present officers are A. A. How- 
lett, President ; Henry TenEyck, Vice-President ; 
J. S. Sherman, Secretary. 

Syracuse Northern Railroad. 

This road was chartered in 1870 with a capital 
stock of $1,250,000. The directors were Allen 
Munroe, E. W. Leavenworth, E. B. Judson, Patrick 
Lynch, Frank Hiscock, John A. Green, Jacob S. 
Smith, Horace K. White, Elizur Clark, Gerret 
Doyle, Syracuse ; William H. Carter, Brewerton ; 
James A. Clark, Pulaski ; Oren R. Earl, Sandy 
Creek. President, Allen Munroe ; Secretary, Pat- 
rick H. Agan ; Treasurer, Edward B. Judson ; 
Engineer, A. C. Powell. The road is 44 miles to its 
intersection of the R., W. & O. R. R., and was 
opened Nov. 7, 1871. It was purchased by the 
Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad Com- 
pany, by which corporation it is now managed, in 
1875. 



PROGRESS OF EDUCATION. 
Early Schools of Syracuse. 
The progress of education in the City of Syra- 
cuse forms a very interesting chapter of its history. 
With the earliest settlements schools began to be 
taught, and before there were any districts or pub- 
lic school houses, private buildings and even salt 
blocks were appropriated to the uses of education. 
It is a fact which speaks well for the old " Salt 
Pointers," that their whole attention was not ab- 




Residence of JOHN MOORE, Jio]29WEST Genesll ST.SrftAcuse, NY 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



153 



sorbed in salt making, but that one of their num- 
ber at least, a Mr. Conner, could divide his time 
between this occupation and the instruction of the 
children and youth of the new settlement in useful 
knowledge. Mr. Conner kept the earliest school of 
which we have any account in a salt block at Salina, 
and at the same time carried on the occupation of 
boiling salt. He made his school a very useful and 
popular one, securing for it the dignified title of the 
" High School," and it was well patronized by the 
people of Salina and Onondaga Hollow. 

The first public school within the present limits 
of Syracuse, and in the town of Salina, was proba- 
bly District No. i, now the Salina School, situated 
in the First Ward. The date of its organization 
we have not been able to ascertain, but the school 
house was built in 1805. It was commonly known 
as the "old red school house" and stood on what 
was afterwards the southwest corner of Washington 
Park. When first built it was on a line parallel with 
Park, then Salt street, and fronted to the east. The 
seats were arranged at first to face the wall, but af- 
terwards to face the teacher. In the center of the 
room stood a large stove elevated upon a platform 
filled with sand. Originally, the Park was a com- 
mon, intersected by tenter and Salt streets. Near 
the center of the ground was a deep pond which 
seemed to be fed by a living spring. Here geese 
and ducks and children dabbled in summer, while 
the frozen surface in winter afforded an excellent 
skating park. In 1839, the school house was taken 
down, the pond filled up and the four quarters of 
the Park indicated by a horizontal guard. In 1847 
the present fence was placed around it. 

Some reminiscences are related of this old school 
house worth recording. At an early day some 
rough young men and boys were taught here. 
There was a teacher by the name of Isaac Van- 
Tassel, a pious man, from Onondaga Hollow, who 
was determined to becomeaminister and had asked 
the Presbytery to educate him, but they had refused 
to do so on account of a certain impediment in his 
speech. However, he said he would preach, and 
finally did preach, becoming a missionary to the 
Maumee Indians. Under his administration, a 
plot had been formed to resist his authority. He 
had punished a young man for swearing. This led 
to insurrection and revolt. Five or six banded to- 
gether to put him out of the school. He had some 
intimation of what was going on, and as he left the 
house in the morning he said to Mrs. Dioclesian 
Alvord, with whom he boarded : " You need not be 
surprised to see me home earlier than usual," and 
then explained to her his apprehensions. He left, 



and upon going to his room to put it in order, she 
found the Bible open with the passage marked : 
" Rid me and deliver me from the hand of strange 
children." His prayer was answered. At noon 
he informed Mrs. Alvord that Dean Richmond, 
who had been drawn into the plot, came forward 
and in a manly way confessed and apologized for 
the whole transaction. She predicted that he 
would come to something, which was verified in the 
well known future career of this distinguished poli- 
tician. Mr. Van Tassel, also, was afterwards a suc- 
cessful missionary, and died among the Maumee 
Indians about 1847. 

Another teacher of a later day had a novel mode 
of punishment. He was wont to take out his 
pen knife and strop it vigorously, and then ask the 
delinquent scholar whether he would be bled or 
be struck with the ruler. Of course, each fright- 
ened urchin always chose the latter. This was 
carried on successfully for sometime. At length a 
brother and sister put their heads together to cir- 
cumvent the wary teacher. Having loitered or 
been detained without good excuse, and anticipat- 
ing punishment, the sister advised the brother that 
when called up and the usual choice submitted, he 
should say he preferred to be bled. The pen-knife 
of the teacher was again whetted in a very dramatic 
manner, the child's sleeve rolled up and the solemn 
question put. " I choose to be bled," said the boy. 
This answer overturned the teacher's gravity, and 
he let the boy go. 

While upon this subject of novel punishments 
we will relate another instance. It is said of a 
teacher who taught a select school not far distant, 
that she adopted a mode of punishment still more 
extraordinary than those referred to. Her method 
of disgrace was nothing so common as a dunce 
block or a fool's cap, but a salt barrel pierced with 
nails, the nails pointing inward. Into this barrel 
the refractory child was put, and a heavy piece of 
iron from the stove laid over the top, so that if the 
little offender in durance vile tried to resist, he 
found, like the Apostle, that it was hard to kick 
against the pricks. 

Within the memory of many now living there 
was but one school house in the village of Syracuse, 
that was a low square frame building, with a roof 
resembling an inverted mill-hopper, standing in a 
pine grove on the north side of Church street, upon 
the lot next east of where the Northern Railroad 
crosses. The site is occupied by a brick building 
which was afterwards school No. 4, and then became 
a church, and is now converted into a blacksmith's 
shop. This was the first school house built in the 



'54 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



village of Syracuse, and was probably erected about 
1820. For a number of years it was used as a 
school house, meeting house, town hall, and for 
almost every kind of a public gathering. 

In the winter of 1821, school was taught here by 
Hiram A. Deming, who is now book-keeper in Mr. 
Grecnway's brewery. Webster's Spelling Book, 
Daboll's Arithmetic and Morse's Geography were 
then the principal te.xt-books. The teacher 
" boarded round " among his patrons. Blackboards, 
globes and other apparatus had not been thought 
of, and the young idea was taught to shoot without 
the advantage of "grades" and "departments." 
The family of Judge Joshua Forman, including the 
present Mrs. E. W. Leavenworth, and others well 
known, were pupils in this school when Mr. Dem- 
ing taught in 1821. Mr. Deming was born in 
Stillwater. Saratoga County, in 1779, and came to 
Syracuse in 1820. He is a remarkably well pre- 
served man for one of his years, being almost an 
octogenarian. After Mr. Deming the school was 
kept a while by William K. Blair, now residing in 
the Fourth Ward of the city. 

Welthia Ann Lathrop, widow of the late Edward 
Alien, Esq., of Auburn, taught a select school in a 
building furnished by Capt. Joel Cody, in the rear of 
the present First Baptist Church for many years, 
beginning in 1826. Her school was the first select 
school taught in Syracuse. 

In 1830 a Miss Guthrie taught a private school 
in a building then called the " Wheeler House." 
It stood on the corner of Salina and Center streets 
in what is now the First Ward. 

During six months of the year 1835, Hon. Geo. 
F. Comstock taught a select school in the upper 
story of a yellow building which stood on the site 
of the present Bastable Block. The Judge was 
then pursuing his law studies with Messrs. Noxon 
and Leavenworth. He was elected Inspector of 
Schools for the town of Salina in 1837. 

A school called by the fanciful name cf the " Sa- 
lina Institute " was established in the village of 
Salina at quite an early day, and was for some time 
a popular and useful sthool. It never had any char- 
ter and was properly only a select school. At dif- 
ferent times Mr. Lcavitt, D. C. LeRoy and Dr. Jas. 
Forham were connected with it as teachers. The 
building occupied by this school is still standing, on 
Turtle street between Park and Salina streets. 

A young ladies' school flourished for several years 
on the site of the present Presbyterian Church, cor- 
ner of Park and Prescott streets. 

In the early days of Syracuse the chief select 
school for girls, principally, was that taught by 



the Misses Chamberlain. It was with difficulty that 
a suitable room could be found for a school, and Dr. 
Mather Williams erected for the purpose a tempo, 
rary frame building on Water street near the corner 
of Clinton, which, as one of the juvenile attendants 
expressed it, " was without any lining," being neither 
ceiled nor plastered. Here taught Mrs. Humphrey, 
a niece of the late Holland Johnson, who afterwards 
married Mr. Montgomery, law partner of Harvey 
Baldwin. On the approach of cold weather this 
structure proved uncomfortably airy, and Captain 
Putnam finished and fitted up a room over his wood- 
house on Mongomery street, which was soon dubbed 
" Montgomery Institute." Among the teachers here 
were Miss Richardson, niece of Mrs. Elam Lyndes 
and afterwards wife of Zaccheus Newcomb, and Miss 
Alexander, sister of the late Mrs. Harry Alexander. 
Following these were the Misses Newton, from Mas- 
sachusetts (afterwards Mrs. Volney Cook 1 and a sis- 
ter of Mrs. Stevens, whose husband was the first 
landlord of the Globe Hotel ; Miss Fitch, from 
Trumansburg ; Miss Collins, sister of Mrs. Reuben 
L. Hess, and assistants; Miss Laurie, from Whites- 
boro, and Miss Gould, from South Carolina. ' 

At this period the standard of education was well 
advanced, the higher mathematics, French, Latin, 
drawing, painting and music being taught in Miss 
Collins' school. The study of the sciences to any 
extent was, at a later day, introduced by Miss 
Amelia Bradbury, who numbered among her pupils 
many heads of prominent families now living in the 
city, who cherish gratefully and afiiectionately the 
memory of her conscientious, tender counsels, and 
who owe to her advanced views of education the 
stimulus towards that higher culture which has 
fitted them to adorn responsible positions in life, 
and to become useful, reliable and intelligent women. 
The school of Miss Bradbury was located on Mont- 
gomery street. Lot 8, Block 113, the same lot on 
which the house built by Horatio N. White now 
stands. 

Miss Emily Chubbuck, afterwards Mrs. Adoniram 
Judson, wife of the famous missionary to Burmah, 
taught a select school at one time in a small build- 
ing which stood where McCarthy, Sons it Co.'s 
wholesale store now stands, on the corner of Wash- 
ington and Clinton streets. 

From September, 1847, to June, 1861, the late 
Madame A. J. Raoul, one of our old inhabitants, 
taught a select school in this city. She was an ac- 
complished teacher of music and French lessons, 
the last of which she continued to give to a few 
pupils till 1872, (she died in 1875,) when growing 
infirmities brought to a close a longer term of years 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



155 



consecutively devoted to teaching trian probably has 
been given by many teachers in Syracuse. 

Syracuse Academy. 

Through the exertions of Messrs. Aaron Burt, 
Harvey Baldwin and Oliver Teall, who owned a 
large tract of land in the locality, a charter was ob- 
tained for the Syracuse Academy in 1835. ^ lot 
was donated by Mr. Baldwin, and, under many dis- 
couragements, the building now occupied as the 
Orphan Asylum, on Lodi Hill, was erected and 
completed for the Academy, which was supplied 
with competent teachers and supported by the bene- 
factions of its founders. The first Principal was 
Mr. Kellogg, of New York, who was succeeded by 
Orrin Root, for many years since a Professor in 
Hamilton College. At one period, the late A. G. 
Salisbury, who became the first Clerk of the Board 
of Education of the City of Syracuse, was its Prin- 
cipal. His qualifications as a teacher were only 
equalled by his love for the vocation, and the many 
years of conscientious performance of its duties in 
connection with the establishment in Syracuse of 
the present system of Public Schools. At a later 
day in the existence of the Academy, it was con- 
ducted by Joseph A. Allen and Oliver T. Burt, 
part of which period was after its removal to a more 
central location. 

But the Academy did not prosper. After it 
went into operation, jealousies in reference to it 
were awakened, enterprise in regard to public 
schools was aroused, district school houses sprang 
up and soon attracted the sympathy and patronage 
of the public. The cause of education profited by 
the efforts of the founders of the Academy, but 
they were, and continued to be, the losers, so that 
the Academy was finally abandoned, and the house 
designed by its originators to subserve the cause of 
education providentially became the home of the 
helpless orphan and the abode of charity. 

Common Schools before the City Organiza- 
tion. 

The common schools existing prior to the city 
organization were all formed and maintained as 
schools of the town of Salina, under the general 
school laws. Neither the charter of the village of 
Salina, adopted in 1824, nor that of fhe village of 
Syracuse, in 1825, made any change in the status 
of the schools within their limits : they were from 
the first, and continued to be till 1848, common 
schools of the town of Salina. 

The first legislative action on the part of the 
State in behalf of education was the passage of an 
act entitled " An Act for the Encouragement of 



Schools," passed April 9, 1795. (i8th Session 
Laws— George Clinton, Esq., Governor.) Amend- 
ments were made to this act April 6, 1796, March 
10, 1797, and April 3, 1799. It was the first act 
appropriating public money to the use of common 
schools, the sum then set apart being hventj thou- 
sand pounds out of the surplus revenue of the State, 
to be divided among the different counties, and the 
sum assigned to each county was to be apportioned 
by the Supervisors to the several towns according 
to the number of taxable inhabitants therein ; the 
Supervisors being also required to raise by tax in 
each town, for school purposes, a sum equal to half 
the amount of the public money to which each 
county should be entitled. The portion of the 
twenty thousand pounds assigned to the County of 
Onondaga was one Itundred and seventy four pounds, 
which was Onondaga's first public school fund. It 
would be interesting to know what portion, if any, 
of this was appropriated in the town of Salina, and 
at what date, but there are no records extant that 
can furnish the information. 

The first district organized was undoubtedly that 
known as No. i, now the Salina School ; after which 
the districts were formed in numerical order, as the 
town became settled and new schools were required 
to meet the wants of a growing population. At 
the time of the city organization, the schools exist- 
ing within its limits were as follows: In the First 
Ward, there were Nos. 1,8, 15 and 16. In what is 
now the Second Ward there was none. In the 
Third Ward was No. 4, occupying the building now 
used as a blacksmith's shop, on Church street. In 
the Fourth Ward was one, known as No. 5, now the 
Prescott School, (organized Jan. 26, 1839,) on Lock 
street. In the Fifth Ward was one, occupying a 
little old wooden building, since removed. The 
Sixth Ward contained one, called No. 6, located on 
Fayette street. In the Seventh Ward was the 
present Putnam School, on the corner of Jefferson 
and Montgomery streets. In the Eighth Ward was 
No. ID, situated on East Fayette street. 

In these schools there were, at the time of the city 
organization, 35 teachers employed. We have no 
statistics of the school population, attendance, ex- 
penditures or other items. 

Public Schools Under the City Government. 

The incorporation of the city of Syracuse in- 
augurated a new era in educational affairs. " An 
Act in Relation to the Public Schools of Syracuse " 
was passed April 11, 1848. This act, with some 
slight amendments, is the basis of the present 
public school system of the city. It provided for 



156 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



the appointment by the Mayor and Common 
Council, of two Commissioners of common schools 
from each ward, to be divided into two classes, one 
of which should hold office one year and the other 
two years from the date of the first appointment, 
and that, thereafter, one Commissioner should be 
elected from each ward annually. The Commis- 
sioners so elected and holding till their successors 
are chosen and qualified, constitute the Board of 
Education of the city of Syracuse, who have control 
of everything relating to the public schools. 

The act was amended March ii, 1865, March 
26, 1866, and March 27, 1868. 

By one of these amendments, one Commissioner 
is now elected annually from each ward for two 
years, and it is so arranged that the even wards 
elect one year and the odd wards the ne.xt, thus 
giving the Board only four new members each year. 
In pursuance of the act, eight Commissioners 
were appointed by the Mayor and Common Council, 
who met at Market Hall mow City Halh April 21, 
1848, and after choosing Hiram Putnam and R. A. 
Yoe, President and Secretary, fro tern., proceeded 
to draw for their respective terms, as follows : 

First Ward — William Clark 2 years. 

J. P. Babcock i " 

Second Ward — James Noxon 2 " 

C. M. Brosnan i " 

T/iird Ward — Hiram Putnam 2 " 

Daniel Bradley i " 

/v«r/// IJ'(7r</— Oliver Teall* 2 " 

C. A. Wheaton i " 

William Clark was elected President of the Board, 
but declined to serve, whereupon Hiram Putnam 
was elected in his place. 

At the next meeting of the Board, April 26, 1848, 
A. G. Salisbury was chosen Clerk, and his salary 
fixed at $500 a year. 

The Board, upon its organization, adopted the 
following resolutions : 

" Resoked, That the Board of Education will not 
employ any teacher in any of the public schools of 
the city who uses intoxicating liquors as a beverage 
or who is addicted to the use of tobacco." 

" Resolved, That the President of the Board give 
public notice that the common schools of the city 
will be opened free to all the children of the city. 

FiKST Teachers Appointed by the Board. 
The following roll shows the first appointment of 
teachers in the diflerent schools and wards of the 
city, and their respective salaries, per month : 

First Ward. 
No. I — Lewis Cornell, Principal, Salary, ^35 
8— Edward Smith " " 35 

15— I. B. Brigham, " " 30 

* Rnigncd, and place filled by T. B. Fitch. 



No. 16 — Jas. Johonnot, Principal, Salary, $35 
16 — Miss Delia Earll, Assistant, •' 15 

Second Ward. 

No. 4 — N. P. Stanton, Principal, Salary, $48 

4 — Mrs. Stanton, 2d Department, " 18 \ 

4 — Miss Palmer, ist " " 15 j 

5 — R. R. Stetson, Principal, " 45 

5 — Mrs. Stetson, ist Department, '• 16 ' 

5— Miss M. A. Clapp. 2d " " 18 

5 — Miss J. A. VanDenburg, 3d D'pt." 18 

T/iird Ward. 

No. 6 — J. B. Beal, Principal, Salary, $35 

6— Miss Hannah Burnet, Ass't., " 15 

20 — Miss A. Bennett, Principal, " i8 

Fourth Ward. 

No. 7 — W. W. Newman, Principal, Salary, $50 

7— Miss E. E.Williams, 1st D'pt., " 18 

7 — Miss E. Williams, ist D'pt., " 15 

7 — Miss J. Brooks, 2d Department, " 18 

7— Miss S. M. Co.x, 3d " " 18 

7— Miss R. C. Newman, 4th " " 18 

12 — J. M. Winchell, Principal, ' 35 

12 — Miss A. Barker, 1st Department, " 15 

12— Miss H. Kingsley, 2d " " 18 

Other teachers were appointed from time to time, 
as the exigencies of the schools demanded, and every 
effort made to advance the standard of qualification, 
and make the schools an honor to the city. As the 
population increased, new buildings were erected, in 
some cases, rented, old buildings improved and en- 
larged, new districts formed and new lots purchased 
and built upon, to meet the wants of the continually 
increasing number of children to be provided for. 
The Board has never been wanting in men of en- 
larged views and self-sacrificing in the cause of pub- 
lic education ; the officers have been faithful and 
efficient ; and it should be said to the credit of the 
citizens, without a single noted exception, that they 
have heartily and cheerfully cooperated in all the 
just measures of the Board calculated to advance 
and perfect the public schools of Syracuse. 

The citizens of the Central City have shown their 
appreciation of public education by the amount of 
money they have cheerfully paid to provide substan- 
tial and elegant school houses. These appear in 
every part of the city as monuments to the people's 
zeal and liberality. In some instances the building 
of these costly structures required an enormous ex- 
penditure for several consecutive years — the years, 
for instance from 1868 to 1875. 

In 1868, the May School building was erected at 
a cost, including furniture, of ^20,oco. In 1869, 
the High School building was completed at a cost, 
including lot, of ^lOO.COO. In 1870. the Franklin 
School building was erected at a cost, including lot, 




riioto. liy Bonlji & Curti^s, S\racusc. 



HENRY SHATTUCK. 



Ansel Shattuck, the father of the subject of this sketch, was 
born in Deerfield, 3Iass., Aug. 10, 1789, and settled in Pompey, 
Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he died, Feb. 8, 1849, in his sixtieth 
year. He was a well-to-do farmer and contractor for public works. 
He built the Erie canal through Little Falls. He married Rachel 
Bump, of Pompey. The result of this union was nine children, 
viz., Henry, Electa, Almira, Loron, Chester, Hiram, Caroline O., 
Adaline M., and Angeline. All are now living, except Hiram and 
Adaline. 

Henry was born Sept. 13, 1811, in the town of Pompey. His 
earlier years were passed on his father's farm, and his limited edu- 
cation was obtained in the common schools of his native town. 
At the age of fifteen years he came to Syracuse, where ho learned 
and followed the brickmaker's trade for about seven years. On 
April 28, 1831, he was united in marriage to Mehetabel, daughter 
of Jesse Knapp, of Pompey. She was born Nov. 18, 1804. She 
died Dec. 7, 1840, leaving two cliildren, viz., Mary Ann, born 
Jan. 1, 1832 (married Erasmus S. Hungerford, of De Witt); Cor- 
nelia, born Nov. 22, 1834 (married Edward H. White, of Syra- 
cuse). After his marriage he settled in Jamesville, town of De 
Witt, and engaged in the business of hotel-keeping. After resid- 
ing there about two years he was elected constable, and from tliat 
time for thirty years he Iield the oflBces, at different times, of con- 
stable, deputy-sheriff, under-sheriff, and deputy United States mar- 
shal, and all these positions he filled not only with great credit to 
himself but to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the town 
and county. 

On March 23, 1842, he married Sarah F., daughter of Dr. Silas 
Park, of Lafayette. There were born to them five children, 
namely, Mehetabel, Alice A. (married George M. Dorr, of 



Florida), Adelbert, Henry, and Frank. All, except Alice A., 
who was born June IG, 1844, died quite young. Mrs. Dorr died 
March 10, 1872. 

After residing in Jamesville for about six years he moved to 
Syracuse, and continued in public office until about the year 1801. 
From that time on for several years he was engaged in buying and 
selling real estate, and in the manufacture of salt, having owned 
and worked two blocks. 

Since 1862 he has built and sold a large number of houses in the 
city of Syracuse. 

In 1826, Mr. Shattuck enlisted in a company of light infantry 
raised by General Granger. Was elected fourth corporal. Was 
captain four years, and was appointed colonel of the 176th Kegi- 
ment of Infantry by Gov. Silas Wright, July 26, 1845, which 
position he held for three years. 

Politically he has always been a staunch Democrat, and in re- 
ligious sentiment is a Presbyterian, and has been for several 
years a consistent member and a liberal supporter of the Fourth 
Presbyterian church of Syracuse. 

While a resident of Jamesville he was school trustee for several 
years, and contributed largely to the educational interests of the 

town. 

The numerous and important official positions held by Mr. 
Shattuck, both by election and aiipointment, sufficiently attest tlie 
respect and confidence with which he has been regarded by his 
fellow-citizens ; and when we consider that every trust committed 
to his care, whether public or private, has been intelligently, faith- 
fully, and honestly discharged, and that he is in the enjoyment of 
the undiminished confidence and respect of all who know bim, we 
must pronounce bis a u.seful and successful life. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



157 



of ^30,000. In 1871, the Madison School building 
and furniture cost the city ;g20,ooo. In 1875, the 
Salina School building, which had been built in 
i860 and burned, was rebuilt at a cost, including 
furniture, of $17,000. In addition to this in 1870, 
1 87 1 and 1872, the Genesee, Salina and Seymour 
School buildings were enlarged at an aggregate cost 
of $20,000. Here is the grand total of $207,000 
expended in the short period of six years for pub- 
lic school buildings alone. If we leave off the re- 
building of the Salina School building in 1S75, it 
will then be $190,000 expended in four consecutive 
years for school houses. We venture the assertion 
that few cities of the size of Syracuse can show as 
good a record. 

Most of the other school buildings in the city are 
good buildings, ranging in value, including lots, 
from $12,000 to $30,000. 

The entire value of school property is as follows : 
Lots, $156,000 ; buildings, $570,000; total, $726,000. 

Present Number of Schools. 

The public school system of this city compre- 
hends sixteen schools and school buildings, as fol- 
lows : 

High School, corner West Genesee and Wallace 
streets. 

Salina School, First Ward, between Center and 
Bear streets. 

Jefferson School, First Ward, corner Park and 
Court streets. 

Townsend School, corner Townsend and Ash 
streets. 

Franklin School, corner Butternut and Peters 
streets. 

Genesee School, corner Genesee and Wallace 
streets. 

Prescott School, Lock street near Willow. 

Clinton School, Lodi street near Hawley. 

Seymour School, Seymour street near West. 

May School, Seneca street between Otisco and 
TuUy. 

Grace Street School, corner Grace and Ontario 
streets. 

Montgomery School, Montgomery street between 
Adams and Jackson. 

Putnam School, corner Montgomery and Jeffer- 
son streets. 

Adams School, Adams street between Grape and 
Orange. 

Irving School, corner Fayette and Irving streets. 

Madison School, corner Madison and . Spruce 

streets. 

Grades. 

The schools of the city are graded in four depart- 



ments, viz : Primary, Junior, Senior and High 
School. The Primary Department requires three 
years, the Junior two and a half, the Senior two 
and a half, and the High School three years, to 
complete the prescribed course of study. Formerly 
the High School required four years, but that 
has been recently changed by the Board. 

High School. 
The High School was organized in the brick 
building, formerly No. 4, now used as a blacksmith's 
shop, on Church street, in 1855. Prior to this there 
existed what was known as the " Higher Depart- 
ment," in which the sciences and languages were 
taught, in the building now known as the Prescott 
School House. • The High School proved a success 
from the start, and an indispensable adjunct of the 
public school system of the city. Besides advanc- 
ing the grade of education to a thorough academic 
course, and providing facilities for fitting students 
for college, it has been the only source of a sufficient 
supply of competent teachers, and the greater share 
of the vacancies in the public schools of the city 
have been filled from graduates of the High School. 
The preference is given to these, as being better 
qualified as a general rule, than those who apply for 
situations from places outside the city. And this 
has also the double advantage of aftbrding a con- 
stant supply of excellent teachers and of enabling 
the Board to give employment to a large number of 
their own citizens. Of the seventy teachers em- 
ployed in i860, aho\x\. fifty were permanent residents 
of the city, and a majority of them had been mem- 
bers of the High School. 

First Graduating Class. 

The names of the first graduates from the High 
School in 1856, are as follows : 
Rossiter Raymond, H. Wadsworth Clarke, 

Samuel L. Comstock, Osgood V. Tracy, 
Arinda L. Adams, Catharine B. Poole, 

Ellen A. Evans, Ellyette W. Casey, 

Ellen V. Bowen. 

Since then a large number have completed the 
prescribed course of study and have gone forth with 
the honors and benefits of the school to fill various 
responsible and useful situations. Last 3'ear the 
class of graduates consisted of 21 persons — 7 
young gentlemen and 14 young ladies. Most of 
the young ladies had pursued the studies of the 
Teacher's Class, with a purpose of teaching in the 
city schools, provided they should be able to pass 
the necessary examination, and openings should 
occur offering them situations. The opportunities 
which this class presents to those who purpose to 



IS8 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



make teaching a profession, are very valuable as 
compared with those of a quarter of a century ago, 
when nothing but a smattering of the common 
branches was expected of one offering their services 
as a common school teacher. The members of this 
class have spent four years in the High School, in 
addition to the course in the Senior School, which 
is more than an equivalent for the entire acquire- 
ment for a teacher of only a few years since, where 
they have pursued the higher mathematics, lan- 
guages—including Latin, French and German — 
with a thorough review of the English, the natural 
sciences, and mental and moral philosophy. In 
addition to this, they have received, during the last 
year of the course, daily lessons in at least one of 
the subjects taught in the ward schools, having in 
view a perfect understanding of the principles of 
these subjects and the best method of developing 
children's minds in them. 

High School and State University. 

By an act of the Legislature the High School is 
placed under the visitation of the Regents of the State 
University, and is made to participate in the distri- 
bution of the Literature Fund. This law applies to 
all High Schools in the State which conform to the 
requirements of the Board of Regents, and it gives 
them a higher character, placing them on equal foot- 
ing with all other academic institutions. 

The admissions to the High School are semi- 
annual ; one class enters in September and one in 
February, upon the Regents' examination. A few 
from abroad, and pupils not regularly in the public 
schools, are received into the High School upon a 
trial examination, which, if satisfactory, admits such 
persons into the school, conditioned upon coming 
forward at the next Regents' examination, to try for 
his " Regents' Certificate." During the year 1876, 
157 Regents' Certificates were granted, making 80 
per cent, of the attendance at the High School Re- 
gents' pupils, a larger percentage of the enrollment 
than at any former period. The whole number en- 
rolled duriug the year was 372, the average number 
belonging being 275, and the average daily attend- 
ance 264. 

High School Building. 

This building is beautifully situated on West 
Genesee street in one of the most picturesque por- 
tions of the city. It is in the modern classical style 
of architecture, three stories high above the base- 
ment, of red pressed brick with Onondaga gray 
hmestone trimmings, the style being exceedingly 
ornate' and imposing. A fine cupola crowns the 
summit of the structure, capped by a gilt globe glit- 



tering in the sun, and from this high elevation a 
beautiful view is obtained of the surrounding city, 
its environs and romantic scenery. This building, 
we have already said, was completed in 1869, at a 
cost, including lot, of §100,000. The length of the 
building is 123 feet and its width 96 feet. On the 
first floor is the Central Library Department, 
with its valuable collection of books, together 
with the spacious and commodious office of the 
Board of Education, and a department for classes in 
the art of drawing. On the second floor is the 
Central Senior Department, with its competent corps 
of teachers, and above this, on the third floor, is 
located the High School Department proper, where 
the higher grades of education are pursued. Ward- 
robes and water-closets are supplied throughout the 
various rooms, with every convenience necessary to 
the comfort of the pupils. In the basement are 
located the furnaces for heating the entire building, 
which is done by patent steam radiators of the most 
modern style, in keeping with the character of the 
furniture of the building, which is neat, attractive 
and substantial. Here also is to be located the 
Gymnasium, together with a fine cabinet of rare 
geological specimens, and a valuable set of philo- 
sophical apparatus. The conveniences for educa- 
tional purposes possessed by the High School are 
second to no similar institution in the country, and 
is the fit head of a system of public schools of 
which the citizens of Syracuse may justly be proud. 

Bust of Samuel J. May. 

In July, 187s, the bust of Rev. Samuel J. May^ 
executed by Miss Isabella Gifford, of Syracuse, was 
purchased by subscribers friendly to that object and 
presented to the Board of Education, to be placed in 
the Central Library Room of the High School build- 
ing. The committee of presentation consisted of Wm, 
Brown Smith, N. C. Powers, Mrs. Oliver T. Burt, 
Mrs. R. W. Pease, E. B. Judson, Dudley P. Phelps 
and J. L. Bagg. On the reception of a communi- 
cation from the foregoing committee, the Board 
passed a resolution accepting the bust, and appoint- 
ed a committee consisting of Commissioners Wil- 
liam A. Duncan, President of the Board of Educa- 
tion, Hon. J. W. Barker and Hon. John J. Grouse, 
to make arrangements for the proper ceremonies. 
Arrangements being completed, the transfer was 
made September 18, 1875, and the bust placed in 
the middle alcove of the Central Library, in front 
of the main entrance. 

One of the daily papers thus speaks of this in- 
teresting occasion : 

" The arrangements for the ceremonies were very 
complete. A commodious platform was erected 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 159 

across a portion of the front of the building, and Statistics— 1876 

the lawn in front, made damp by the heavy rains, -mi /•,•,,• 

was covered with boards. Number of buildings in which schools are kept. 

" Large offerings of flowers, vines and evergreens '^ — containing schools as follows : High School, 

gave the platform a charming appearance, and re- i; Senior Grade, 6; Junior Grade, 16; Primary 

fleeted esthetic culture, and the e.xercises were con- Grade, 17; Ungraded Schools 2 • Evening 

ducted in such a happy manner as to win the admi- Schools, i ; Schools of all Grades, 6 

ration of the large concourse of people. Promt- ,,,1 1 1 r . 

nently upon the platform, which was occupied by ^''°'^ """'''^'' °^ teachers in all the schools....207 

the Board of Education, the speakers and ofliciat- ^^'^ teachers, 10 ; female teachers, 197; regular 

ing gentlemen, together with a chorus of High teachers, 206 ; special teachers, i. 

School students under the direction of Professor Number of persons in the citv between the ages of 

Ballou, stood the work of which the city was soon r g^d 21 ' 16 1:1:2 

to become possessed, veiled from the view of the wru^i 1 7 "1 " T~". ,, . 

1 .1 A • a VVrioie number of pupi s retristered in all the 

spectators by the American flag. 1 k '^ iv-^iaicitu m an mc 

"The attendance was large, filling the space in schools 8,820 

front of the building upon the sidewalk, while the Average number belonging to all the grades, 6,624 

street was crowded with vehicles. The assemblage Average daily attendance in all the schools.. 6,228 

embraced, besides a large number of prominent Average per cent, of attendance on number belong- 

citizens, many educators and students in art and • „ 

literature, and all of the professions were well repre- ... u^'r'-' 

sented. Almost all classes and conditions of so- Number of sittings in all the schools 8,222 

ciety were present. The absence of Miss Giftbrd Cost per Pupil on Daily Attendance. 

was universally regretted, particularly by those who _ 

were aware of the fact that she was obliged to fore- ^°'' ^"'t'fn-graded schools, S16.27 ; ungraded 

go the pleasure of the event in consequence of severe schools, S12.49; all schools, $16.17 ; incidentals in 

illness. Had she been present, the speakers and all schools, ;^4.5I ; entire cost including all e.xpen- 

the assemblage would have given her a most cor- ses, S20.68. 

dial greeting. Whole amount expended for schools in the city in 

The exercises were commenced by appointing as jg.g Si-'i;o^' 81 
presiding officer, J. L. Basg, Esq. After prayer | 

by Rt. Rev. F. D. Hunting^ton, followed by the re- I ^o^'*'^ ^^ Education, 1878. 

peating of the Lord's Prayer, Rev. C. D. B. Mills Commissioners— ist Ward, Edward E. Chapman ; 

delivered the address, portraying in eloquent Ian- pd Ward. Peter Knaul ; 3d Ward, John W. Bar- 

,, ,.. J u . fM M I • ker; 4th Ward, Henry E. Warne: 5th Ward. Wm. 

truage the life and character of Mr. May, and giv- « t-i /-.u m? 1 u- r> /-m .1 .u 

t> o .7' & A.Duncan; oth Ward. Hiram R. Olmsted; 7th 

ing appropriate encomiums of the work of art which Wg^d, Martin A. Knapp ; 8th Ward, John H. 

so faithfully represented " some of his choicest fea- Durston. President, John W. Barker ; Clerk and 

tures." Rev. S. R. Calthrop, with appropriate re- Superintendent, Edward Smith, 

marks and a poem written for the occasion, then Standing C.7w;«//Aw— E.xecutive— Com'rs W. A. 

c ,, » 1 ^u u .. . »u D J r c-j Duncan, E. E. Chapman, and H. R. Olmsted. Fi- 

formally presented the bust to the Board of Edu- '^ • tt t- /-u wr \ ^^ j 

•' ^ nance Com rs E. E. Chapman, W. A. Duncan and 

cation. Misses Hanchett and Barnes unveiling the h. E. Warne. Teachers— Com'rs H. E. Warne. 

beautiful likeness as the last words were spoken. Peter Knaul and E. E. Chapman. Library- Com'rs 

It was looked upon lovingly forthe first time by many H. R. Olmsted. M. A. Knapp and W. A. Duncan, 

present, and the skill of the young artist found Course of Study— Com'rs J. H. Durston, H. E. 

, .• • , n • 1 ^ Warne and Peter Knaul. High School —Com rs 

strong commendation in many remarks. President m a i' ir r> /^t . 1 j i ir t~> 

^ , , r 1 J M. A. Knapp, H. R. Olmsted and J. H. Durston. 

Duncan then received the gift and promised to ^^^^^^ Regulations and Printing— Com'rs Peter 

place it in the Central City Library, where it could Knaul. J. H. Durston, M. A. Knapp. 

be daily seen by the children Mr. May loved so Earlv Libraries 
well. They would certainly prize it for two rea- 

sons-as a work of art and as a most fitting me- The first circulating library, called the " Parish 

morial of one who was a sincere friend of education. Library," was formed by the exertions of Rev. 

Mr. Duncan introduced President White, of Cor- Palmer Dyer, officiating clergyman in St. Paul's 

nell University, who gave a glowing tribute to the Church, which then stood in the center of the 

character of Mr. May. Accepting the bust in be- triangle now known as the Granger Block. Mr. 

half of the Board of Education, he said : - This Dyer's interest in the youth of the village led to the 

bust will endure as a memorial of Mr. May's char- step, and to a careful selection of books suited to 

,- . c 11 /■ 1- . .u » their needs A room was at one time furnished by 

acter ; for the serene face will for years radiate that ^""-"^ nccus. n luum »aa ai u v. / 

benign influence which will cause some to take up L- "• R^dfield. Esq.. for the accommodation of 

again the good work he loved so well." the Library, who. with Mr. Dyer, had chief charge 



i6o 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



of its circulation. After doing a good work it was 
removed by Mr. Redfield to the Academy, in the 
library of which it was merged. 

Madame A. J. Raoul at one time circulated 
books to the villagers. Then came the " Syracuse 
Library and Reading Room Association," of which 
Thomas A. Smith, Esq., at one time acted as 
Librarian, having his law office in the Library 
rooms, which he rendered attractive by a fine col- 
lection of hot-house plants. Public lectures were 
given before the Association at its rooms on the 
corner of Salina and Washington streets, by gentle- 
men of note from abroad, and " Readings " by Mrs. 
Fanny Kcmble Butler. Here for the first time in 
Syracuse was heard the music of Ole Hull's charmed 
violin. At a later period the Association got in 
debt, and finally broke down. The Library con- 
sisting of about 1,200 volumes, was purchased by 
Hon. E. W. Leavenworth, Captain Putnam, Dr. 
Clary, and others, who opened a library at Dr. 
Clary's house or office. When the " F'ranklin 
Library and Institute" was formed, they made a 
present of the 1,200 volumes to the institution, 
which was for some time the bulk of the library 
connected with it. 

"Franklin Libkakv and Institute." 

The Franklin Library came into existence as the 
fruits of the eft'orts of a few leading citizens, who 
agitated the project till it resulted in an appeal 
being made to all interested to contribute books, 
papers, periodicals, shells, minerals, &c. This ap- 
peal was made at the close of a lecture delivered at 
Market Hall (present City Halll by Dr. Mark Hop- 
kins, then President of Williams College, and the 
citizens were notified that they would be called up- 
on the following day for contributions. Accord- 
ingly, the next morning, two lads, taking Mrs. R.'s 
large clothes basket, containing a " beginning," 
made, before they finished, a pretty thorough can- 
vass of the place. One of these lads was Daniel 
Fiske, now one of Cornell's corps of Professors, and 
the popular Librarian of that institution. The 
other, Edwin Smith, now practicing law at Kenne- 
bunk Port, Maine, was a nephew of the beloved 
teacher. Miss Amelia Bradbury. The gleaners met 
with good success, and the heavily laden basket 
was many times emptied of its contents. One of 
the most valuable donations was a complete set of 
" Stillman's Journals," from Stephen Smith, given 
upon the condition that the subscription should 
always be kept up. It is to be hoped that this work 
fell into appreciative ownership at the late sale of 
that Library. 

Dr. Plenry Gregory, then rector of St. Paul's 



Church, if not the first president of the Franklin 
Institute and Library, served as such at a very early 
stage of its organization, and was a most zealous 
and efficient friend in the days of its weakness and 
growth. 

Syracuse during these days was not without aspi- 
rants to literary fame, as the popularity of the lyceums 
gave evidence. Here the late Thomas T. Davis, 
Zaccheus Newcomb, (for many years a resident of 
Waterloo, N. Y.,i and later. Wing Russel, James 
Xo.xon, mow Judge No.xon,i Judge North, (now of 
the Pacific Coast,) C. B. Sedgwick, S. D. Dillaye, 
and others, tried their newly-fledged wings of ora- 
tory before appreciative audiences. 

Reading Societies also gained quite a popularity. 
The most noted of these was organized by Miss 
Bradbury. Among its members were those whose 
memories are dear to many hearts — Miss Clarissa 
Smith, Miss Caroline Towne, (niece of Miss Brad- 
bury,) Mrs. A. M. Redfield, Mrs. E. F. Wallace, 
Mrs. Dr. Clary, Mrs. M. J. Lewis, (now of Chi- 
cago, ) Mrs. Charlotte Lawrence, Mrs. Lucy B. Put- 
nam, the Misses Redfield, Messrs. R. W. Washburn, 
(for twenty years or so confidential officer in charge 
of the express interests of Wells & Co., at San 
Francisco, Cal.,) Rev. M. Storer, Thomas A. Smith, 
E. J. Foster, W. H. H. Smith, H. N. White, J. L. 
Bagg and D. P. Phelps. 

About 1844 was formed the " Society for Mutual 
Instruction," the officers and members of which 
were each assigned a branch of natural science, and 
in rotation furnished each an original Essay at each 
weekly evening meeting, with natural specimens for 
illustrations, which were supplemented by informa- 
tion contributed by all the members upon the topic 
under discussion for the evening. The first year 
the members met in the School House on Church 
street, and the last year in A. G. Salisbury's school 
room, near the old Congregational Church, (now 
Convention Block,) on Fiast Genesee street. This 
Society was of great benefit to many. A " mem- 
ber" afterwards reported the first course of lectures 
delivered by Prof Agassiz on first landing in this 
country, in New York ; he wrote to a friend that he 
could not have filled that position had it not been 
for information acquired as a member of the "So- 
ciety for Mutual Instruction." The " record " of its 
organization is here copied from a large turtle shell, 
which was sent to one of the members by a friend 
of congenial tastes, from Canandaigua Outlet : 
Officers. 

President — Rev. Sanluel J. May — Etymology. 

Seoctar) — A. G. Salisbury — Conchology. — 
(Teacher till July i, 1864 ; Paymaster at New Or- 




In tracing out the early surroundings of some of our best repre- 
sentative men, we often find that chilling adversity companioned 
their youth, and that hard labor filled their early years. Fre- 
quently the only school attended was that of experience, where 
severe masters taught severer lessons. 

These reflections have arisen from hearing the reminiscences of 
one of our most esteemed citizens, Jason C. Woodrufl", a man 
whose name is associated with the most exalted ideas of probity and 
morality. Born in New Haven, Conn., in 1800, of American 
parents, he was left fatherless ere the completion of his second year. 
His mother, thrown upon her own resources, with a family of help- 
less little ones, struggled along, giving them a home and providing 
ways and means for their physical needs with that wonderful power 
which mother-love only evinces. Unable to send her children to 
school, she imparted to them such elements of education as her time 
allowed, taking time always, however, to impress upon them the 
value of honesty and truthfulness. Jason, at the age of nine, was 
a slight boy ; earnest, unobtrusive, known as a boy who could be 
trusted. As an evidence of this it may be stated that he was se- 
lected by Messrs. Prescott & Sherman, of New Haven, to take charge 
of merino sheep, among the first ever imported into this country, 
— hardly imported, either, as they were smuggled, and that at an 
immense cost. For four years this boy herded and sheltered them 
from harm, earning the good opinion of his employers by hig zeal- 
ousness and reliability. At the end of that time he was employed 
by the same firm in unloading salt, and for two years he thus earned 
his daily bread. At the age of fifteen he entered a tannery with 
the intention of learning the trade, but his desires in that line came 
to a summary end by reason of his falling into a vat; so he 
sought that unfailing resource of American boyhood, " working 
on a farm." The year 1816 was thus passed. 

The only regular instruction ever received was during the next 
winter, when he attended the village school. Being now nearly 
seventeen years of age, another trade was determined upon, and 
the laborious one of blacksmithing chosen. This he faithfully fol- 
lowed for five years, at Great Barrington, Mass., under a master 
exacting but just. At the end of his apprenticeship his capital 
consisted of a thorough knowledge of his business, a limited ward- 
robe, and eight cents. With this he started out in quest of a home 
and independeuce. Varying fortunes attended him on his way 
from one village to another, as he worked as a journeyman, until 
at last his erratic steps led him to Utica, in the fall of 1822. 

At this time a feeling of intense excitement existed, owing to the 
opposition line of stages which were about to be put on between 
Utica and the west. Naturally a lover of horses, young Woodruff 
became much interested in the debates as to the superiority of the 
running stock of the new line. He succeeded in getting his name 



I'hoto. by Bonta & CurtiBs, Syracuse. 



placed on the list of drivers, and so well did he impress the owners, 
that to him was given the honor of driving the first stage out of 
Utica on the rival line. His urbanity and strict attention to busi- 
ness soon made him a valuable man, and he was, within a few 
months, sent to Canandaigua to take charge of that end of the 
line. Pour years was thus spent. 

In his journeyings he had visited the town of Salina, and, like 
many others, seeing its prospective greatness, he determined to 
make it his home. He bought out the livery of Philo Rust in 
1826, and carried on the business, combined with that of staging, 
which latter he continued until superseded by railroads. In 1826 
he married Miss Amanda Johnson, a native of Lee, Mass. They 
have two surviving daughters, Charlotte and Harriet, having lost 
four sons and two daughters. His wife, who is yet living, has 
through these long years been a helpmeet in every sense of the 

word. 

Fortune began to smile upon this earnest suitor, and, as year 
after vear passed on, he entered new fields of labor, each of which 
gave good return. Mr. Woodruff held the surplus water-power of 
the Syracuse level, by right of lease from the State, on which he 
erected an immense flouring-mill five stories high. A few rods 
distant Mr. Haskins had a salt-grinding mill, and its destruction 
by fire involved the loss of Mr, Woodruffs mill, valued at thirty 
thousand dollars. This was discouraging ; but taking new heart 
he went on determined to labor, strengthened by the sympathies 
ever extended to an honest man who meeU misfortune. 

From 1831 to 1837 he fulfilled the onerous duties of bank-man- 
ager under the United States banking system. In 1852 the people 
of this city called him to fill the office of mayor, which he did 
with singular purity and fidelity. 

He has twice been president of the agricultural society of this 
county, one of the years being the most successful known in the 
history of the association. He also served as vice-president of the 
State agricultural society. He is still actively engaged in the 
livery business, which he has successfully earned on for half a 
century. About the middle height, robust and vigorous, strong in 
physical health, his mental faculties are in their prime. 

In all things which tend to materially advance the interest of the 
industries he has ever been a prominent mover and has given 
that substantial aid which goes so much farther than hollow 
promises from wordy lips. Reticent in speech, reserved in manner, 
eTmpresses the observer as being a man who carefully examines 
he bc^i-in.'S of a subject ere reaching a decision, and one who doe 
no lightlychange his views. He is a bright example of an earne 
Christln.' For thirty years he has been a -nsisteat member 
the First Presbyterian church.-during twenty-foui o which ho 
i's filled the position of president of the board of trustees. 



ii"5r:M:^iT cl-a.ry, imi.id. 



Porlupi there is nu mfto in Sjrraotue whoM name fKlli mure pleaaanUj 
upon the eftr thkn dnea the one whirh prrcedei thif Article. 

For furtv-rit^ht yenri » leading phvfician in (hii vicinilv. and intimately 
ronnectrd with the nidrat familiei of thccitr, br hii untirinfc cfTurU and 
Judicium course of prarlior he won fur himielf an onviahle poiition in the 
eateem o( the citifcnti fcrnrraMjr. 

Dr. Clarjr wa« Inirn in Derrflcld. Mai>«., on Feb. 11. IA03. Hii father 
waj a well-tn-do farmer, who fcave hi« aoii the bent edueatiunal adrantages 
tu Im* had in that localilr. At the afce of fuurtecn vear*. when a general 
frelinK pervaded (hi* rommunitv that "the west" was the " promincil land/' 
he aeournpanieil bin parcntji to Huron Co., Ohio, where the family Mettled 
upon an almont untmprovrd farm. Here fur the ipaee of three vear* be 
aji*i»ted hiii father in wurkinR the farm ; meanwhile, a« educational pnvi- 
lef^ea in that localitjr were limited, he upeut hif evcnini^ii in cluao atudy* 
therrb)r fitting himvelf to ajmume the dutirs of a teach(*r at the early ago 
of nevrntrrn, a« wril aa utoring bt« mind with a knowledge of fuch 
branches aj> ithould bo availablo and uarful in nftcr-vrnra. 

At the age of twenty-one a tempting ulfor tu cmbnrk in the mercantile 
buiinesM, which at the time seemed for bi^ interrfit in a pecuniary point 
of view, called for a pernmncnt de- 
cision on his part as to what should 
be his occupation in life. 

His prc«lilection for a profession 
won the day: and acting upon the 
belipf that, aa a physician, his field 
would be one in accordance with 
his taatea, and in which be could be 
of the mofit service to his fellow- 
man, he adopted the medical pro. 
fei«ii>n, anil soon after entered the 
odioe of I>r. Manter. Klyria, Ohio, 
wher« he remained two years. 

Subsequently he returned to his 
former home in New Knglund. and 
studied for two yvnrf in the office of 
Dr. Williams, meanwhile support- 
ing himself by teaching. He grad- 
uated afterwards at the Berkshire 
Medit-al Odloge, Pittsfiold, Mass.. 
with diatinction. 

Soon after, with a view of select 
ing a place in which to enter upor 
bis professional duties, he vinitrl 
Canada, and at one time thougbi 
«juile neriously of locating at St. 
Catharine'^, then an active anl 
growing place; the thought, how- 
ever, of expatriating himself and 
living under ony other form of gov- 
ernment than a republican ime, was 
su distasteful and objoctionablo Ibnt 
he gave it up, and subucquonlly 
making bis way through the Slates 
of Ohio and Pennsylvaniaon borne- 
back, he finally located in Salina, 
N. Y. (now the first ward of Syra- 
cuse), where be rnnninrd until IK36, 
when, perceiving that Syracuse waa 

to b.- tbo city and b-a^ling place, hr left n large practice and removed to (be 
latter place, where, with the excepliiin of a short time spent in Virginia, 
ho remainetl until bis death, June I, |A7ft. 

Dr. Clary entered the aehoul of medicine a^i on allupntb, but in 1810 
the clainm of homaMipatby wore preaiied upun bim with no ntucb force by 
an old friend and convert (Dr. Uull, of New York city), that he was in- 
duced to test the eflUcacy of the remedies. 

Faithfully carrying out his undertaking, it reaulled in breaking down 
the deep rooted prejudice* uf ninny years and his final iidoptiou of the 
homcpopathie nystem, unpopular with the community at large iind against 
his own personal interest, %n be supposed at the time, lioing then president 
of the Onondaga County Medical Sooiely (allopathic). 

I'nder this new it>stem he continued to practieo unlit the c|i>se of his 
life, ami the fact that most of (be families in wbirb be bad pmcticed for 
years went with bim in this change was a most gratifying testimonial of 
the confidence repopcd in him. 

His election to the presidency of the following medical societies waa a 
sufficient lostimoninl of the esteem in which bo waa behl by the me^lical 
profession: the Onondaga Medical Sooioty^ in 18-li ; the First Central 





;/c/iriv 



Moilical Society, in 1951 ; the New York 6ute Uonttopatble Medtcd 
Society, in 1^53; the American Institute of Homceopatby, in 1854; iW 
Onondaga Homiropathio Medical Society, in 1S03: the Now Central Ho* 
m<Bopatbio Medical Society, in 18M; being one of the original members of 
the American Institute of Homcsopatby. During his long and useful life 
in Syracuse, Dr. Clary waa prominently identified with many of iU IomI 
institutions. 

Karly in life be waa a trustee of the First Presbyterian ehurch, but aomo 
thirty years ago liecame aaauciated with the "Church of the Measiah" 
(Unitarian), and waa trustee aa well aa an active and earoeat member of 
that church until bis death. In the various charitable institutions of tba 
city he always felt a deep interest, some of which be was connected with 
aa officer and counselor for many years, always ready to render any acrrieo 
in bis power, professionally or otherwise. 

He was a trustee and vice-president of tbo Syracuse savings bank froa 
ita organisation. One of the founders of the New England Society, ho 
wafl the first vice-president, and afterwards elected pn'sident. 

Greatly interested in tbo security ami preservation of the re-oords of tho 
early history of Onondaga County, he was one of the most active and 

earneit in the organisation of tbo 
Pionecra' Association, and one of ita 
officers from the beginning. 

In politics, Dr. Clary in his early 
days waa a Democrat, and in Iti 
highest sense continued aa aneh 
through life. When, however, sla- 
very had made such gigantic stridot 
that the action of the Deraocratle 
party seemed to be governed by tlio 
supportcrsof that institution and la 
its int4>rest, be broke loose from tbo 
same, first as an active Free-MlloT, 
afterwards as an earnest Kepublicaa. 
Personally he never indulged !■ 
any desire for political preferment, 
though at all times active in poli- 
tics and deeply interested in tho 
general political welfare. 

Outside of bis profession. Dr. 

Clary was quite an extensive denlor 

in real estate, and. as far back Ml 

IS:i:i, purchased tbo tract of land 

known as the " College lot," which 

he subdivided and sold out in small 

farms. 

; V During (be last few years of bl> 

\ I life he built a large number of hoasas 

li suitable for tbo working claMM 

f upon lands in the city, some of 

which were purchased at an early 

day, and which were sold on eafy 

terms, making comfortable bomw 

for them. 

In temperament, Dr. Clary was 
sanguine in tbc superlative degree 
Kver cheerful and reliant on tbe 
good intentions of the Creator 
towards bis creatures, bis life wof 
parsed in n busy round of duty, whtob. while benefiting others, did not 
lca\e himself unrewarded. He was ever a close student of bis prufeuloo 
and kept puce with the ailvancemenis of the age, possessing strong powers 
of application and n well balanced mind. 

Always self reliitnt, he bad a happy faculty of drawing out others, whiok, 
with fine conversational powers and bis largo fund of information, roodortd 
him a most agreeable companion to all. 

He was best known in this community as a physician, though always 
looked up to as a man of power and ideas. Of a truly sympathetic nature^ 
he made the joys and sorrows of his friends bis own, receiving their ooo- 
Adenco but to retain it. His cheerful countenance and disposition made 
his presence in the sick-room, in no ordinary way, a source of consolation 
to his pationtj>, and tbo tondor remembrance in wbi<:b bis memory is bold 
by all classes clearly shows that he not only enjoyed, but waa eminently 
entitled to the name of friend. 

In May, 1830, Dr. Clary married Miss Fanny Ware, of Deerfleld, 
Mass. She was l>orn May 10, 1806, and still survives. They had three 
ohiblrcu, two of whom are living, — 0. Ware Clary, and Mrs. Daniel F. 
(lolt, of Syracuse, 



A I I 



'/ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



i6i 



leans in the war of the Rebellion ; Superintendent 
at Auburn Prison.) 

Treasure}- — W. H. Scram — Geology. (A teach- 
er in No. 7 Public School. Removed in 1847 to 
New York city.) 

Members. 

Miss A. Bradbury — Animalcule. (Principal of 
Young Ladies' Seminary in Syracuse. Died Sept. 
I2th, 1850. ) 

Mrs. A. M. Redfield— Radiates. 

Miss Mary Allen — Conchology. (Principal of 
Female Seminaries at Rochester and Syracuse ; is 
now Mrs. King, of Rochester. ) 

Dr. Dunlap — Physiology. 

Rev. Stebbins — Anthropology. (Removed 

in 1848, to Florence, Ga. ; teacher.) 

Mr. Stetson — Ichthyology. (Teacher at No. S 
Public School ; died in 1848 or '49, at Syracuse.) 

Joseph A. Allen — Meteorology. (Teacher in 
Academy. 

M. Burr — Herpetology. (Printing in New York 
in 1848) 

Dr. T. D. Washburn— Entozoa. (1848 removed 
west — to Illinois. (.') 

Mr. Stanton — (A resident of Geddes, and con- 
stant attendant at the sessions of the Society. In 
1848 teaching in Buffalo. Wa£ afterwards Secre- 
tary of State of New York.) 

District School Libraries. 

Circulating Libraries were connected with the 
District Schools from an early time, and were con- 
tinued in the organization under the City Charter. 
In the Superintendent's report for 1857, we find 
the following : " No equal amount of public money 
is doing more good to the community than that 
expended in the purchase of books for the District 
Libraries. There are nine of these libraries, so 
distributed over the city as to be conveniently ac- 
cessible to every one. The aggregate number of 
the volumes is 4,620. During the year (1857) 
20,000 volumes have been drawn. This extensive 
reading, principally by the pupils attending the 
schools, but largely by others, cannot fail to have 
an important influence in forming the tastes and 
habits of those who thus devote their leisure 
hours." 

Valuable as these libraries were, they were nev- 
ertheless attended with many serious disadvantages, 
being scattered in so many separate collections, and 
the increase of duplicate volumes incurred a large 
unnecessary expenditure. When the plan of a 
Central Library was adopted, these duplicate vol- 
umes were sold from time to time, and the standard 
works of value placed in the Central collection. 



The Central Library. 

This library was opened to the public on the first 
of May, 1855, in which year it was enlarged by the 
addition of two hundred volumes of standard works. 
When the High School building was completed in 
1869 it was transferred to its present well-arranged 
and spacious appartments on the first floor of that 
building. The Central Library is intended, not so 
much for circulation, as for collecting standard 
books of reference, and keeping them where they 
may be conveniently consulted. Nevertheless, it 
has a Circulating Department, free to all citizens 
above ten years of age. The Reference Depart- 
ment is open to all persons above the age of four- 
teen. The Library is under the direction of the 
Board of Education, and is conducted by a com- 
petent Librarian and Assistant, under a stiict yet 
liberal system of rules and regulations. 

We give the following comparative statistics of 
the Central Library, from 1867 to 1876, inclusive : 





w 


en • 














" te 




OJ 


>, 


1) 




E 


E ^ 




s 


rt 


0. 




3 • 


«.2 






13 






-0 t: 


C M 


b 



> 


V4-. 




c 


Years. 


"0:2 


^2 


to 





k. 






;. oj 


1- -c 




'-'S 


■^ r 


U 




OJ j; 


»; <u 


\- 


u ^ 


M . 




Si — 


Xi-TZ 


__ 


^ -- 


P u 


^ >, 




E c 


i^ 


a 


M 


^ a. 
= 






Z 


^ 


H 


2; 


IZ 


< 


Mar. I, 1867. 
" I, 1868. 


5.227 
S.870 

7.371 
10,000 










31,000 

.... i 




" I, 1869. 
" I, 1870 








2.495 


24.310 


187 130 


" I, 1871. 


10.592 


1,343 


3.8,38 


39.694 


308 129 


" I, 1872. 


11,423 


4,677 


8.515 


38,956 


304 128 


" I, 1873- 


12,423 


1,448 


9.963 


36,010 


267 


135 


" 1,1874 


13.300 


2,180 


12,143 


36,672 


264 


137 


" I, 1875. 


13.791 


1,080 


13,223 


41,623 


301 


138 


" I. 1876. 


14,070 


1,982 


15.205 


41,057 


308 


133 



John S. Clark, Librarian ; Mary A. Gambia, As- 
sistant Librarian. 

Library of the Court of Appeals. 
This library, though not the largest, is in some 
respects the best law library in the United States. 
It was originally part of the " Chancellor's Library," 
which came into existence about 1830, by legislative 
enactment, devoting to that object the unclaimed 
and unappropriated funds in the Court of Chancery. 
The office of Chancellor was abolished by the Con- 
stitution of 1846, and the Legislature, by an act 
passed April 9, 1849, turned over the library to the 
Court of Appeals, in the words following : " The 
public library called the ' Chancellor's Library ' shall 
continue to be a public library under the name of 
The Library of the Court of Appeals." The law 
authorized the Judges of the Court of Appeals, " by 



l62 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



order entered in their minutes," to divide and locate 
the library in two suitable places west of Albany, 
basing the division on "all duplicate volumes and 
such others as the said judges shall think proper." 
The places selected were Rochester and Syracuse. 
Judges George F. Comstock and Nicholas Hill, then 
of the Court of Appeals, made the division of the 
books, and the libraries were founded. 

The Library of the Court of Appeals at Syracuse is 
kept in suitable rooms at the Court House, the Libra- 
rian being appointed by the Regents of the Univer- 



sity. Present Librarian, Hon. Richard Woolworth. 
The funds of the Library consist of occasional 
appropriations of the State and an annuity of about 
$1,500. Since it has been located here, the num- 
ber of volumes has been nearly or quite doubled. 
The number of volumes is now a little over lO.OOO, 
and the Library contains many rare and choice books 
not found elsewhere, in complete sets. Among 
its interesting and valuable collections are the Stat- 
utes of England, complete and perfect, from Magna 
Charta ijune 15. 121 51 down to the present time. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



HON. JOSHUA FORMAN. 

Joshua Forman was born in Pleasant Valley, in 
the county of Dutchess, and State of New York, 
the 6th of September. 1777. His parents were 
Joseph and Hannah Forman, who, previous to the 
Revolution, resided in the city of New York. 
Upon the breaking out of the war and the ajiproach 
of the British to that city, Mr. Joseph Forman re- 
tired to Pleasant Valley, where the subject of this 
sketch was born. At an early age he evinced a 
strong desire for learning in which he was en- 
couraged by his friends. In the fall of 1793 he en- 
tered Union College, at Schenectady, and in due 
time was graduated with honor. Directly after his 
collegiate course was completed, he entered the 
law oflicc of Peter W. Radcliffe, Esq., of Pough- 
kcejjsic, where he remained about two years. He 
then went to New York city and completed his 
law studies in the office of Samuel Miles Hopkins, 
Esq Soon after the close of his professional 
course, he married Miss Margaret Alexander, 
a daughter of the Hon. Boyd Alexander, M. P., for 
Glasgow, Scotland. In the spring of 1800, Mr. 
Forman removed to Onondaga Hollow, and o|-)ened 
a law office, where he began early to manifest his 
public sjiirit and enterprise. 

By his integrity and straightforward course in 
the practice of his profession, he soon became dis- 
tinguished as a lawyer, and by his talents and gen- 
tlemanly deportment, became familiarly known 
throughout the county. The subject of the Erie 
Canal became a theme of deep interest. Mr. For- 
man's talents as a public speaker and as a man of 
influence and character eminently distinguished 
him to be the individual who should be foremost in 
moving the matter. Accordingly in 1807, a Union 



ticket was got up, headed by John McWhorter. a 
Democrat, and Joshua Forman, a Federalist. This 
ticket was carried with trifling opposition. It was 
headed " Canal Ticket," and as such received the 
cordial support of a large majority of the electors 
of Onondaga county. He brought forward in the 
House of Assembly the ever memorable resolution, 
which alone would render his name immortal, 
directing a survey to be made " of the most eligible 
and direct route of a canal, to open communication 
between the tide waters of the Hudson and Lake 
Erie." Mr. Forman had studied the subject of 
canals as constructed in foreign countries. He had 
well considered the advantages that would accrue 
to the United States and the State of New York, 
if this important work should be completed, and 
had prepared an estimate of the cost of construc- 
tion, based upon statistics of the Languedoc Canal. 
The resolution was adopted. And for this he was 
for years called a " visionary projector," and was 
asked a hundred times if he ever expected to live to 
see his canal completed ; to which he uniformly 
answered, that " as surely as he lived to the ordi- 
nary age of man, he did ; that it might take ten years 
to prepare the public mind for the undertaking, and 
as many more to accomplish it, nevertheless, it 
would be done." Had not Joshua Forman brought 
forward the subject as he did, it is not easy to con- 
ceive who would have had the moral courage to 
meet the ridicule of proposing in earnest, what was 
considered so wild a measure. During all the 
times of darkness, discouragement, and doubt, he 
boldly stood forth, the unflinching champion of its 
feasibility, utility, and worth, till the day of its com- 
pletion. On the occasion of the grand canal cele- 
bration, 1st of November 1825, Judge Forman was 




~t tit S^mMl Sn'f^'^ 



/£7^^^<^^^-^ /V^^^^^^-'^— >>' 



SYRACUSE, N Y 



« 



1 64 



HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



of Gov. Van Burcn, submitted his plan to a com- 
mittee of the Legislature then in session. At the 
suggestion of the Governor, he drew up a bill which 
became a law, and is known as the Safety Fund 
Act. It relieved the embarrassment of the State, 
and it may be safely affirmed that that no system 
in practice on this side the Atlantic, has better 
stood the test of experience. 

In 1829-30, Judge Forman bought 3,000 acres 
of land in Rutherford Co., North Carolina. He 
took up his residence at the village of Ruthcrfordton, 
greatly extended its boundaries, established a news- 
paper, and was considered the most enterprising 
individual in that part of the State. 

In 1831, after an absence of five years, Judge 
Forman visited Onondaga County. He was every- 
where received with unqualified demonstrations of 
joy and respect, and every voice cheered him as the 
founder of the city and the benefactor of mankind. 
The citizens of Syracuse, through their committee 
appointed for that purpose, presented a valuable set 
of silver plate, in the form of a pitcher and si.\ gob- 
lets, bearing this inscription : 

A 'rribiih- of Respfct. 

J'rcsttitfii by the Syracuse, 

Cilizens of Syracuse 

to the {Clasf-ed /lands.) 

Hon. jfoshua Forman, 
fomuier oj that Village. • 83 1 . 

On his return to North Carolina, Judge Forman 
took with him this token of the gratitude of his fel- 
low citizens, and it remained with him till the year 
1845, when he presented it to his daughter, the wife 
of Gen. E. W. Leavenworth, of Syracuse, remark- 
ing that it constituted a part of the history of Syra- 
cuse, and that after his death there it should remain. 

In 1S46, this venerable man revisited his former 
friends of his earlier years and found in each a full, 
hearty and honest welcome. A public dinner was 
tendered him at the Syracuse House — then the 
great hotel of the city — which was attended by 
Moses D. Hurnct, Hon. George Geddes, Lewis H. 
Redfield, Amos R. Granger, Harvey Baldwin, and 
most of the prominent citizens of the village and 
many from the adjoining country. Hon. Moses D. 
Burnet presided. A formal address of congratula- 
tion on account of the great success of his early 
labors and the remarkable fulfillment of his hopes 
and predictions was made by the Hon. Harvey Bald- 
win, which was replied to in behalf of Judge For- 
man (^he being then unable to articulate distinctly on 
account of a paralytic shock 1 by his son-in-law. Gen. 
Leavenworth. Gen. Amos R. Granger, Hon. Geo. 
Geddes, Lewis H. Redfield and several other gentle- 
men addressed the party in a very happy manner. 



From Syracuse Judge Forman retired to his 
mountain home in the milder climes of the sunny 
South, and passed away at the village of Rutherford- 
ton, on the 4th of August, 1S48. His remains were 
removed from Ruthcrfordton, at the request of his 
daughter, Mrs. E. W. Leavenworth, and now repose 
beneath the shades of Oakwood, the beautiful rural 
cemetery at Syracuse. 

For a fuller and more detailed account of Judge 
Forman's relations to the Erie Canal, see Dr. 
Hosack's life of DeWitt Clinton, pages 342 to 357, 
and for his relations to the city of Syracuse, see 
Clark's History of Onondaga, Vol. 2d, pages 69 tu 
90 ; see also " Genealogy of the Leavenworth Fam- 
ily in the United States," pages 257 to 264. 



GEN. ELIAS VV. LEAVENWORTH. 

Elias Warner Leavenworth was born at Canaan, 
Columbia county, N. V., December 20, 1S03. His 
father removed from Canaan to Great Barrington, 
Mass., when he was three years old, where his early 
life was spent among the beautiful hills and valleys 
of Berkshire. Early developing an eager taste for 
knowledge, he was placed in the year 1819, at the 
Hudson Academy, then under the care of the Rev. 
Daniel Parker, father of the present Judge Amasa 
Parker of Albany. He also, pursued his prepara- 
tory studies, in part, under Erastus C. Benedict, 
Esq , at Great Barrington, in 1873 State Senator 
from New York city. In the fall of 1820, he en- 
tered Williams College, as a Sophomore well pre- 
pared, and remained there one year, and then en- 
tered Vale as a Sophomore ; was elected a member 
of the Phi Beta Kappa Society in 1823 ; was grad- 
uated in 1824, and took his second degree in 1827. 

On the 20th of September, 1824, he began the 
study of law with William CuUen Bryant, then 
practicing at Great Barrington, and on the i6lh of 
May, 1825, entered the Law School at Litchfield, 
Conn. In January, 1827, he was admitted to prac- 
tice in all the courts of Connecticut. 

On Monday, the I2th of November, 1827, he left 
Great Barrington for Syracuse, arriving, by dili- 
gence, at sunset, on the following Saturday. He 
was admitted in the Common Pleas as an attorney 
and counsellor at the February Term, 1828, on the 
motion of Gen. James R. Lawrence ; and in the 
Supreme Court nearly two years later at Albany, 
at the October Term, 1829, as an attorney, and as 
counsellor in 1833. 

On reaching Syracuse, he studied and practiced 
with Alfred Northam, Esq., until February, 1829, 
when he formed a partnership with the late B. 





<_A9t_:y^e 



VA. il^«- 



SYBACUSE.N.r. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



i6s 



Davis Noxon, Esq., which continued with various 
members of the family until 1850, when he aban- 
doned his profession, entirely on account of the state 
of his health. In the great campaign of 1840 he 
had contracted bronchitis by constant public speak- 
ing to large audiences. In 1850, his condition be- 
came somewhat critical, and although enjoying prob- 
ably the largest and most lucrative practice in the 
central part of the State, felt constrained to retire 
from his profession and turn his attention to other 
pursuits. 

Rest and care for two or three years and abstain- 
ing from public speaking, fully restored his health, 
and other pursuits having engaged his attention, he 
never returned to the practice of law. 

In January, 1S32, he was appointed a Lieutenant 
of Artillery in the 147th Regiment of Infantry, and 
in the same year was appointed Captain of the Ar- 
tillery in the same regiment. 

In 1834, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of 
the 29th Regiment of Artillery, and in the follow- 
ing year was appointed Colonel of the same regi- 
ment. In the Fall of 1835, he was nominated at 
the Whig County Convention as one of the four 
members of Assembly from Onondaga County. 
But the county was hopelessly Democratic, or he 
would not have consented to be a candidate. In 
1836, he was appointed Brigadier-General of the 
7th Brigade of Artillery. In 1S37, was elected 
Trustee of Syracuse village. In 1838-39, and 
'40, was President of the village. In 1839, ^^^ 
elected Supervisor of the old town of Salina. It 
was the first election at which the Democrats had 
been beaten for twelve or fifteen years ; was reelected 
in 1840. In 1846 and '47, was again President 
of the village. 

While President of the village from 1838 to 1841, 
the Board opened, or extended many of the streets 
which are now the principal business ones in the 
city. In 1838, he drew up a resolution which was 
the means of procuring for the city Vanderbilt 
Square ; the rows of trees which still line each side 
of the railroad from Beech street to the heart of the 
city ; and the first public sewer, which still extends 
in Washington street, from the creek to Lemon 
street. 

In the winter of 1839, while President of the vil- 
lage, he drew up and procured the passage of a bill 
to enable the trustees to make a contract with the 
Seneca Turnpike Company, to discontinue that 
part oi the road running through what is now known 
as Fayette Park. In the same year he was instru- 
mental in securing to the city that beautiful Park 
which is now the pride of the Seventh Ward. In 



the Spring of 1849, Mr. Leavenworth was elected 
Mayor of the city. Under his administration and 
by his efforts, the Armory Park was laid out and 
became city property. In the Fall of the same year 
he was elected a member of thi Legislature to rep- 
resent the city district ; was chairman of the com- 
mittee on the Manufacture of Salt ; and a member 
of the Committee on Railroads ; and also drew up 
and had passed a bill on the subject of Salt. 
(Laws of 1850, Chap. 374, p. 794.) He also car- 
ried through the Committee of the Whole and pro- 
cured the passage of a bill to improve the naviga- 
tion of the Seneca River. In the same year he 
drew up and carried through a bill for the preserva- 
tion of Washington's headquarters at Newburg. 
In a series of able speeches, he defended the Gover- 
nor's veto in the celebrated " Mason Will Case," 
and it was mainly through his efforts that the veto 
of Governor Fish was sustained in that long and 
fiercely contested discussion. 

In i849-'50. General Leavenworth was one 
of the Building Committee of the First Pres- 
byterian Society. A majority of the committee 
wished to build a brick church, after some of the 
Grecian styles of architecture. By his efforts, 
aided by those of Mr. Thomas B. Fitch, one of 
the committee, the brown stone Gothic Church, one 
of the finest ornaments of the city, was finally se- 
cured. In the Fall of 1851, he lacked only six or 
eight votes of being nominated for Secretary of 
State, at the Whig State Convention. In the Fall 
of 1853 he was nominated for Secretary of State, 
almost without opposition, and was also elected. 
During his term as Secretary of State, he was very 
active in causing improvements to be made through- 
out the State, and through his efforts the State 
Asylum for Idiots was removed from Albany to 
Syracuse. 

As Secretary of State, he was ex-ofificio visitor of 
the charitable institutions of the State, and saw the 
great want of some superior investigating and 
supervising power over the Trustees of the various 
institutions. He accordingly drew up a bill entitled : 
" An act in relation to charitable institutions sup- 
ported or assisted by the State, and to city and 
county poor houses, and to create a board of visitors 
for the same," which was introduced into the Senate 
by Hon. Mark Spencer. In substance the 
bill was passed by the Legislature, May 23, 
1867, when he again drew the bill. In 1855 
he was elected a corresponding member of the 
American Historical and Geographical Society of 
the city of New York ; and, also, the same year, of 
the New England Historical and Genealogical 



i66 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Society of Boston. In the fall of 1856, Mr. Leaven- 
worth was again clecteii to the Legislature ; was 
Chairman of Committee on Canals and a member 
of the Committee on Hanks ; also, Chairman of the 
Select Committee of one from each Judicial Dis- 
trict on the Equalization of State Tax. As Chair- 
man, he drew up a bill, which was subsequently 
passed, entitled, " An act to equalize the State ta.x 
among the several counties in the State," which 
established the Board of State Assessors. He also 
drew up and introduced the bill entitled, " An act 
to provide for the investigation into the origin 
of fires in certain cases ; " also many other 
bills of equal importance. In the winter of 1858, 
Governor King nominated him to the Senate for 
State Auditor, but the Senate, being of a different 
party complexion, politely laid the nomination over. 
Mainly through the efforts of Mr. Leavenworth and 
Mr. Hamilton White, in 1 858-9, the Association of 
Oakwood was formed, which gave to the city one of 
the finest cemeteries in the State. In the spring of 
1859 he was again elected Mayor of the city. In 
the fall of the same year he was again nominated 
for the office of Secretary of State, but was defeated 
by a small majority of from 1,000 to 1,500 votes, 
in a total of 600,000, mainly through the efforts of 
Erastus and James Brooks and the Know-Nothing 
party, on account of their hostility to Governor 
Seward of whom he was a warm friend. In the 
winter of i860, he was appointed by the Legislature, 
one of the Board of Quarantine Commissioners and 
was chosen President at its organization. In the 
summer of the same year he was President of the 
Republican State Convention assembled at Syra- 
cuse to select delegates to the National Convention 
at Chicago. On the 5th of February, 1861, 
Gen. Leavenworth was chosen one of the Regents of 
the University ; and in 1872 was appointed by the 
Governor and the Senate, one of the commissioners 
to amend the State Constitution. In February, 
1 86 1, Mr. L. was nominated to the position of Com- 
missioner under the Convention with New Granada, 
and was duly confirmed by the Senate. 

In the fall of 1874, Gen. Leavenworth was 



elected a member of the 44th Congress from 
the 25th Congressional District, Onondaga and 
Cortland, but declined, at an early day, a reelec- 
tion in a letter to his constituents setting forth 
the reasons. There are many other public posi- 
tions which he has filled with credit and ability, 
which the want of space will not permit mentioning. 
Mr. Leavenworth at present holds the following 
positions : President of the Syracuse Savings Bank, 
President of the Syracuse City Water- Works Com- 
pany, President of the Syracuse Gas Light Company, 
President of Oakwood Cemetery. President of the 
Historical Society of Central New York, Secretary 
and Treasurer of the Cape Cod Coarse Salt Com- 
pany, a Trustee of the Onondaga County Orphan 
Asylum, a Trustee of the Syracuse Home Associa- 
tion for Old Ladies, a Trustee of the First Presby- 
terian Church, since July, 1837, a Trustee of the 
State Asylum for Idiots, a Director in the Syracuse, 
Phtenix and Oswego Railroad, a Regent of the Uni- 
versity of the State of New York. 

Few men have led busier public lives than Gen. 
Leavenworth. Possessing a fine education, com- 
bined with highly respectable natural abilities, his 
services and talents for forty years past have been in 
constant demand, wliethcr as a legislator, a states- 
man or a jurist. He has left indelibly the impress 
of his character and tastes upon the institutions of 
the city in which he resides. Kind, sympathetic, 
generous and humane, he daily practices these lovely 
christian virtues which create sunshine wherever he 
moves. The great secret of his success is attrib- 
utable to his astonishing energy, and an endeavor to 
discharge to the best of his ability, every duty which 
is imposed uj^on him. Now at the advanced age of 
75 years, he does more hard work than, perhaps, any 
other man in Syracuse, as can be seen by the numer- 
ous, arduous and responsible positions which he now 
holds. Age, instead of enfeebling his intellect, adds 
increasing lustre to his experience and wisdom. 
Few men in the State would adorn any public posi- 
tion with a richer experience or finer ability. 

For a fuller account of Gen. L. see the " Leaven- 
worth Genealogy, 1873." 






{%.%. 



The subject of this sketch was 
born in the town of Springiieid, 
Otsego Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1817. 

His paternal grandfather, John 
C. Wietiiig, was a native of 
Standal, Prussia ; was a classical 
scholar (and another member of 
the family taught a classical 
school in Vienna over one hun- 
dred years ago) ; came to America 
while a young man, about the 
time of the Revolutionary war ; 
enlisted on the side of the colo- 
nists ; was in the battle of Sara- 
toga. After the war he married, 
taught a classical school at Green- 
bush, N. Y., and later was pastor 
of the Jjutheran church of Minden 
and Osquake far twenty-two years, 
and died Feb. 17, 1817, in the 
sixtieth year of his age. 

His father, Peter Wieting, was 
born in the town of Minden, 
Jlontgomery Co., N. Y., Oct. 30, 
1790; was a tanner and currier in 
the early part of his career, and 
subsequently a merchant, and died 
in the city of Syracuse in the 
year 1856. 

His mother, Mary Elizabeth 
Manchester, was a descendant 
from a family of that name who 
came from Manchester, England, 
and settled in the State of P.hode 
Island ; was of English descent, 
and was born April 5, 1792, in 

Washington Co., N. Y. She died May 30, 1872. Her father was 
a Revolutionary soldier, and was a pensioner for many years before 
his death. 

John M. was the eldest son in a family of four children, and at 
the time of the writing of this sketch is the only surviving one. He 
received sufficient education from the district and private schools, 
so that at the age of fourteen years he became a teacher. After 
that age, unaided pecuniarily, he spent the next four years in 
teaching winters and attending school at the Clinton Liberal In- 
stitute, and working on the farm summers. 

During the following year he assisted in the preliminary survey 
for the New York and Erie railroad. At the age of twenty, in 
the year 1837, he came to Sj'racuse, and engaged as an engineer in 
the construction of the Syracuse and Utica railroad, which posi- 
tion he filled for some six years. In the mean time he surveyed 
Rose Hill cemetery, and graded many of the streets of the thee 
village of Syracuse. 

During these years he was an almost constant student of the 
natural sciences and mathematics. It was also about this time 
that he conceived the idea of leading a professional life, and began 
the study of medicine with Dr. Hiram Hoyt, of Syracuse. 

Through the pecuniary misfortune of his father and his poor 
health, John M. was compelled not only to meet the obstacles of 
life for himself at this time, but also to provide for the support of 
the rest of the family, which he did, with the pride of a devoted 
Bon, down to the death of those who gave him birth. 

In the spring of 1843, while a student of medicine, he was 
attracted by the lectures of Dr. Austin Flint, then lecturing in 
Syracuse with a manikin. John M. resolved to purchase the 






manikin, and with the assistance 
of kind friends he accomplished 
his desire, and started on a tour 
of lecturing, confining himself 
to the subjects of anatomy, phys- 
iology, and the laws of life and 
health. 

Soon after he began lectu- 
ring he received his diploma 
to practice medicine. His lec- 
tures were given mostly in the 
New England and Northern 
States. 

Prom time to lime, as his means 
would admit. Dr. Wieting added 
to his manikin other manikins, 
skeletons, models, and paintings, 
and such other illustrative appa- 
ratus as was calculated to render 
his lectures instructive and enter- 
taining. 

His lectures increased in pop- 
ularity ; his whole time wa.s 
occupied, when not in public 
speaking or rest, as a student, 
and for a period of some twenty 
years, more or less, he excited 
the curiosity and educated the 
masses, instructed the willing, 
lent a branch to the trunk of 
scientific research, and became 
one of the most successful and 
popular lecturers of the age. 

He gave over one hundred 
courses of lectures in the city 
of Boston and vicinity during 
these years to crowded houses.- His pure, intellectual efforts on 
these occasions are said to have been very successful, and have 
placed him on record as a thorough master of the subjects before 
him. 

Inured to the necessity of economy in his earlier life. Dr. Wia- 
ting has, by judicious management and his natural business ability, 
secured a competence which places him beyond the apprehension 
of want, and owns one of the finest and most valuable blocks in 
the city, called Witting block. In politics, he has never been a 
very zealous party man ; not solicitous of public office ; identified 
with the Republican party. 

He was the first president of the Chenango Valley railroad, 
but has been very little connected with any public enterprise. 

Dr. Wieting, in the strictest sense of the term, is a self-made 
man, endowed with that self-reliance, perseverance under diffi- 
culties, endurance of body and mind, resolution, with the greatest 
firmness and consideration, worthy of emulation by the young men 
of to-day. 

In the year 1875, Dr. Wieting, with his wife (whose maiden 
name was Mary Elizabeth Plumb, born in Homer, N. Y., a 
daughter of Hon. Samuel Plumb, and on the mother's side grand- 
daughter of Colonel Cooley, of De Ruyter), visited the Pacific 
coast, Japan, China, Ceylon island, India, the leading countries of 
Africa and Eurojie, returning to his native country after an 
absence of one year, and making a trip around the world. 

In this tour he added to his already large stock of information 
what neither reading or literary research will acquire, and was a 
discriminating observer of the customs and character of other 
peoples in the countries through which he traveled. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



167 



THE SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY. 

The history of the inception and establishment 
of this Institution was given in an address by Rev. 
A. J. Phelps, on the occasion of the laying of the 
corner stone of the " Hall of Languages," August 
31, 1 87 1. It has been approved by Chancellor 
Haven and others as a sufficiently accurate history 
of the University, and as such it is here introduced, 
with a few slight alterations. 

Like many other great and noble enterprises, 
the Syracuse University seems not to have been 
the result of plan or concert, but rather, as we then 
thought and still believe, a sort of intuition or inspi- 
ration which came upon several minds almost simul- 
taneously. This enterprise, in its inception, con- 
templated the removal of Genesee College to Syra- 
cuse, and the first tangible expression within our 
knowledge, looking in this direction, was a note 
from Professor J. R. French, which was received in 
reply to a communication we had made to him, in 
the month of January, 1866, declining to cooperate 
with him in the proposed plan to raise Centenarj^ 
funds for the endowment of Genesee College, on 
the ground that its location was quite too uncen- 
tral and ineligible to meet the demands of our edu- 
cational interest in the great Empire State, and 
strongly urging the imperative necessity of a first 
class college, under the patronage and supervision 
of our denomination, in some central position in 
which our people from all parts of the State might 
feel a common interest and where they might in- 
vest with better promise of grand results. 

To these sentiments Dr. French promptly re- 
sponded, and fully committed himself in favor of 
the removal of Genesee College from Lima to some 
more eligible location. Almost instantly after the 
receipt of this note we learned of an incidental con- 
versation occurring only a few days before, between 
Rev. E. Arnold and Professor Bennett. The spirit 
fell first upon the former, and the latter soon caught 
the inspiration, and as quick as thought there ap- 
peared screws under the sills, a locomotive on the 
track, and the time honored college seen trembling 
for its journey. At almost equal date Dr. Lore 
might have been seen in his sanctum, listening to 
this topic, when suddenly he replied by placing in 
the hand of his friend a half column of " proof," on 
the removal of Genesee College, and the two 
agreed that the intuition or inspiration, which ever 
it was, must be good. 

The next fact of interest time will allow us to 
note, was the first college convention, called under 
the auspices of a centenary meeting at Elmira, and 
held at Syracuse, April 12, 1866. This convention 
of representatives of five central and western con- 
ferences, took action decidedly favoring the enter- 
prise, and adopted measures for its advancement. 
During the same month Black River and Oneida 
conferences took harmonious action, and constituted 
their visitors to Genesee College, Commissioners to 
confer with the Trustees and negotiate for the re- 
moval of the College to some central locality in the 
State. 



At the annual meeting of the Trustees, held at 
Lima June 27, 1866, the Commissioners being pres- 
ent, and representing their several Conferences, the 
Trustees responded in substance that, the Genesee 
and East Genesee Conferences concurring, we deem 
it best that Genesee College should be removed to 
some more central location in the State on condition 
that two hundred thousand dollars, irrespective of 
grounds and buildings, be raised by the Conferences 
east of Cayuga Lake, to equal two hundred thou- 
sand dollars to be furnished by the two Genesee 
Conferences. 




(Rev. E. O. Haven, D. D, LL. D 



Immediately after this action of the Trustees, the 
Commissioners issued a call for a convention of 
Laymen and Ministers from Black River, Oneida, 
and Wyoming Conferences, which was held at Sy- 
racuse July 26, 1866. This Convention indorsed 
the basis agreed upon by the joint meeting of Trus- 
tees and visitors, and recommended that Syracuse 
and other eligible localities should be canvassed, to 
ascertain what inducements would be offered to lo- 
cate the college in their midst. 

At the session of the Genesee Conference in the 
autumn of 1866 this whole plan was, with great 
unanimity, indorsed, whereupon the Trustees took 
measures to secure the passage of an act by the ^ 
Legislature of i866-'67, legalizing the removal of 
the college. Immediately thereafter parties entered 
upon the authorized canvass in several localities. 
In Syracuse private interviews were held with 
several distinguished gentlemen, by whose advice 
and cooperation a preliminary council was called, 
and thereupon a private note was prepared, as fol- 
lows : 

" Syracuse, March 5, 1S67. 

" Sir : You are requested to meet several of our 
citizens at the office of the Salt Company of Onon- 
daga, Thursday, March 21, at seven p. m., to attend 



i68 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



an adjourned meeting for consultation in regard to 
a matter of great public interest. Yours, etc , 

William D. Stewakt, C. T. Longstkeet. 

Gkokge F. Comstock, Chas. Andkkws, 

E. W. Leaven woKiH, T. B. Frrcii, 

A. D. White, C. Tallman, 

A. MUXKOE." 

This note was addressed to one hundred or more 
of the most wealthy and influential of our citizens. 
The convention thus called was largely attended 
and of marked interest. After brief addresses by 
Dr. Lore, A. J Phelps and others, without the 
least suggestion from members or ministers of our 
own denomination, the convention took measures to 
secure the bonding of the city for the promotion of 
this enterprise. Whereupon Judge Comstock was 
requested to draft an enabling bill, and the conven- 
tion issued a public call foi- a mass meeting of the 
citizens of Syracuse. 

This meeting convened the following week at the 
City Hall. The gathering was large, enthusiastic 
and harmonious. The proposed bill was presented 
by Judge Comstock, which provided for bonding 
the city for the sum of $ICX),0C)0, conditioned on 
the establishment of a college in Syracuse or im- 
mediate vicinity with endowment of $400,000, inde- 
pendent of city bonds. This bill was approved by 
the convention with great unanimity and at once 
forwarded to our representative at Albany, and im- 
mediately passed the Legislature and became a 
law. 

During this year, 1866, which was observed as 
the Centenary of Methodism, subscriptions were 
secured on many of our charges in furtherance of 
this object. In this work. Rev. J. B. Foote, A. M., 
and Rev. D. D. Lore, D. D., and others were 
specially active and successful. 

In the spring of '67, Black River and Oneida 
Conferences fully ratified these preliminary proceed- 
ings, elected college commissioners and api)ointed 
Rev. J. D. Adams, Rev. James Erwin and Rev. A. 
B. Gregg, agents to raise funds for this enterprise. 
Meantime volunteers among whom Rev. C. P. Ly- 
ford, Rev. L. Arnold, and others, were jirominent, 
operated with marked success in securing sub- 
scriptions and awakening interest in favor of this 
movement. 

The Conference of 1868 reaffirmed their con- 
fidence in the enterprise and reappointed commis- 
sioners and agents to further the cause. 

From the first the Trustees of Genesee College 
have been true to the faith, and have done all in 
their power to consummate this noble work. 

Failing to secure the passage of the desired bill 
for the removal of the college in the legislative ses- 
sion of '66 and '67, they renewed their etforts the 
following year, and procured the passage of an "en- 
abling," or rather a disenabling, act, authorizing the 
Trustees to remove the college, leaving to Lima 
Semrtjary all the real estate of the college and 
§75,00^ of its cash endowment. The removal was 
opposed by the citizens of Lima who secured from 
the court an injunction upon the Trustees. This 
was a day of darkness to our enterprise. Still the 



overhanging clouds were not utterly dark. The 
hearts of the masses and the open liberal hands of 
the people were with us. The pledge of S 100,000 
from Syracuse, and $125,000 on subscriptions, 
leaving only $75,000 to be raised to meet the pro- 
portion of our Central Conference, with assurances 
from the West that the required balance should be 
timely met, shed some light upon our darkness. 
Still the persistent opposition of interested parties 
at Lima, the disabilities of the so-called " Enabling 
act," and the legal restraints of an injunction upon 
the Trustees, made the timid falter anri even our 
faithful agents in mid-season thought it wise to 
turn to other means of livelihood, and some of the 
people began to talk of defeat. But the original 
and abiding friends of the enterprise who never so 
much as thought of defeat or mortification, only 
talked of a " change of base." 

In the midst of this peril, in the darkest hour of 
the dark day, one who spoke the sentiments of the 
many, with almost prophetic assurance, exclaimed, 
" We shall see in due time a magnificent university 
towering up on some of the high lands of our Cen- 
tral City, standing there a living record of constan- 
cy and perseverance, a blessing to the great State 
in which we live, a perpetual honor to the church 
we represent, and an imperishable monument to the 
praise and glory of the great head of the church. 
God hasten the day when the vision shall be real." 

Thus, while many were disheartened and para- 
lyzed by murmurings of coming evil, others were 
looking and hoping, praying and planning, when al- 
most as if by magic the air was vocal, a voice from 
the center echoing from the West and the East, 
from the South and the North, cried let us have a 
convention — « j^^reaf Melltpdist State Convention. 
Let us come together and deliberate upon great is- 
sues that concern the church and the State — es- 
pecially let us combine the wisdom and strength of 
the people and take some new step which shall put 
our great educational interests beyond peradven- 
ture. 

In the order of Providence, the auspicious day 
appeared. On the 22d day of February, 1870, the 
Convention came, and the able utterances and wise 
deliberations of many distinguished men, with the 
skillful supervision of the President, Rev. J. T. 
Peck, D. D., made it a great occasion in more re- 
spects than one. While it conserved in a high de- 
gree other interests vital to religious and social life, 
it was the day-spring to our long cherished project 
of establishing on some prominence of our beauti- 
ful city, halls of science and letters, to rejoice our 
own hearts and make glad and elevate the genera- 
tions to come 

The interest of this convention was greatly inten- 
sified by the passage of the following resolution : 

" Resolvcii, That this State convention of the M. 
E. Church of New York, approves of the plan to 
establish without delay, in the city of Syracuse or 
its immediate vicinity, a first-class university, and 
that we recommend that immediate measures be 
taken to raise at least $500,000 to endow the univer- 
sity." 




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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



169 



But the grand climax was reserved until name 
after name was announced with magnificent sub- 
scriptions for the university, inspiring and electrify- 
ing the people beyond measure. Perhaps no better 
description can be given of this hour of thrilling in- 
terest and prophetic history, than is set forth in the 
following abstract of the published proceedings of 
the convention. After the close of the several able 
and stirring speeches on this subject, Dr. Jesse T. 
Peck arose, evidently impressed with the historic 
significance of the occasion, and said : " I have heard 
it said that talk will not build a college, but that 
money will. I propose that you instruct Brother 
Ives to stand here on the platform and see how 
much can be raised here and now. All in favor of 
this say aye " The proposition was unanimously 
approved, and Rev. B. I. Ives came forward and 
said : " I liked that brother's speech over yonder, 
and about the last thing he said was, ' Send us 
Brother Ives.' Here I am, and I am after you." 
Mr. Ives asked for two hundred thousand dollars 
from the audience. 

The first subscription was in the following words 
and read by Rev. Dr. Lore : 

"I will be one of four to subscribe $25,000 each, 
making g 100,000, towards endowing four professor- 
ships, when the University to be located at Syra- 
cuse, is legally and practically established ; with the 
understanding that I with my good wife, appropriate 
the savings of a life-time to the payment of this sub- 
scription and make arrangements for any balance 
which may be unpaid at our decease, to be paid from 
our estate. Jesse T. Peck." 

F. H. Root, Esq., proposed to pay the interest 
on twenty-five thousand dollars for five years. E. 
Remington pledged to pay twenty-five thousand 
dollars as soon as circumstances permit, which will 
flfe soon. Rev. J. F. Crawford pledged twenty-five 
thousand dollars. Hon. George F. Comstock 
pledged the interest of twenty-five thousand dollars 
for ten years. Additional subscriptions were then 
made, in sums varying from ten thousand dollars to 
one hundred dollars, and amounting in the aggregate 
to one hundred and eighty-one thousand dollars. 

Though these figures partially depreciated so as to 
leave a real footing of about $160,000, still this was 
the grand breeze which set our stranded bark adrift 
and turned her prow towards the glorious harbor. 
This goodly craft, so suddenly emerged from jeop- 
ardy, the convention christened " The Syracuse 
University" and at once proceeded to elect the fol- 
lowing 

Board of Trustees. 

At Large: Rev. Bishop E. S. Janes, D. D., of 
New York ; Hon. Reuben E. Fenton. 

Genesee Conference: Rev. Thomas Carlton, D. D., 
Rev. A. D. Wilbor, A. M., F. H. Root, Esq., J. N. 
Scatchard, Esq. 

East Genesee Conference : Rev. J. E. Latimer, D. 
D., Hon. D. A. Ogden, A. M., David Decker, Esq., 
Ezra Jones, Esq. 

Central New York Conference: Rev. D. D. Lore, 
D. D., Rev. A. J. Phelps, Rev. B. I. Ives, Rev. J. 
F. Crawford, E. Remington, Esq. 



D., 



Wyomitig Conference: Rev. H. R. Clark, D. 
Rev. D. W. Bristol, D. D., Hon. H, G. Prindle. 

Black River Conference: Rev. J. S. Bingham, 
Rev. S. R. Fuller, A. M., Hon. 'Willard Ives. 

Troy Conference: Rev. J. T. Peck, D. D., Rev. J. 
E. King, D. D., Rev. Bostwick Hawley, D.D.,Prof. 
H. Wilson, A. M. 

Neiu York Confere7icc : Rev. M. D'C. Crawford, 
D. D., Professor Alonzo Flack, A, M., Philip Phil- 
lips. 

Neiv York East Conference : Rev. George Lansing 
Taylor, A. M.. John Stephenson, Esq,, John H. 
Ockershausen, Esq. 

City of Syracuse: Judge G. F. Comstock, Rev. E. 
Arnold, Hon. Charles Andrews, W. W. Porter, M. 
D., T. B. Fitch, Esq. 

The Board convened immediately after the con- 
vention, and organized under the general law, elect- 
ing Rev. J. T. Peck, D. D., President of the Board, 
Rev. D. D. Lore, D. D., Secretary, and T. B Fitch, 
Esq., Treasurer. An executive committee was also 
elected, consisting of Rev. J. T. Peck, D. D., Rev. 
D. D. Lore, D. D., Hon. G. F. Comstock, T. B. 
Fitch, Esq., Hon. C. Andrews, Rev. A. J. Phelps and 
Rev. E. Arnold ; at a meeting held in April, 1870, 
Rev. E. C Curtis was elected General Agent for the 
University, and in the month of September last, 
the Board unanimously selected the beautiful grounds 
where we are standing, as the site for our Syracuse 
University, and appointed a committee to supervise 
the grading of the grounds and the erection of the 
Hall of Languages. 

Our distinguished Agent, Rev. E. C. Curtis, with 
the self-sacrificing and masterly cooperation of the 
President of the Board, Rev. Dr. J. T. Peck, has 
been eminently successful and the people have re- 
sponded nobly. And while it might be impractica- 
ble to make special reference to every liberal offer- 
ing, we are constrained to record one of the noble 
acts of the Hon Remingtons, — the gift of the St. 
Charles Block. This property was purchased at a 
cost of $120,000, and freely bestowed, one-half upon 
the University and one-half upon the College of 
Missionaries and other church purposes. This and 
other free-will ofterings of the people have advanced 
our assets to a very encouraging amount. 

While it appears that but little more than half of 
the old Genesee College subscriptions have been 
transferred, still independent of the "-College of 
Missionaries," which is no part of the University, 
we have now on hand in bonds, subscriptions and 
other property, over $550,000. With this amount 
secured, and with the flattering prospect of increased 
subscriptions, the trustees at their meeting in May 
last, judged it e.xpedient to open the college the 
present season, and accordingly proceeded in due 
time to elect the following faculty, viz : 

Rev. Daniel Steele, D. D., Vice-President, Pro- 
fessor of Mental and Moral Philosophy. 

John R. French, A. M., LL. D., Professor of 
Mathematics. 

Rev. Wesley P. Codington, A. M., Professor of 
Greek Language and Literature. 

Rev. J. J. Brown, A. M., Professor of Chemistry. 



I70 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



Rev. Charles W. Bennett, D. D.. Professor of 
History and Logic. 

Heman H. Sanford, A. M., Latin Language and 
Literature. 

George F. Comfort, A. M., Modern Languages 
and Esthetics. 

Professor J. P. Griffin was elected Clerk, Librarian 
and Registrar. 

And on this 31st day of August, 1871, it has 
been our distinguished privilege to witness the im- ' 
pressive ceremonies of inaugurating the faculty. 
And now we stand at the base of what promises to 
be an imposing structure, whose history must be 
penned by other hands and in other times. 

"We are here to lay the corner stone of the 
Syracuse University. This is the day towards which 
many longing, praying, hoping hearts have looked 
with intense desire. The Lord be praised, the day 
has come. The long night of fear has passed ; the 
morning beams fall on our cheerful faces and the 
precious sunlight shincsbrightly on our glad, rejoic- 
ing hearts. liut the full day is not yet. The 
meridian glory waits for the future. May heaven 
grant that the coming history may be exceedingly 
transcendant as compared with the past, and that 
many redeemed, purified and thoroughly furnished 
scholars may pass out over the threshold here to be 
laid, to grace and honor the church and the world, 
and to stand up in the last great day and call the 
Syracuse University blessed." 

The above sketch brings down the history of the 
Syracuse University to the laying of the corner- 
stone of the " Hall of Languages," August 31, 
1 87 1. It should be added that in April, 1870, a 
general agent had been appointed, and in Septem- 
ber of the same year, the ground selected and put 
under contract for grading. After extensive cor- 
respondence and frequent interviews with prominent 
educators in regard to the buildings, architects were 
invited to submit plans, and that of Horatio N. 
White, Esq., of this city, being accepted, the com- 
mittee proceeded to erect the " Hall of Languages," 
which was completed and occupied in 1875. The 
College grounds, which are ample for all present and 
prospective needs, are situated upon the eminence 
at the southern extremity of University Avenue, 
and command a fine view of the city and lake and 
the surrounding country to a wide e.xtent. 

Alexander Winchell, LL. D., was chosen Chan- 
cellor of the University in June, 1872. Upon his 
resignation, June 24, 1874, Rev. E. O. Haven, D. 
D.,LL. D., late President of the Northwestern 
University, was unanimously elected Chancellor and 
President of the College of Liberal Arts, and at 
once accepted and entered upon his official duties. 

Trustees. 

The Charter of the University bears the date of 
March 25, 1870. It places the government of the 



Institution in the hands of forty-one Trustees who 
are named in the instrument, with power to provide 
for the appointment of their successors. The By- 
Laws of the University ordain that nine trustees 
shall be appointed " at large," comprising at least 
six who are not members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church ; that twenty-seven shall represent the 
Methodist Episcopal Conferences of the State ; 
that three shall be chosen by the Alumni ; that 
certain State officers shall be cxofficio representa- 
tives of the Stale government, while the Chancel- 
lor of the University is made the representative of 
the Faculties. 
The Trustees for 1877 are classified as follows: 

E.\-Officio. 
His Excellency, Lucius Robinson, Governor of 
the State ; His Honor, William Dorsheimer, Lieu- 
tenant-Governor ; Hon. Neil J. Gilmour, Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction ; Hon. Sanford E. 
Church, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals; 
Rev. E. O. Haven, D.D., LL. D , Chancellor of 
the University. 

Elected by the Boakd. 

Rev. Benoni I. Ives, Auburn, term expires 1878 ; 
Hon. George F. Comstock, LL. D., Syracuse, 1878 ; 
John Crousc, Esq., Syracuse, 1878; Rev. Bishop 
Jesse T. Peck, D. D., Syracuse, 18S0; James J. 
Belden, Esq., Syracuse, 1880; Alfred A. Howlett, 
Esq., Syracuse, 1880; Hon. Charles Andrews, 
Syracuse, 18S2 ; Thomas B. Fitch, Esq., Syracuse, 
1882. 

Elected nv the Alumni AssocrATiON. 

Prof James H. Hoose, A. M., Ph. D., Cortland, 
term expires 1878; J. D. F. Slee, A. M., Esq., 
Elmira, 1880; Prof. J. D. Steele, A. M., Ph. D., 
Elmira, 1882. 

Officers of the Board. 

President, David Decker, Esq. ; First Vice-Presi- 
dent, Hon. George F. Comstock, LL. D. ; Second 
Vice-President, Francis H. Root, Esq. ; Secretary, 
Rev. D. W. C. Huntington, D. D ; Treasurer, 
Jonathan C. Chase. 

Executive Committee — E. O. Haven, George F. 
Comstock, Thomas B. Fitch, John Crouse, W. W. 
Porter, J. J. Belden. 

General Aj^ent—Rcv. V.. C. Curtis, 727 Irving 
street. 

OniECTS OF THE UNIVERSITY. 

The Syracuse University is the natural outgrowth 
of a conviction entertained by the large body of 
people interested in its administration, that they 
should have such an institution under their control, 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



171 



not far from the center of the State of New York. 
Like nearly all universities, ancient and modern, it 
has been founded and is largely controlled by people 
who are united by a common religious purpose, and 
it is intended to promote the highest welfare of its 
students, physical, mental and moral. The convic- 
tion that such an institution was needed was often 
expressed in ' Conferences and Conventions, and 
finally in 1870, embodied itself in a resolution in a 
large State Convention, to establish without delay 
in the city of Syracuse, or its immediate vicinity, a 
University. The city of- Syracuse, in its corporate 
capacity, presented for this purpose one hundred 
thousand dollars, and the managers of the enter- 
prise, in return for this favor, have secured an ad- 
ditional property of at least four hundred thousand 
dollars more, and also provided in their charter for 
a Board of Trustees, to be composed of some of the 
chief officers of the State, and also largely of persons 
not committed particularly to one religious denom- 
ination, so as to ensure at once freedom from sect- 
arianism in politics and religion. Not wholly under 
the control of either the State or the Church, but 
responsible to both, it will endeavor to cultivate the 
positive excellences that each would ensure, and 
avoid the exclusiveness, or evils of any kind, that 
might follow a bondage to either. An intention to 
accomplish this end will explain some of the pecu- 
liarly liberal provisions of the by-laws adopted by 
the Trustees. 

It may be well to note that the pledge to the city 
of Syracuse — to obtain, additional to the one hun- 
dred thousand dollars, at least four hundred thou- 
sand dollars, has been fulfilled. A beautiful site of 
fifty acres has been purchased, high and salubrious, 
overlooking the city, Onondaga Lake, and the sur- 
rounding country ; an elegant and spacious building 
for the Colleges of Liberal Arts and of the Fine 
Arts has been completed ; a good and substantial 
building for the Medical College, near the heart of 
the city, has been obtained ; and a productive en- 
dowment fund of about one hundred thousand 
dollars has been secured. More money has been 
conditionally pledged by some of its friends, and it is 
confidently hoped that within a short time it will be 
placed beyond pressing want. Thus, situated as it is, 
near the center of the State, with many friends who 
are determined that it shall be a permanent founda- 
tion of the best culture in science, philosophy, art and 
religion, it will continue to receive donations, large 
and small, and fulfill the purposes of its founders. 
Colleges of the University. 

Three Colleges are at present organized and in 
operation, viz : 



I. The College of Liberal Arts. 
II. The Medical College. 

III. The College of Fine Arts. 

The College of the Liberal Arts which went into 
operation in 1871, is intended to offer a curriculum 
of study which shall serve as a means of broad and 
symmetrical general culture to those who pursue it, 
and shall also place them in possession of those 
fundamental facts and principles which underlie the 
methods of all successful business. It constitutes, 
therefore, a thorough introduction to advanced 
scholarship, and the intelligent pursuit of the prac- 
tical business of life, as well as a fitting preparation 
for the study of any of the learned professions. 
Recognizing the diversity of tastes and of ulterior 
purposes on the part of persons seeking a liberal 
culture, four distinct courses of study have been 
provided, each of which, it is believed, will secure 
to the diligent student, what may be styled a truly 
liberal education. These are the Classical Course, 
The Latin Scientific Course, the Greek Scientific 
Course, and the Scientific Course. It is desired 
that each of these be brought to such a status as to 
imply a similar amount of preparatory and collegiate 
study. 

The Medical College was opened in 1872. Its 
Faculty is unusually large, and the field of instruc- 
tion is correspondingly varied and extensive. The 
first five months of the collegiate year are devoted 
chiefly to instruction by lectures and demonstra- 
tions ; the next five months chiefly to instruction 
by the method of recitations. The last term, how- 
ever, is optional with the student. 

The College of the Fine Arts, which went into 
operation in 1873, is intended to afford a broad and 
liberal culture in the field of esthetics. The in- 
struction, accordingly, is not restricted to exercises 
in the manipulations of art, nor even the acquisi- 
tion of the especial theories and principles of the 
fine arts, but embraces, with both these ends, the 
pursuit of a well-balanced course in all those gen- 
eral studies tributary to the formation of accom- 
plished artists, art-critics, and appreciators of fine 

art. 

Libraries. 

The Libraries of the University offer very desi- 
rable facilities for reference and general reading, 
while it is a leading object of the University to en- 
large means of this class as rapidly as possible. A 
donation of $5,000 within the year 1876 has been 
judiciously expended in enlarging the General Li- 
brary. The library of the Medical College is kept 
at their building. With the General Library, in 
the Hall of Languages, is connected a reading room 



172 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



which, with the Library, is open from nine A. M. 
till one p. M., daily, except Sundays. The room is 
provided with a large supply of periodical literature. 

MUSKUMS. 

The University is in possession of Ward's com- 
plete College series of casts of geological speci- 
mens, which are handsomely mounted and exhibited. 
The Curator of the State Cabinet of Natural His- 
tory, Prof. James Hall, LL. D., has, by direction of 
the State Legislature, selected and sent to it a large 
series of geological specimens from the duplicates 
of the State Cabinet. The private collection of 
the Professor of Geology, Zoology and Botany, 
consisting of several thousand specimens, chiefly 
paleontological, is also placed at the service of stu- 
dents. 

The Medical College is in possession of the Mu- 
seum formerly the property of the Geneva Medical 
College. This collection is extensive in the de- 
partment of Pathology, and is amply proviiied with 
the means of illustration of the Materia Medica. 
The College of the Fine Arts has several thousand 
photographs, engravings and chromolithographs 
procured in Europe and America, together with a 
sufficient number of plaster preparations and copies 
to answer the demands of the course of instruction. 

COLLKGE OF LlllERAL ArTS. 

Faculty— xi'jy. 

Rev. E. O. Haven, D. D, LL. D., Prcst. and 
Prof of the English Language and Literature ; John 
R. F^rench, LL D., Prof of Mathematics, and Sec'y 
of the Faculty ; Rev. W. P. Codington. A. AL, 
Prof, of Greek and Ethics ; Rev. John J. brown, 
A. M.. Prof, of Chemistry and Physics; Rev. 
Charles W. Bennett, D. D.. Prof, of History and 
Logic, and Librarian ; Heman H. Sanford, A. M., 
Ph. D , Prof of the Latin Language and Literature; 
George F. Comfort, A. M.. Prof, of Modern Lan- 
guages and Esthetics ; Alexander Wincheil, LL. 
D., Prof, of Geology, Zoology and Botany ; John 
Durston, A. M., Ph. D., Adjunct Prof of Modern 
Languages ; W. Locke Richardson. A. M.. Instruc- 
tor in Elocution ; Frank Smalley. A. M., Assistant 
Prof, of Nat. Science. 

Siii<hnts — i8jj. 

Senior Class, 21 ; Junior Class, 26; Sophomore 
Class, 33 ; Freshman Class, 46 ; Unclassified 23 ; 
Total, 149. 

College of Medicine. 

Faculty — 1877. 
Rev. E. O. Haven, D. D., LL. D.. Chancellor ; 
John Towier, M. D., Prof, of Chcm. and To.xi- 
cology ; Frederick Hyde, M. D., Dean of the Facul- 
ty, and Prof of Prin. and Pract. of Surg. ; Henry 
Darwin Didama, M. D., Prof, of Prin. and Pract. of 
Med. and Clinical Med. ; Nelson Nivison, M. D., 



Prof, of Phys., Pathology and Hygiene ; John Van 
Duyn, M. D., Prof of General. Sj^ecial and Surgi- 
cal Anat. ; Edward B. Stevens. M. D. Prof, of 
Mat. Med. and Therapeutics ; Charles E. Rider, 
M. D., Prof, of Opthalmoiogy and Diseases of the 
Ear ; Hervey B. Wilber, M. D , Lecturer on In- 
sanity ; Wilfred W. Porter, M. D , Prof of Obstet- 
rics and Diseases of Women ; William T. Plant, 
M. D., Registrar, and Prof of Clinical and F'orensic 
Medicine ; Roger W. Pease, M. D , Prof of Oper- 
ative anil Clinical Surgery ; Alfred Mercer, M. D., 
Prof, of Minor and Clinical Surgery; J. Otis Burt, 
M. D., Prof, of Diseases of Children and Dermat- 
ology ; Miles G. Hyde. M. D , Adjunct Prof of 
Anatomy ; Wm. Manlius Smith. M. D., Prof, of 
Bot. and Adjunct Prof of Mat. Med, ; J. Wiltsie 
Knapp, M. D , Demonstrator of Anatomy ; David 
M. Totman, M. D , Demonstrator of Anatomy ; 
Brace W. Loomis, M. D., Instructor in Chemistry. 

Stiitknts — 1877. 

First year, 9 ; second year, 2 1 ; third year, 8 ; 

College of Fine Arts. 



total, 38. 



Faculty — 1877. 

Rev. E. O. Haven. D.D . LL. D . Chancellor ; 
George F. Comstock, A.M., Dean of the Faculty, 
and Prof of Esthetics and History of Fine Arts ; 
Archimedes Russell, Prof, of Architecture ; Joseph 
Lyman Silsbee.A. M.,Prof. of Architecture ; Henry 
B. Allewelt. Prof of Decorative Art ; Sanford 
Thayer, Prof, of Painting ; George K. Knapp, Prof, 
of Painting ; Ward V. Ranger, Prof of Pliotogra- 
phy ; E. Ely Van De Warker, M.D, Prof of Ar- 
tistic Anatomy ; Peter H. Stuart, Prof of Engrav- 
ing ; Willis De Haas, M D., Lecturer on Early 
American Art and Archeology. 

Students — 1877. 

Senior Class, 3 ; Junior Class, 7 ; Sophomore 
Class, 8 ; Freshman Class, 5 ; Normal Art Insti- 
tute, 23 ; Total, 46. 



CHURCHES OF SYRACUSE. 
Baptist Churches. 

First Baptist Church.— The earliest religious 
organization in the village of Syracuse was the pres- 
ent First Baptist Church, organized in 1 82 1. Previous 
to the organization religious services had been held 
more or less constantly for about two years. Messrs. 
James B. Moore, Thomas Spencer and Samuel Ed- 
wards were chiefly instrumental in sustaining meet- 
ings. The preaching was mostly supplied by students 
from Hamilton, 1 Baptist Theological Seminary,) 
among whom was Jonathan Wade, who, in 1823, 
sailed from Boston to Burmah, and became a faithful 
missionary in that land of darkness. 

Meetings were held in several private dwellings till 
the erection of the first school-house, which was then 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



173 



granted for religious services on Sundays. At this 
time, having a permanent place to meet in, a corres- 
pondence was opened with the Seminary at Hamil- 
ton, and arrangements made for regular preaching. 
Those interested in sustaining divine worship at 
Syracuse, were to provide a good horse and saddle, 
to become the property of the Seminary, and every 
Sunday for one year a student would be sent to 
Syracuse to preach. 

It so happened that Mr. Moore had just purchased 
a fine horse and saddle, giving in payment therefor 
sixty bushels of salt at one dollar a bushel. The 
friends of religion at Syracuse at once thought of 
that horse. Mr. Moore voted with the others that 
the animal had a providential call to go to Hamilton, 
and for a long time it was devoted to the interests 
of education and religion, while conveying preachers 
to the places of their appointments. 

Worship having been regularly sustained in the 
school house for some months, the subject of church 
organization was considered. On the 12th of Jan- 
uary, 1 82 1, thirteen persons met at the house of 
Mr. Braddick Dart, related their Christian experi- 
ences, and agreed to call a council of brethren from 
different churches to advise with them in reference 
to forming a Baptist Church. The names of the 
thirteen were : David Johnson, James Wilson, Thos. 
Spencer, Alvin Walker, Rufus Cram, Benjamin G. 
Avery, Wyllys Brown, Braddick Dart, Polly Wal- 
ker, Rhoda Wilson, Eliza Spencer, Hannah Fish, 
and Sally Dart. 

On the 1 6th of February, 1821, a council was 
convened in the only school house then in the vil- 
lage, and advised the brethren and sisters in the 
village and vicinity to unite and sustain public wor- 
ship as a Church of Christ. On the following day 
the thirteen persons named met and organized a 
church, to be known as the " First Baptist Church 
of Syracuse," and appointed the place and time for 
public worship. 

For the greater part of the first year, preaching 
was sustained by the New York Baptist Education 
Society. After his graduation at Hamilton, Rev. J. 
G. Stearns performed pastoral labor for six months. 
In June, 1823, Rev. Nathaniel J. Gilbert was ap- 
pointed the missionary of the Hamilton Missionary 
Society, and was stationed at Syracuse, He united 
with the church and became its pastor June, 1824, 
and the first year of his ministry was signalized by 
the erection of the first house of worship of the 
church, which stood on the spot now occupied by 
the Universalist Church, corner of West Genesee 
and Franklin streets. 

Rev. Nathaniel Gilbert continued the faithful pas- 



tor of the church till July, 1832, when he fell a vic- 
tim to Asiatic cholera. His successors have been 
Rev. Orsamus Allen, August 29, 1833, to October 
20, 1834; Rev. Stephen Wilkins, November 1834, 
to December, 1837 ; Rev. John Blain, 1837 to 1841 ; 
Rev. Joseph W. Taggart, December, 1841, to Au- 
gust, 1847; Rev. Robert R. Raymond, 1847 to 
1852 ; Rev. A. G. Palmer, 1852 to 1855 ; Rev. J. 
S. Backus, D. D., 1857 to July 1862 ; Rev. E. W. 
Mundy to March, 1864; Rev. John James Lewis, 
1867 to 1869 ; Rev. E.A. Lecompte, 1869 to 1874; 
Rev. S. Hartwell Pratt, 1874 to November, 1875 ; 
succeeded by Rev. Charles E, Smith, the present 
pastor. 

The Church enlarged the old building in 1839, 
and continued to occupy it till 1848, when having 
obtained another lot in exchange with Capt. Joel 
Cody, a little east of the original site, they erected 
thereon a new brick edifice, of the Roman Ionic order 
of architecture, 132 by 70 feet, at a cost of ^15,000. 
The spacious and attractive structure stood till Au- 
gust 23, 1859, when it was consumed by fire, and, 
in the language of a report made by Mr. Harris, the 
church had " only a rubbish-covered lot incumbered 
to its full value." Still by the devoted efforts of 
pastor and people the ruins were soon repaired, and 
the present beautiful edifice rose out of the ashes of 
the former temple, and was dedicated, entirely free 
from debt, November i, i860. 

The membership of this church on the first of 
January, 1877, was 391 — iiomales,28i females; 42 
non-resident, and 32 belonging to the German 
Mission. 

The German Mission was commenced under the 
auspices of the First Baptist Church, in the Second 
Ward, in 1862. A lot was purchased and a chapel 
erected on Lodi street near Ash. In November, 
1875, Rev Reinhard Hoefflin became the mission- 
ary. On the 28th of June, 1877, this mission was 
organized into 

The First Gerinati Baptist CImrch of Syracuse, 
Rev. Reinhard Hoefflin, Pastor. The 32 members 
above referred to are now set oft" to this church. 
It has a German Sunday school. 

This church has also a Mission under the name 
of " Hope Chapel," corner of Wyoming and Tully 
streets. The Mission was established in 1862. 

The Central Baptist Church. — This church 
was originally a small colony of the P'irst Baptist 
Church. About 1850, under the ministry of Rev. 
Mr. Pinney, a small chapel was erected on East 
Genesee street, which in that year or early in 185 1, 
was cledicated by Rev. Dr. John Dowling, father of 
their late pastor, Rev. George Thomas Dowling. 



174 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Sen'ices continued to be held here under different 
pastorates, till the chapel of the present church, on 
Montgomery street, corner of Jefferson, was com- 
pleted and occupied in 1869. Rev. Dr. H. J. 
liddy, was at that time pastor, and had been for 
some time previously. He continued in the pas- 
torate till September i, 1873. In 1872 the main 
church edifice was finished, at a cost of $75,CXX), 
all of which was paid or amply provided for. The 
building is a fine structure of brick, with projec- 
tions of Onondaga limestone, and has a seating 
capacity for 700. 

On the first of September, 1873, Rev. George 
Thomas Dowling, assumed charge. The church 
and Sunday school were exceptionally prosperous 
under his ministry. 

Here we are called upon to record an experience 
of extreme trial through which the church passed 
on the evening of June 23, 1874, the sad memory 
of which is still fresh in the minds of thousands, 
and which will never be forgotten by those whose 
friends were the victims of the terrible calamity. 
On the evening referred to a large assemblage had 
gathered in the parlors of the church, in the second 
story, on a festival occasion, where also was to have 
been given a " Little Olde Folks' Concert " by the 
children. The floor of the parlors was insufficient- 
ly supported by iron rods which connected with a 
wooden truss under the roof, and while in the 
height of the enjoyment of the festivities of the 
evening, at the moment of the least consciousness 
of danger, the floor fell, carrying with it the ceilings, 
the timber and the furniture, and precipitating old 
and young, in a helpless, confused mass, to the un- 
occupied portion of the building below. To quote 
the words of the " Memorial " published by the 
Church : 

" Suddenly, as when a flash of lightning darts 
from a clear sky, or a dark and terrible chasm ap- 
pears where but a moment before was solid ground, 
a crash is hoard, the floor sinks, the ceiling falls, 
down into utter darkness, amid shivered beams and 
stifling plaster, broken furniture and twisted gas 
pipes, old men and maidens, young men and chil- 
dren, are hurled in inextricable confusion. For a 
moment a silence awlul in its intensity reigned, 
and then groans of agony, shrieks of terror, wails 
of mortal fear, anguished cries for help, arose in one 
great chorus from the struggling, bleeding, dying 
mass of humanity. Among the first to extricate 
themselves was the young and devoted pastor. Rev. 
George Thomas Dowling. Me ran through Mont- 
gomery street to Fast Genesee, and thence to No. 
I Engine House. An alarm of fire was struck and 
the engines appeared, but happily the horrors of 
fire were not added to the awful catastrophe. The 
police were promptly on the ground. Within an 



incredibly short period of time after the calamity 
(which occurred at 20 minutes past 9 o'clock,) the 
space about the church and the space leading thereto 
were thronged with a mass of people swayed by 
one common impulse, and that the noble one of 
giving aid to the victims. • • • 

" The work of extricating the unfortunate was 
carried on quietly, calmly and systematically, and 
as the living, one after another, were released, 
grateful prayers of thankfulness arose from loving 
hearts whose fears were so happily dispelled ; but 
as the dead were by reverent hands brought out 
into the quiet night, sharp cries of despair and 
agonizing appeals for assistance under this heavy 
weight of woe, pierced the still air of the summer 
night. 

" As the church bell tolled the hour of midnight, 
the remains of the last victim were removed from 
the wreck." 

The number killed in this fearful disaster was 
fourteen, while one hundred and forty-five were more 
or less injured. 

The sad event cast a gloom over the entire city ; 
churches were draped, and in many places flags ap- 
peared at half-mast. Suitable commemorative 
services were conducted on the Sunday following 
(June 281 in many of the churches, in which offer- 
ings of appropriate flowers combined with words of 
sympathy and fitting music in shedding a deep and 
hallowed influence over the assemblages which a 
common sorrow had brought together. Most of 
the pastors spoke feelingly and eloquently on topics 
suggested by the late disaster. 

The Central Church held memorial service morn- 
ing and evening at Wieting Opera House, from the 
published accounts of which we gather the following : 

" The Opera House was heavily draped with 
black and white interwoven. Drapings were fes- 
tooned across the windows under the gallery, around 
the front of the gallery, and around the ceiling, 
while others were fastened at either corner of the 
ceiling and extended across the hall, each crossing 
the other under the chandelier. The platform pre- 
sented an appearance which was touching to the 
hearts of all. Many willing hands must have given 
sad service in its arrangement. Besides the well 
arranged drapery, the floral offerings told a story in 
a language of their own. Across the foot of the 
platform were numerous bouquets, placed upon ped- 
estals about two feet in height, and trimmed with 
cedar sprigs. On the drapery in front of the 
preacher's desk was a large and heavy wreath of 
white flowers clinging to evergreens, and upon the 
desk were two magnificent crowns, made of white 
carnations and white roses. At the rear of the jilat- 
form, and standing prominently in view, was a mass- 
ive cross of smilax studded with white carnations, 
which seemed almost to sparkle like diamonds in a 
crown. It was the height of about eight feet, and 
well proportioned. The appearance of the Opera 
House was very impressive." 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



175 



The services were not less so, and the combined 
effect will never be forgotten by the large assem- 
blies who witnessed it. The music was of the 
most solemn and tender character. Rev. Dr. 
Dowling preached in the morning, and the pastor, 
Rev. George Thomas Dowling in the evening, ser- 
mons full of eloquence and pathetic allusions to the 
sad memories of the occasion, and of hopeful and 
cheering anticipations of the future. Said the 
pastor : 

" We learn at such times as these that all the 
world are brotliers. From all parts of our land 
there have come words of condolence and love. 
From Chicago, and New York, and Philadelphia, 
and Brooklyn, and Providence, from the North and 
South, and East and West, we have received the 
message, ' We are praying for you.' From the 
sister churches of our city has come the message, 
'We are praying for you.' From the noble band 
of men who occupy the pulpits of our city, has 
come the message, ' We are praying for you.' 

" God bless them, as we cannot, and I know that 
when those books shall be opened, He who noteth 
the giving of a single cup of water to a thirsty 
child, will not forget their sympathy for us, in this 
hour of our deepest need." 

Letters of Condolence mid Sympathy. 

We have only space for a few words of these. 
The pastor of the First Baptist Church, Rev. Mr. 
Lecompte, wrote : 

•' We warmly bid you welcome to a place in our 
house of worship, and to a participation in our re- 
ligious services on all occasions, not only until you 
shall have recovered from your present calamities, 
but so long as we shall have an organized existence 
for the advancement of the cause of the Master." 

The Board of Trustees of the University passed 
resolutions of sympathy and condolence for the 
city, the church and the friends of the afflicted suf- 
ferers, which were unanimously adopted by a rising 
vote. 

The Ministerial Association, upon the "intelli- 
gence of the heart-rending disaster," passed resolu- 
tions tendering the afflicted pastor and his people all 
the sympathy and aid in their power. 

The Common Council of the city passed similar 
resolutions, and directed that, in accordance with 
section 24, title 4, of the City Charter, the condi- 
tion of all the churches and public buildings in the 
city should be thoroughly examined and reported 
upon as to their safety. 

Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, formerly pastor of the 
Reformed Church in Syracuse, teleg»aphed : 

" Our deepest sympathies and prayers, that you 
may be comforted." 

Plymouth Church tendered the use of their lec- 
ture room to the afflicted Society, which was ac- 



cepted, and it was announced that the Central 
Church would meet there on Tuesday evenings. 

After the accident the Trustees resolved that the 
Chapel (that portion of the building which fell) 
should be reconstructed in a manner which would 
render it perfectly safe, beyond the shadow of a 
doubt. They, therefore, built five brick piers on 
substantial stone foundations, capping them with 
stone, and from these carried up iron columns to the 
top of the building, supporting the interior chapel 
work also by ten other brick piers, besides the stone 
walls in the basement. The Chapel is 77x40 feet. 
The audience room, parlors and every part of the 
building which sustained injury, were renovated and 
repaired. A special committee then examined and 
reported upon the safety of the building, July 29, 
1874. 

The Church, notwithstanding the calamity which 
befell it, has been very prosperous. 

Rev. Mr. Dowling resigned the pastorate in Au- 
gust, 1877, and was succeeded by Rev. E. J. Good- 
speed, D. D., present pastor, October i, 1877. 
Presbyterian Churches. 

First Presbyterian Church. — This Church 
commenced its organization under the name of 
"The First Presbyterian Society of Syracuse," elect- 
ing the following Trustees Dec. 14, 1824: Moses 
D. Burnet, Miles Seymour, Rufus Moss, Jonathan 
Day, Heman Walbridge, Joshua Forman and Joseph 
Slocum. Their first house of worship, built in the 
latter part of 1825, was dedicated on the second 
Thursday in January, 1826, Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, 
D. D., of Auburn, preaching the dedication sermon. 
The first edifice stood exactly opposite the present 
one on Fayette street, on the corner occupied by 
the store of D. McCarthy & Co., and the ground 
was presented to the society by William James, 
and others. 

The organization of the Church was effected in 
1826 by the following committee of the Onondaga 
Presbytery, viz : Ministers, Hezekiah Woodruff, 
Hutchins Taylor, Ralph Cushman and Washing- 
ton Thatcher ; Elders, Joseph W. Brewster, Wil- 
liam Eager and Harry Mosely ; the number of 
members uniting being twenty-six. Frederick 
Phelps and Edward Chapman, Elders, and Pliny 
Dickinson, Deacon. 

On the 28th of June, 1826, Rev. John Watson 
Adams, then just graduated at the Auburn Theo- 
logical Seminary, was installed pastor. Dr. Adams' 
first and only pastorate continued till his death on 
the 4th of April, 1850. Meanwhile the growth of 
the church in numbers and influence kept pace with 
the remarkable and rapid expansion of Syracuse. 



176 



HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NI£W YORK. 



The present church edifice, corner of Salina and 
Fayette streets, was completed and dedicated No- 
vember 24, 1850. It was designed by the Trustees 
and Building Committee to anticipate the future 
growth of the city, and was at the time of its erec- 
tion by far the finest church building in all this 
region of coimtry. The celebrated Lcfevcr, of 
New York, was the architect. The Huilding Com- 
mittee consisted of Henry GifTord, Elias W. Leaven- 
worth, Thomas B. Fitch, Zebulon Ostrom and 
Albert A. Hudson. The cost of the church, in- 
cluding lot and some later improvements, was $60,- 
000; ^10,000 was paid for the lot, $40,000 for the 
church, (a very small sum considering the style 
and character of the building) and $10,000 for im 
provements during the pastorate of Dr. Canficld. 

The old church in which Dr. Adams preached so 
long, during his first and only pastorate, was torn 
down in April, i8$o, and it is a singular coincidence 
that the last piece of timber was removed on the 
very day of the Doctor's death, — as if it had been 
ordered that he and the old church, in which 
centered so many sacred memories, should go to- 
gether. 

From June, 1850, to December 8, 1851, Rev. 
Charles McHarg, of Cooperstown, was pastor. His 
resignation was reluctantly accepted by the church, 
for his character, fine culture and commanding 
abilities had rendered him a favorite with the con- 
gregation and community. 

The church was then without a regular pastor for 
two and a half years, till Rev. Sherman Bond Can- 
field commenced his long and useful pastorate, May 
I, 1854. Dr. Canfield's influence made itself felt 
from the beginning, and was, under Divine Provi 
dence, a growing power for good to the church and 
the city. He resigned in October, 1870, after a 
ministry in this church of over si.xtecn years, ill 
health being the cause of his resignation. His 
lungs had become impaired. He died in St. Louis, 
at the residence of Rev. C. D. Nott.on the 5th of 
March. 1S71. He had preached for Dr. Nott in 
the morning ; in the afternoon he became ill and 
died about 12 o'clock at night. 

A year and a half elapsed without a settled pas- 
tor, during which the church was supplied chieHy 
from Auburn. On the 17th of May, 1872. Rev. 
Dr. Nelson Millard was called. He accepted, and 
was installed November 19, 1872. He has since 
rendered acceptable service to the church, and is 
the present pastor. 

Among the seasons of interest enjoyed by this 
church may be mentioned two noticeable revivals — 
one under the pastorate of Dr. Adams in 1832, and 



the other in the spring of 1866, under the pastorate 
of Dr. Canfield. 

The most noted meeting ever held in this church 
was that of the General Assembly of the New 
School Presbyterian Church in 1861. Rev. Dr. 
Condit, of Auburn, was Moderator. 

The church has under its charge a Mission 
School which was founded in i860. In January, 
1863, Mr. Edward Townsend presented to the so- 
ciety a deed (or a lot on Monroe street, upon which 
immediately afterwards, Messrs. \V. H. VanBuren 
and T. B. F"itch erected a chapel and presented the 
same as a gift to the church A prosperous and 
useful school is conducted in that portion of the 
city 

First Wakd Presbvtekian Church. — The his- 
tory of this church goes back almost to the beginning 
of the century. In September, 1803, the first Presby- 
terian sermon was preached at Salina by Rev. Mr. 
Sickles, from Kinderhook. He had been sent out 
as a missionary by the Dutch Church, and passing 
through Salina on his way to Fort Brewerton, 
stopped over night at Trask's tavern. Finding an 
uncongenial company there, he asked in the morn- 
ing if there was not a religious family in the place 
with whom he could lodge. He was directed to 
Isaac Van Vleck's. Calling upon the family, he 
found that they were the jiersons for whom he had 
a package sent by friends at the east, in the 
course of conversation he asked if he could not hold 
religious service somewhere that evening. He was 
referred to Aaron Bellow's cooper shop The ap- 
pointment was made, and in the evening the house 
was crowded. It was a good meeting, and such sing- 
ing ! There was no more preaching in the \i\acc for 
two or three years, and then only occasionally. 

In iSio, a Presbyterian Church was organized at 
Onondaga Hollow, in connection with residents here, 
under the name of the "United Church of Onon- 
daga Hollow and Salina" Rev. Dirck C. Lansing 
was the pastor. The Salina portion of the members 
consisted of nine. The only place of worship was the 
school house, which had been built in iSo5,butwas 
not in existence when Mr. Sickles preached in the 
cooper shop. Mr. Lansing continued to preach to 
the United Church till February 2, 18 14. Previous 
to this, in the autumn of 1812, Rev. Caleb 
Ale.vander, had moved to the Hollow and taken 
charge of the Academy in that place. Mr. 
Alexander, although never a pastor at the Hollow, 
occasionally |)rcached, and after Mr. Lansing's 
lime preached to the people of Salina. Under his 
ministry the Sunday School was formed in 18 16, 
although this was not the first Sunday School in 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



177 



the place, Mrs. Mary A. Porter having previously 
opened a Sabbath School in connection with a day 
school which she was teaching, in which she was 
assisted by Mrs. Phebe Spafford and Mrs. S. Alvord. 
This was one of the earliest Sabbath Schools, not 
only in this part of the country, but generally, for 
Sunday Schools were quite uncommon at that 
period. 

The first church edifice of this society was built 
and dedicated in 1822. It was a wooden structure 
standing on the northwest corner of the Park, and 
remained till 1855. In 1851 the chapel was built 
on Salina street nearly opposite the former resi- 
dence of Dr. Didama. The Sabbath School con- 
tinued to be held in the church till the building was 
taken down. Then it was removed to the chapel. 
After the present brick church was built in 1855, 
the chapel was removed to the spot where it now 
stands adjoining the church, and, enlarged in 1862, 
has since continued to be occupied by the school. 

The successors of Rev. Mr. Alexander, prior to 
the separation from the Onondaga Hollow Society, 
were Rev. Samuel T. Mills and Rev. James H. 
Mills. Under the ministry of the latter the United 
Society was divided, and a separate church formed 
under the name of the " First Presbyterian Church 
of Salina," Jan. 23, 1822, and the first church build- 
ing was erected. It was dedicated coetaneously 
with the organization. Rev. John Brown, D.D., 
preaching the sermon. On the 13th of March fol- 
lowing, Rev. Hutchins Taylor was installed pastor, 
and continued his ministry till Sept. 7, 1 826. He was 
followed by Rev. Henry Hotchkiss, as stated supply, 
for about one year. During this period a large num- 
ber was added to the church. Rev. Hiram H. 
Kellogg next supplied the church from the fall 
of 1827 to the summer of 1829, and was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. James I. Ostrom, installed June 
24, 1829. Under his ministry large additions were 
made to the church. His successor was Rev. Jos. 
I. Foot, afterwards elected President of Washing- 
ton College, but while on his way thither was 
thrown out of his carriage and killed, July 20, 
1836. Rev. Hutchins Taylor was recalled, and re- 
mained pastor till December, 1 839. Mr. Taylor was 
followed by Rev. Jos. Myers, who remained till May, 
1844, and was succeeded by Rev. Elias Clark, who 
supplied the pulpit six months. Then came Rev. 
Thomas Castleton and continued till July 23, 1849, 
after which the pulpit was supplied about one year 
by Rev. J. J. Slocum. Rev. William W. Newell, 
D. D., was installed pastor Oct. 20, 1850, and ac- 
cepted a call to New York City Jan. 15, i860, his 
pastorate being over nine years with this church. 
1 3* 



The pulpit was then supplied for about two years by 
Rev. Dr. Condit, of Auburn, when Rev. Lewis H. 
Reed, to whom we are indebted for most of this his- 
tory of the church, became pastor. He concluded 
his labors here May i, 1868, accepting a call to 
Chicago. His successors have been Rev. John H. 
Frazee, Jan. 7, 1870, and Rev. Alfred H. Fahne- 
stock, Jan. 20, 1875, the present pastor. Under the 
last named ministry about twenty members were 
added to the church last spring. The number is 
now 143, and the members of the Sunday School 
150. Elders : John Hartshorne, James Van Vleck, 
Augustus G. S. Allis and Charles Cushney. 

Park Central Presbyterian Church — The 
Park Church was organized December 24, 1846, and 
consisted of thirty-nine members. The first elders 
were Robert Furman, John Stewart and Ralph R. 
Phelps. Subsequently Josiah Wright, F. W. Tut- 
tle, Horace B. Yates, Johnson Cowles, and David 
Hotchkiss became at an early day members of the 
session. Of the original members of the church, 
but seven now remain in connection with it, viz: 
Mrs. Bradley Carey, Mrs. L. W. Butler, Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Phelps, Mrs. Alvira S. Cook, Mrs. Minerva S. 
Cowles, Mrs. Emily Goodwin, and Mrs. Emily M. 
Seymour. 

The society was organized December 30, 1846. 
Ralph R. Phelps and John Stewart, two of the 
elders of the church, presided as moderators over 
the meeting for organization, and J. B. Huntington, 
Israel Smith, Benjamin R. Norton, John Stewart, 
Bradley Carey and George Barney were elected the 
first Board of Trustees. At the first meeting 
seventeen members were enrolled in the society, of 
whom only one now remains, Mr. Bradley Carey, 
who has faithfully shared the vicissitudes of the 
church from that time to the present. Two or 
three others of the original number are still living, 
but reside elsewhere. 

January 4, 1847, the Trustees recommended the 
erection of a house of worship provided it could be 
built for ^7,000, and on the nth of January, the 
society adopted the recommendation, and author- 
ized the purchase of the original lot from the late 
R. R. Phelps, March 17, 1847, the contract for the 
building was signed. The entire sum specified in 
the contract to be paid for the building of the 
church was ^8,550. 

Rev. C. Gold Lee was stated supply of the 
church until 1847, when he resigned, and Rev. Wm. 
W. Newell was called to the pastorate and installed 
November 10, 1847. The church edifice was dedi- 
cated February 3, 1848. Rev. Dr. Newell was 
pastor of the church until October, 1850, when he 



178 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



resigned, and in August, 1851, Rev. Byron Sunder- 
land assumed the duties of the pastorate, and 
administered them until January, 1853. Rev. 
Samuel Hall succeeded him in October, 1853. 

In January, 1855, the church property was sold 
under foreclosure, and by a subsequent arrangement 
with the purchasers, came into possession of a new 
society, organized from the Park Church Society, 
under the corporate name of the Park Presbyterian 
Society, and in April, 1855, Rev. S. H. Hall was 
called to the pastorate and duly installed in May 
following. He resigned in 1856, and the church 
and society remained without a settled pastor for 
some time. Rev. S. T. Reeves was temporary supply 
in 1857 for a period of one year. 

In March, 1858, the church and society were re- 
organized under the name of the Park Central 
Presbyterian Church and Society, which name it 
still bears. Rev. Mr. Fillmore was elected pastor 
and commenced his ministerial labors in January, 
1858, continuing his relations with the church until 
1865. The jjulpit was supplied during the follow- 
ing year by Prof. James E. Pierce, of the Auburn 
Theological Seminary. 

How earnestly and faithfully these early pastors 
toiled and labored for the prosperity and stability of 
the Church, often amidst overwhelming discourage- 
ments, is known to all who during those years were 
conversant with the affairs of the church. Their 
self-sacrificing work and their devotion to the inter- 
ests of the church and society will ever be held in 
grateful remembrance. 

In 1866, Rev. Addison K. Strong was elected 
pastor and installed in April of that year. He was 
dismissed at his own request in April, 1870. Dur- 
ing his pastorate the church was greatly prospered 
and large adilitions were made to the number of its 
members. The project of building a new house of 
worship was agitated quite earnestly during Dr. 
Strong's pastorate, but the enterprise seemed too 
great to be undertaken and was for a time deferred. 

In May, 1870, Rev. Edward G. Thurber was 
elected pastor. During his ministry he has secured 
the highest confidence and warmest love of his peo- 
ple. His encouraging words and e.\ami)le of devo- 
tion greatly forwarded the enterprise of the new 
church, the corner-stone of which was laid on the 
9th of September, 1S72, and the edifice completed 
and dedicated on the 24th of June, 1875. The 
cost of this church was nearly 575,cxX). It has 
large and complete appointments for the Sabbath 
School, social services, and for the weekly prayer 
meetings of the church. The present pastor. Rev. 
Edward G. Thurber, has been with the Church 



since May 12, 1870. The present membership is 
418, the Sabbath School numbering 515. Many 
have gone from this church to other places, who 
hold important positions of Christian influence and 
usefulness. The Church and Society are united, 
harmonious and progressive in Christian work. 

Fourth Pkksuvtekian Church— This church, 
like the Park Central Presbyterian, is an outgrowth of 
the First Presbyterian Church, of this city, and was 
organized under its auspices and in its session room 
on the evening of February 2, 1870. A short ad- 
dress was made by Rev. S. B. Canfield, D. D.. who 
then read the names of eighty-one persons propos- 
ing to unite in forming the organization, si.\ty-two 
of whom were from the First Presbyterian, 
three from the Park Presbyterian, six from 
the Reformed, one from Plymouth, and nine from 
churches outside the city. Among the original 
members were the following : 

Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Hayden, Mr. and Mrs. VVm. 
C. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Hough, Mr. 
and Mrs. D. S. Hubbard, Mr. and Mrs. Charles 
Hubbard, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chadwick, Mr. 
and Mrs. Edwin Miles, Mr. and Mrs. E. G. La- 
throp, Mr. and Mrs. John Reed, Mrs. C. C. Bradley, 
Mrs. Mary Bradley, Mrs. C. M. Barrett, Mrs. A. 
L. Smith, Mrs. Esther C. Barker, David Bonta, S. 
H. Starin, H. C. Hooker, Dr. John VanDuyn. 

John Reed and Henry C. Hooker were ordained 
Elders, and Edwin Miles, Deacon. 

The church first met for worship at Conserva- 
tory Hall, corner of Warren and Fayette streets, 
Sunday, February 6th, 1870, and organized a Sun- 
day school at the close of the morning services. In 
April, 1870, Rev. John S. Bacon was duly installed 
as pastor. During the year to January i, 1S71, 62 
members were added by letter and 27 by profession 
of faith. Rev. John S. Bacon remained pastor for 
six years, and was succeeded in September, 1877, 
by the present pastor. Rev. Norman Seaver, D. D., 
who came here from an eight years' pastorate of the 
First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, N. V. 

The present church edifice was begun in 1872, 
and dedicated February 27, 1873. It cost ^60,000. 
Prcs(;nt membership, 375 ; attendance at the Sun- 
day school, 380. 

Reformed Church. — The Reformed Church of 
Syracuse, N Y., was organized by the Classis of 
Cayuga, March 10, 1848, and consisted of eleven 
persons, dismissed for this purpose from the 
Reformed Churches of Chittenango and Geneva, 
and from the First Presbyterian and Park Presby- 
terian Churches of Syracuse. Their names are : 
Wessel B. VanWagenen, Lavinia VanWagenen, 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



179 



Cornelia D. VanWagenen, Mary Ann Beardsley, 
Peter Burns, Elizabeth Pope, Harriet S. Walter, 
Mary E. VanRenssalaer, B. C. Vrooman, Susan 
Vrooman, Simon V. A. Featherly. 

The organization was completed by the election 
of W. B. VanWagenen and B. C. Vrooman, Elders, 
and Simon V. A. Featherly and Peter Burns, 
Deacons. 

In July following the Rev. J. A. H. Cornell was 
unanimously called to be first pastor to the new 
enterprise, and entered upon his duties and was 
installed in August. The meetings of the society 
were held in the old Unitarian Chapel, on East 
Genesee street, till the church edifice could be 
erected. An excellent site was secured on James 
street during the following winter, and in the 
spring of 1849, the corner stone of the church 
edifice was laid by the late Dr. Isaac N. Wyckoff, 
of Albany, with appropriate ceremonies. 

The Building Committee consisted of the follow- 
ing gentlemen : John G. Forbes, John B. Burnet, 
John A. Robeson, W. B. VanWagenen and James 
Noxon. 

The structure was completed and dedicated to 
the service of the Triune Jehovah, July i6th, 1850, 
the venerable Dr. Thomas DeWitt, senior pastor 
of the Collegiate Church in New York City, preach- 
ing the sermon. The cost of the church lot was 
gi,900, and of the edifice $14,000, of which the 
Collegiate Church contributed ;?2,ooo, and about 
$5,000 more was raised among the churches at the 
East by the faithful and persevering efforts of the 
Pastor and Elder VanWagenen. 

A Sunday School organization was perfected soon 
after the church organization. Mr. John B. Burnet 
being elected as first Superintendent. 

In September, 1851, Rev. J. A. H. Cornell re- 
signed his charge, and was succeeded in May, 1852, 
by Rev. J. Romeyn Berry. Mr. Berry's pastorate 
ended in 1857. The church was now vacant till 1859, 
when Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage became its pastor. 
He remained till February, 1862, when he was suc- 
ceeded in May of the same year by Rev. Joachim 
Elmendorf, whose pastorate continued till Decem- 
ber, 1S65. The next pastor was Rev. Jeremiah 
Searle, who began his work in May, 1S66, and re- 
mained till February, 1868. The church was now 
vacant more than a year, when a unanimous call 
was made in March, 1869, on Rev. Martin Luther 
Berger, who remained till May, 1875, when he re- 
moved to California. The present pastor. Rev. 
Evart Van Slyke, succeeded him as stated supply in 
April and as pastor in Nov. 1875. The church has 
just been repaired and elegantly decorated, (August, 



1877,) at an expense of $3,500. On Sunday after- 
noon, February 3, 1878, the church edifice was 
destroyed by fire. 

Present membership, 270; attendance at the 
Sunday School, 350. J. C. Mix, Supt. Consisto- 
ry — Elders, Samuel Bonta, Alphonso W. Blye, 
Henry Babcock, E. P. Hopkins ; Deacons, James 
C. Mix, Bradford Kennedy, Rasselas A. Bonta, 
Fred. A. Broadhead ; Organist — Maltbie C. Bab- 
cock. 

Congregational. 

Plymouth Church. — The Plymouth Church of 
Syracuse was organized September 24, 1853. 
Thirty-one persons united in its organization. Of 
these the following only remain : 

William E. Abbott, Stephen E. Maltby, Jane A. 
Abbott, Grace Scribner, (Mrs. Bainbridge,) Abner 
Bates, Mary D. C. Scribner, (Mrs. Gane,) Susan 
Foster, J. Stewart Tallman, M. Waldo Hanchett, 
Clarissa Tallman, Martha A. Hanchett, Julia A. 
Tallman, Margaret G. Hanchett, Margaret Tall- 
man. 

For a time the church worshiped in the edifice 
formerly owned by the First Congregational Society 
of this city ; but measures were soon taken to pur- 
chase a lot and erect a new building. The present 
location, at the junction of Onondaga, Warren and 
Madison streets, was accordingly purchased and the 
chapel erected. On the 25th of February, 1855, 
the chapel was dedicated, and entered for regu- 
lar worship It soon, however, became manifest 
that it was too small to accommodate the growing 
congregation, and in the autumn of 1858, a con- 
tract was entered into for the erection of a new 
edifice. The corner-stone was laid September 24, 
1858, on the fifth anniversary of the founding of 
the church. 

On the 26th of September, 1853, Rev. M. E. 
Strieby received and accepted a call to the pastoral 
office. The church edifice was completed and dedi- 
cated in August, 1859. Rev. M. E. Strieby, after 
a pastorate of eleven years, resigned in March, 
1864. Rev. S. R. Dimmock succeeded, Julyj, 1864, 
and resigned September 25, 1868. 

Rev. A. F. Beard, D. D., the present pastor, was 
called in April, 1869, and entered upon his services 
June I. During the winter of 1870, a precious re- 
vival was granted the church, and in the spring the 
people were encouraged to build a new chapel, and to 
rebuild, enlarge and beautify the church. The New 
Chapel was dedicated November 13, 1870, the pas- 
tor preaching the dedicatory sermon. The chapel 
is tastefully finished and furnished, and capable of 
seating about three hundred and fifty persons. 



i8o 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



The New Edifice of Plymouth Church was 
completed and dedicated March 22, 1871. It was 
built from designs by Architect H. N. White, under 
the immediatedirection of the Building Committee, 
consisting of Messrs. Peter Burns, H. R. Olmsted, 
M. E. Carter, James Terwilligcr, W. E Abbott, 
George W. Wilson. (Trustees,) and J. T. Bon, M. 
W. Hanchett and A. G. Salisbury. The audience 
room is attractive and very pleasant, and aft'ords 
nine hundred and thirty-seven sittings, besides those 
of the galleries. 

From the Church Manual for 1872. we take the 
following statistics : 

Whole number now belonging to the church, 346 ; 
whole number now absent, 34 ; male members, 1 14 ; 
female members, 232 ; number admitted from No- 
vember, 1870, to June, 1872, 53. 

Protestant Episcopal Churches. 

St. Paul's Church, was organized May 22, 
1826, Rev. John McCarty, Presiding. John Durn- 
ford and Samuel Wright were chosen Wardens, 
and Amos P. Granger, Archy Kasson, James 
Mann, Matthew W. Davis, Mather Williams, 
Parent Filkins, Othniel Williston and Jabez Hawlcy, 
Vestrymen. In 1825, a lot of ground was donated 
to the parish for a church by the Syracuse Company ; 
in September the frame was raised and enclosed and 
the building was completed in 1827. It stood on 
the ground now occupied by the Granger Block, 
and was subsequently sold to the Roman Catholics, 
who removed it and converted it into St. Mary's 
Church. 

The corner stone of the present St. Paul's Church 
was laid July 12, 1841, and the building completed 
and occupied the following year. The wing portion 
of the building was about the same time erected for 
a parochial school, which was under the charge of 
the Rector. In 1858 the church was enlarged by 
an e.\tension in the rear, and in 1 870 about $6,000 
were expended in improving the seats, repainting 
and frescoing the interior, which has rendered the 
audience room very pleasant and attractive. 

Prior to the erection of the first edifice, services 
were held in the school house, and sometimes in 
the building of the First Baptist Church. 

The clergymen who officiated previous to the or- 
ganization of the parish, were Revs Lucius Smith, 
William B. Thomas, Wilcox, William J. Bulk- 
ley, Augustus L. Converse ; and later. Revs. John 
McCarty, William Barlow, Palmer Dyer, Richard 
Salmon, John Griggs, Francis Todrig, Clement M. 
Butler, Charles H. Halsey, William Walton, Isaac 
Swart, John B. Gallagher and Henry Gregory. 



Rev. Dr. Gregory was succeeded by Rev. Wm. B. 
Ashley, December 1, 1848, who remained till March 
10, 1857. May 3, 1857, Rev. George Morgan Hills 
became rector, continuing till August 21, 1870. 
January, 1871, Mr. Hills was succeeded by the 
Rev. Simon Grecnleaf Fuller, who remained rec- 
tor till his death, November 21, 1872. He died 
suddenly of apoplexy while in his study, and was 
lamented by a bereaved parish and a large circle of 
friends. 

Rev. Henry R Lockwood, the present rector, was 
called and settled over the parish January 19, 1873. 
St. James Church — The earliest service was 
held January 27. 1848, in the chapel built for a 
mission of St. Paul's Church. St. James' Parish 
was organized August 14, 1848; communicants 
at the first Communion Service, twenty-one. 
Among the earliest parishioners were James D. 
Wallace, Abraham Bartlelt, William W. Green, 
Barent Filkins, Cornelius Shirley, Henry D. Hatch, 
Thomas Hurst, Nehemiah H. Earll, Dr. I. F. Trow- 
bridge, all now deceased, with others who still re- 
main. 

The present church edifice was commenced in 
1 85 1, completed in 1853, enlarged in 1866. Cost 
of chapel §1,400, of church $13,000, of enlargement 
(uniting church and chapel in one building,) $10,- 
000. Dr. Henry Gregory was Rector from 1848 
till 1857, Rev. C. C. Barclay in 1857 and 1858, 
Dr. Joseph M. Clarke from 1858 till the present 
time. Present number of communicants 300. At- 
tendance at Sunday school about 100. 

Trinity Church. — This church originated with 
Trinity Mission Sunday School, established by St. 
Paul's Church in July, 1855. A congregation was 
gathered and a chapel erected adjoining the Sey- 
mour school building, which was consecrated Nov- 
ember 25, 1855, and the parish was organized 
March 3, 1856. Rev. William Long, assistant of 
Rev. Dr. Ashley, of St. Paul's, began.the Mission, 
and was succeeded by Rev. David E. Ikrr in 1856. 
Since then the regular succession of pastors and 
time of ministry have been as follows : Rev. J. B. 
Linn, one year and eight months ; Rev. N. F. 
Whiting, two years : Rev. D. F. Lumsden, nine 
months ; Rev. J. K. Lewis, four years ; Rev. S. R. 
Jones, two years and a half; Rev. J. E Pratt, pres- 
ent Rector, five years. 

Rev. J. K. Lewis, under whose ministry the 
present church was built, is now a chaplain in the 
United States Navy. 

Trinity Church is situated on Seymour street, 
south of West street. It was erected in 1869, is a 
wooden building and cost about $9,000. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



i8i 



The bell used by this church is the old bell of 
Zion Church, Onondaga Hill, founded by Rev. 
Ezekiel G. Gear, in 1816. 

About 105 families are connected with the parish ; 
the communicants number 165, and the Sunday 
school 20 teachers and 150 scholars. 

Grace Church. — The movement for the estab- 
lishment of this church was inaugurated by Rev. 
Thomas E. Pattison in 1870, the first service being 
held in December in a small wooden chapel erected 
on the site of the present elegant stone church, on 
University avenue, corner of Madison street. The 
parish was organized early in 1871, with John V. 
Needham and Wells B. Hatch, Wardens ; and 
Arthur Crittenden, John R. Hawkins, Henry A. 
Leggett and John C. White, Vestrymen. The 
corner stone of the church edifice was laid in June, 
1876, and the building finished and consecrated in 
February, 1877. The site is one of the most beauti- 
ful in the city. The structure is of blue, rough- 
dressed Onondaga limestone, relieved and beauti- 
fied by cut stone of the gray variety, and cost, in- 
cluding furniture, organ, &c., ^25,000. The pres- 
ent Wardens are Elisha R Howe and Edgar S. 
Mathews ; Vestrymen, J, C. White, Frank A. May, 
John V. Needham, Wells B. Hatch, A. B. Grover, 
V. B. Chase, F. L. Smith and W. H. Dimmick. 

Rev. Thomas E. Pattison has been Rector from 
the first, and still officiates. The number of com- 
municants is 157 ; Sunday School, 150. 

Calvary Church (Protestant Episcopal) is situa- 
ted on the corner of Highland and Beecher streets in 
the Fourth Ward of the city. This church began 
with a Sunday School opened by Bishop Hunting- 
ton, in a small house on Butternut street beyond 
Farmer, in September, 1873. The school was soon 
transferred to a barn close by, which had been 
altered to serve the purpose of a temporary chapel. 
The building was unpainted and uncarpeted, but 
the attendance at the Sunday School increased, a 
service was held every Sunday evening, and before 
the winter a Sewing School was opened on Satur- 
day afternoons. 

The Mission continued to gather members for 
several years, and on the 20th of September, 1877, 
the corner-stone of a new permanent structure — the 
present church — was laid by the Bishop of the Dio- 
cese. This building is of wood, with a large base- 
ment of stone ; it was raised and finished at a cost 
of about $2,500, most of this amount having been 
contributed by friends of the church in Syracuse. 
The first service in the new church was Morning 
Prayer and the celebration of the Holy Communion 
on Christmas morning, 1877. 



While serving as the place of worship for the 
former attendants at Calvary Mission Chapel and 
others in the neighborhood. Calvary Church is also 
the Chapel of St. Andrews Divinity School in 
Highland Place, and all its services are under the 
immediate direction of the Bishop. The services 
as now held are on all week days at a quarter be- 
fore 9 A. M., and on Sunday at half past 10 a. m., 
at half past 3 p. m., and at a quarter past 7 in the 
evening. A part of the basement is to be opened 
as a reading room every evening. The Sunday 
School numbers over 200 children. 

St. Andrews Divinity School. 

This is an institution for the education of candi- 
dates for the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church. It was opened by Bishop Huntington in 
September, 1S76, at Highland Place, Syracuse. 
The Trustees are, the Rt. Rev. F. D. Huntington, 
S. T. D., President ex-officio ; Rev. J. M. Clarke, 
D. D. ; Rev. H. Lockwood ; H. O. Moss, Esq., 
and Hon William Marvin. 

Faculty of Instnictioii — Rt. Rev. F. D. Hunting- 
ton, President ; Rev. C. P. Jennings, Dean ; Rev. 
J. M. Clarke, D. D. ; Prof Rudolph Wahl. 

Methodist Churches. 

First Methodist Episcopal Church — Previous 
to the erection of the First M. E. Church in the vil- 
lage of Syracuse, services were held in the school 
house on Church street by Rev, Eben. L. North, 
now living at South Onondaga, and Rev. Vincent 
M. Coryell, residing at present in Waverly, N. Y. 
It is thought by Rev. E. Arnold, that Rev. E. L. 
North organized the first class here about 1830. 
The writer, sometime in September, 1877, addressed 
a line to Rev. Mr. North, making inquiries and 
seeking to get the names of the members of the 
first class, but he has received no answer. 

Rev. V. M. Coryell preached in Syracuse during 
the years 1835 and 1836. In the latter of these 
years the church edifice was begun, and was finished 
in 1837. 

The regular succession of ministers in this 
church, as nearly as can be ascertained, has been 
as follows: Rev. V. M. Coryell, 1835 to 1836; 
Rev. A. D. Peck, 1837 and 1838 ; Rev. W. W. 
Nind, 1839 and 1840 ; Rev. N. G.Baker, 1841 and 
1842 ; Rev. A. D. Peck, 1843 ; Rev. Edward Ban- 
nister, 1844 and 1845 ; Rev. James Erwin, 1846 ; 
Rev. E. E. E. Bragdon, 1847 ; Rev. H. E. Chapin, 
1848 and 1849; Rev. I. S. Bingham, 1S50 and 
185 1 ; Rev. Nathaniel Salisbury, 1852 and 1853 ; 
Rev. A. J.Phelps, 1854 and 1855 ; Rev. Hiram 
Mattison, 1856 and 1857 ; Rev. John B. Foote, 



I82 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



1858 and 1859 ; Rev E. C. Bruce, i860 and 1861 ; 
Rev. S R. Fuller, 1862 and 1863: Rev. Wesley 
Mason. 1864 and 1865 ; Rev C. P. Lyford. 1866, 
1867 and 1868 ; Rev. J. D. Adams. 1S69. 1870 and 
1871 ; Rev. L. C. Qucal, 1872. 1873 and 1874; 
Rev. W. H. Anable. 1875. 1876 and 1877. 

Nathan W. Rose has been class-leader contin- 
uously since the old church was built in 1837, and 
most of the time a trustee. William Judson, 
David French, C. T. Hicks and F"ather Pease, were 
prominent among the old members. An anecdote 
is told of Father Pease and the builders if the old 
church, with reference to the peculiar shaped tower 
which, many of the early citizens may remember, 
once surmounted the building. It was a sort of 
pyramid built up from a square base and covered 
with tin. Messrs. Judson and Hicks, well known 
and enterprising early citizens, had the most to do 
with the original building of the church, and they 
departed from the plain Methodist style of those 
days in having a fine tall steeple put upon the build- 
ing. This, in the eyes of Father Pease, a genuine 
old-fashioned Methodist of the congregation, was a 
tower of pride and vanity and an insult to high 
heaven, and after protesting against it, he resolved 
to invoke the Lord to take it down. He prayed 
cuinestly against the steeple. In a short time it 
was struck with lightning and splintered from top 
to bottom ; but the friends of the steeple soon had 
it rebuilt. Father Pease still prayed against it. It 
was demolished a second time — a strong gust of 
wind struck it, and carried it entirely from its base, 
landing it in fragments upon the ground near by. 
The friends of the steeple did not again rebuild it. 
Whether they believed the Lord was actually work- 
ing against them, or whether they came to the 
conclusion that their work was not sufficiently 
strong to resist the strain of a tornado, is uncer- 
tain, but it is certain that the steeple was twice de- 
molished, and that the last time, instead of attempt- 
ing to rebuild it as at first, the base of the tower 
was carried up and finished in the peculiar pyramid- 
shaped dome referred to, and that tower remained 
on the church for more than thirty years. 

The church was thoroughly repaired inside in 
1856, by the devotion of Mr. David French, who 
mortgaged his own private property to make the 
repairs. 

Among the prominent ministers of this church, 
Rev. Hiram Mattison was well known as an anti- 
slavery man and an author of considerable note. 
Rev. S. R. Fuller, died at Watertown. N. Y. Rev. 
J. D. Adams, D. D , is now at Erie, Pa. Rev. Dr. 
L. C. Oueal is Presiding Elder at Elmira, N. Y. 



A considerable number of the membership of 
this church have been dismissed from time to time 
to form other Methodist Episcopal Churches in the 
city — such as the Centenary, University Avenue, 
Furman Street and Rose Hill Churches. The 
present number of members is 455, with a large and 
flourishing Sunday School. 

The church edifice was rebuilt in 1869 '70 at a 
cost of $25,000, by extending the front 20 feet and 
building two towers. Also an addition at the rear 
end of 1 5 feet for organ and class rooms. It is now 
one of the most pleasant and commodious churches 
in the city. 

First Ward Methodist Episcopal Church. — 
Quite early in the nineteenth century Salina was 
visited by Rev. Charles Giles, of the Old Genesee 
Conference, who, it is believed, preached the first 
Methodist sermon at " Salt Point " Preaching was 
occasionally had by passing itinerants, and at length 
a class was formed and a small chapel erected about 
the year 1829; which appears not to have been 
finished for many years, the society being weak and 
making very little progress prior to 1840. at which 
date they had the services for a few months of Ezra 
C. Squires, a young man holding a local preacher's 
license. 

During the year 1840, Mr. Squires, having 
awakened some interest, the society petitioned the 
Black River Conference to send them a minister 
who should organize a " Station," and devote him- 
self wholly to their village as a pastor. The Con- 
ference being held at Pulaski in the summer. Bishop 
R. R. Roberts ordained Rev. Ebenezer Arnold and 
sent him to Salina, with instructions to organize, if 
practicable, the two villages, Salina and Geddes, 
into a pastoral charge. Mr. Arnold, after looking 
over the field, concluded to devote his whole 
attention to Salina. The society prospered under 
his ministry, becoming financially self-supporting ; 
the chapel was finished and furnished ; a comfortable 
parsonage placed at his disposal free of rent ; class 
and prayer meetings earnest and well attended ; 
and a quarterly conference established. In the 
space of one year a great change had been cfi'ected, 
so that Rev. Mr. Arnold left the parish in a well- 
organized and prosperous condition, from which it 
maintained a steady and vigorous growth. 

In 1864 the corner stone of the present church 
edifice was laid, and the building was completed 
and dedicated in 1865. It is of brick, cost about 
$13,000 and will scat 500 people. The Parsonage 
is also a brick building, of moderate dimensions and 
rather plain appearance. The Trustees are A. Mc- 
Chesney, B C. Ross. T. Redhead, Hiram More- 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



183 



house, W. G. Richards, John E. Gumaer, Henry J. 
Patten, Alexander Hubbs and David Powers. 

The following is the list of Pastors furnished by 
Rev. T. F. Clark : Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, Rev. 
I. N. Murdock, Rev. C. L. Dunning, Rev. P. S. 
Bennet, Rev. C. Giles, Rev. A. Robbins, Rev. B. 
PhilHps, Rev. I. Turney, Rev. M. M. Rice, Rev. 
B. I. Deefendorf, Rev. D. Simons, Rev. O. C. 
Cole, Rev. D. Chidester, Rev. H. M. Church, Rev. 
S. Ball, Rev. J. A. Graves, Rev. T. B. Shepherd, 
Rev. W. Mason, Rev. O. A. Houghton, Rev. M. 
Wheeler, Rev. J. B. Foote, Rev. T. F. Clark, 
present Pastor. 

Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church. — 
The Centenary of American Methodism, which 
was fruitful in the inauguration of many new 
church movements in the denomination at large, 
was the beginning of a new era in the history of 
the Methodist-Episcopal church in Syracuse. The 
policy of colonization and expansion, deemed nec- 
essary in view of the location of the Syracuse Uni- 
versity in this city, was, during that year, adopted 
and acted upon. It was clearly foreseen that, if 
the Methodist denomination of the State of New 
York should undertake to found and conduct a 
University in Syracuse, the local church policy of 
the denomination assuming its guardianship, must 
itself be greatly liberalized and enlarged. Hence 
the colonization and enlargement of Episcopal 
Methodism in Syracuse, and the establishment of 
the University, had their inception together in the 
centenary year, and were undertaken and prosecuted 
by the same parties. The movement originated 
outside of the local churches, and for a time was 
carried on in opposition to their wishes and advice. 
At the Black River Conference, held in April, 1866, 
the presiding Bishop appointed Rev. Ebenezer Ar- 
nold to the Fifth Ward of Syracuse, with the view 
of establishing in that locality a Centenary Monu- 
mental Church of the Methodist Episcopal faith. 
We shall let Rev. Mr. Arnold describe the situa- 
tion at the time of his entrance upon the duties of 
his new charge. 

" It was as bald and barren a charge as was ever 
spread upon white paper or read off by a bishop. 
But the very next day the appointee was on the 
spot and looking for some place to begin work. To 
and fro, right and left, over his crude field he wan- 
dered, watched and listened, No familiar face or 
voice greeted him. No one watched or waited for 
his arrival, or cared to know his voice. The next 
week he came on again with family and goods. * * 
Utterly failing to find a place to live in, in the Fifth 
Ward, he furnished a lodging room and joined the 



pastor in a studio in the First Ward parsonage and 
found most of his dinners in the Onondaga House." 

The next difficulty was to find a place to preach 
in. " There was no hall within or near the Fifth 
Ward, and only two chapels— one owned and fully 
occupied by the Protestant Episcopal Church ; the 
other owned by the Baptists and occupied part of 
the Sabbaths by a Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation Sunday School. This ' pastor ' without a 
flock, wanted to occupy a hall in the center of the 
city, but the fear of awakening opposition among 
his own people decided against it, and the Baptist 
' Hope Chapel' was hired for a part of each Sab- 
bath." The first funds contributed towards this 
church were three cents by a little boy and girl. 
As the preacher and some others were discuss- 
ing the question of finance at an evening meet- 
ing, " the excited audience was astonished to 
see a little boy (sitting alone) rise up and march 
resolutely to the speakers table and lay down two 
cents. ' What is that for, bub .-'' asked the preach- 
er. ' That's for the church,' replied the boy. In- 
stantly a little girl from the other side came 
up and laid down one cent, saying : ' That's 
for the church, too.' 'Well! well!' said the 
preacher, ' we can no longer say we have no 
funds. The work is begun, and the Lord will 
provide for its completion." The audience went 
away profoundly impressed with the assured suc- 
cess of the enterprise. 

Shortly after some half a dozen families con- 
cluded to enlist ; the Board of Missions of the 
State of New York granted ^500 for the preacher's 
expenses ; July 16, the lot was purchased for the 
church by Rev. A. J. Phelps and Rev. Ebenezer 
Arnold, who had faith enough to pay their own 
money for it and take the deed in their own name, 
there being as yet no legal corporation to transact 
business. A subscription was immediately opened 
and five men subscribed $1,000, ^750, g200, $200 
and $100, respectively. Then came, by the aid of 
the united ministry, a large and successful meeting 
in the First Church ; then the First Ward Church 
came to the rescue ; the Presiding Elder and 
Pastors pushed into the country for subscriptions ; 
and, to effect an organization, forty members of the 
First Church asked to be transferred to the new 
colony, to aid in forming the " Centenary Church." 
As name after name was slowly read over, the eyes 
of their pastor were filled with unbidden tears, but 
he brushed them aside, and kneeling together they 
joined their prayers for the out-goers and the new 
church which they were about to join. 

" It was in a moderate-sized room in the second 



1 84 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



story of Pike Block, January 6th, 1867. The 
great clock of American Methodism had just struck 
One Hundred, the first Sunday of the year one 
had reached high noon. Fifty persons, mostly 
young and middle-aged, stood up and covenanted 
together in Holy Church Fellowship— one in name, 
one in purpose, and one in heart. Such was the 
material of the Centenary Church as thus organized, 
and of the congregation thereof, that a large Board 
of Trustees, a fine Quarterly Conference, a good 
Sunday School, able Prayer and Class Meetings, 
and Social Societies, were very soon in successful 
• operation. 

A subscription of §13,000 being raised, the site 
purchased by the two clergymen was fi.\ed upon, 
the foundation laid and the building rose rapidly, so 
that by the assembling of the Annual Conference 
in this city in April, 1867, the massive stone work 
was nearly completed and the corner stone was 
laid by Bishop Janes. The following year the 
church was finished and dedicated, the entire cost 
being about §37,000. It is a fine substantial brick 
building situated on West street near Onondaga. 

The following ministers, in the order named, have 
been the Pastors of Centenary Church : Rev. Eben- 
czer Arnold, the founder, one year; Rev. Elijah Horr, 
Jr., three years ; Rev. Jesse T. Peck, now Bishop 
Peck, one year and a half, till his appointment as 
Bishop ; Rev. Manley S. Hard, three and a half 
years ; Rev. A. C George, D. D., one and a half 
years, till transferred to West Virginia ; Prof. W. 
P. Codington, to fill vacancy ; Rev. Oscar A. 
Houghton, present Pastor. 

Centenary is one of the most prosperous churches 
in the city. Membership, 450, and a large and > 
active Sunday School. i 

Tntstees — A. N. Palmer, President ; Henry W. I 
Bannister, Clerk ; Thomas Talbot, Robert Patter- 
son, Edward Drake, Aaron Schemerhorn, S. A. 
Daniels, J. F. Pease, and E. F". Holden. j 

Delaware Street M. E. Church. — On the 
l6th of June, 1872, Rev. Ebenezer Arnold com- 
menced street preaching on the corners of Geddes, 
Delaware, Fulton and Davis streets. Mr. Arnold 
was then pastor of the Magnolia Street M. E. 
Church, which had been organized in i86g and oc- 
cupied the hill north of the Idiot Asylum. Some 
half a dozen members of this church lived in that 
part of the city where he began preaching on the 
street corners. As a foundation for future opera- 
tions, it was a part of his plan to remove the church 
from the hill into the southwest part of the city, 
and unite the members with those which might be 
raised up in the new church locality. It was prac- | 



tically the dissolving of the old church and the or- 
ganization of a new one, and for the accomplish- 
ment of this result, street preaching and cottage 
meetings were to be depended upon. The former 
was kept up two seasons — the first on Geddes, 
the second on Seymour street — and cottage 
prayer and class meetings continued over a year. 
Meantime, a spacious church site had been selected, 
a payment made thereon of §1,400, and over 50 
ornamental trees planted. The old church was re- 
moved from the hill and converted into a comforta- 
ble chapel on the rear part of the site, where meet- 
ings were held till the erection of the present church 
edifice in 1876. 

The new society was also organized by the labors 
of Mr. Arnold in 1873, and with the members 
transferred from the old society, constituted about 
40 in number. The new vine thus planted and 
grafted has grown with fresh and vigorous life. 
Once established in the new quarters, the pastor 
began to gather the fruits of his cottage and out 
door labors, in a congregation numbering 300 souls, 
with an average attendance of 200, and a Sunday 
School of about 100 members. Mr Arnold ac- 
complished this good work as pastor from June, 
1872, to October, 1S73. 

The population in this portion of the city, 
requiring a larger place of meeting, the pres- 
ent church edifice was commenced in 1875, and 
dedicated in 1876. It is a plain substantial brick 
structure and cost about §12,000. This building is 
prospectively intended to be the rear of a larger 
and more elegant church edifice, which the future 
growth of the society will before many years call 
into requisition. 

The present membership is loi, and the Sunday 
School, 200. 

The following clergymen have been pastors of 
this church: Rev. M. Pierce, Rev. T. B. Shepherd, 
Rev. Robert Brewster, Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, Rev. 
U. S. Becbe and Rev. Edmund M. Mills, the pres- 
ent incumbent. 

Rose Hill M. E. Church. — In accordance 
with the general plan of Methodist Church exten- 
sion inaugurated during the Centenary year. Rose 
Hill, or the P"ourth Ward of Syracuse, was made a 
field of missionary operations with a view to the 
establishment of a church. Rev. Ebenezer Ar- 
nold entered the field in October, 1873 — a most 
unpromising field at that time, so far as any begin- 
ning or Methodist materials were concerned. No 
one desired a mission or asked for a preacher to 
come among them. There was no vacant hall or 
school house or even private dwelling accessible. 




Residence OF JOHN EASTWOOD, CoJ?.SpmN&& B£A/?5M,Sys/*cusE,N.>: 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



185 



Out-door meetings were resorted to, and, as admis- 
sion could be gained to iiouses, prayer meetings 
were held with families. This went on for one year 
with scarcely a perceptible gain ; the leaven, how- 
ever, though hidden, was working in the masses. 
At the close of the second year a society of about 
a dozen and Sunday School had been formed and 
were meeting and holding prayer meetings in a 
barn loft, preaching still going on to the outside 
world in the open air. At the Conference this year 
Bishop Andrews recognized the work as a Confer- 
ence appointment. 

During the year 1876, a stronger hold was gained 
upon public confidence ; the church increased 
to 20 ; a board of trustees was appointed ; a lot 
subscribed for a parsonage ; a small fund accumu- 
lated by contributions of worshipers laid upon the 
Bible ; and an open-air congregation of more steady, 
attentive and intelligent hearers. The year follow- 
ing a church site was bought, large enough for a 
church and chapel, ;^200 paid on it, and a neat 
chapel erected and half paid for. The congrega- 
tion this year numbered about 200, with an average 
attendance of 50, and a Quarterly Conference and 
Social Society were organized. 

Such was the Rose Hill M. E. Church at the 
close of Rev. Mr. Arnold's labors, September, 
1877. It is deemed on a solid and substantial foot- 
ing, and gives fair promise of future permanence 
and enlargement. The church is a wooden build- 
ing on Highland street, corner of Douglas, and 
cost, including two lots, ^4,000. Present Pastor, 
Rev. George W. Peck. 

Trustees — E. H. Wormwood, E. A. Huntington, 
George E. Marsh, Dwight Arnold, Joseph Draw- 
bridge, Frank Frey and Mr. Dillenbeck. 

FuRMAN Street M. E. Church — The move- 
ment resulting in this church was begun in Dan- 
forth (a suburb of the city) April 20, 1870, by 
Rev. Ebenezer Arnold. Mr. Arnold continued his 
labors till November of that year. In 1871 a Mis- 
sion and Sunday School were organized by Rev. 
Jesse T. Peck, D. D., while pastor of the Centen- 
ary Church, and they were included in the Quar- 
terly Conference of that body. In 1874 the Mis- 
sion became a separate charge, and has since been 
regularly supplied by the Conference. For the past 
two years Prof Charles W. Bennett, of the Uni- 
versity, has been pastor, and was preceded by Rev. 
M. J. Wells. The church has a comfortable wooden 
edifice and is maintaining a steady growth. 

University Avenue M. E. Church. — Located 
on the corner of University Avenue and East Gen- 
esee street. This society was organized as a branch 
24* 



of the I St M. E. Church, in 1867, with a member- 
ship of nine, holding their earlier meetings in pri- 
vate residences. 

In 1868, a small chapel was erected on the corner 
of Chestnut and Fayette streets, and in the latter 
part of that year the society, having in the mean- 
time increased to a membership of thirty, was or- 
ganized as a separate charge. Rev. C. P. Lyford 
was appointed pastor while yet officiating as pastor 
of the 1st M. E. Church. In 1869, Rev. T. B. 
Shepherd was appointed pastor. While under his 
charge the meetings were held in Seager Hall. It 
was during his pastorate that the lot upon which 
the present church edifice stands was purchased. 
Rev. C. P. Lyford was the next in charge, being 
appointed in 1S70. During his ministrations a 
temporary chapel was erected on the church lot and 
the present building so far completed as to enable 
the congregation to hold religious service in the 
basement of the same. The membership had in- 
creased at this time to one hundred and fifty. In 
1872 Rev. J. T. Gracy was appointed pastor, and 
in December of that year the church was dedicated. 
His successor was Rev. D. W. C. Huntington, ap- 
pointed in 1873, who was followed in 1876 by Rev. 
Theron Cooper the present pastor. Rev. A. J. 
Phelps was the Presiding Elder during the organi- 
zation of the church and labored efficiently to ad- 
vance its welfare. The present church was erected 
at a cost of $50,000. 

The present officers are Rev. D. W. Bristol, D. D., 
Presiding Elder ; Rev. Theron Cooper, pastor ; J. 
S. Atwell, S. S. Supt.; J. S. Atwell, (term expires 
in 1878,) J. R. French, (1878,) H. Whitmarsh, 
(1878,) Thomas Talbot, Jr., (1879.) Charles C. 
Brown, (1879,) Cyrus C. Warner, (1879,) John P. 
Griffin, (1880,) E. C. Curtis, (1880,) P. H. Curtis, 
(1880,) Board of Trustees. The present number 
of members (Dec, 1877,) is three hundred and sixty- 
five ; Probationers thirty. Making a total of three 
hundred and ninety-five. 

Wesleyan Methodist Church. — On the 2d 
of May, 1843, in the basement of the First Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church, was held the first meeting 
for the purpose of organizing the Wesleyan Metho- 
dist Church of Syracuse. The organization was 
perfected this same evening with the following 
named gentlemen among its members, viz : A. F. 
Green, Dr. A. Bliss, Arthur Hughes, H. I. Fritcher, 
Charles Merrick, M. Merrick, P. W. Rice, James 
Connell, and James White. 

In 1845, a House of Worship was built on the 
corner of Onondaga and Jefferson streets at a cost 
of $2,500, the material used in its construction 



1 86 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



being brick. This edifice has since been enlarged 
and recently repaired. The following is a list of 
Pastors with their terms of service : Luther Lee, 
D. D., one year ; P. R. Sawyer, one year ; B. 
Rider, three years ; P. M. Way, one year ; Mar- 
shall Frink, two years ; Samuel Salisbury, three 
years ; Luther Lee, two years ; D. B. Douglass, 
one year ; Samuel Salisbury, two or three years ; 
J. P. Betker, four years ; A. S. Witeman, four 
years ; T. H. Keniston, two years, (Rev. Mr. Ken- 
iston died during the last year of his pastorate i ; S. 
H. Foster, four years, succeeded by the present 
Pastor, Rev. N. E. Jenkins, whose pastorate 
commenced May ist, 1877. The following named 
gentlemen have also served the church at intervals : 
Cyrus Prindle, D. D., L. C. Matlack, Adam 
Crooks and H. B. Knight. Among the noted 
divines that have been connected with this church 
may be mentioned Rev. Luther Lee, D. D., the 
noted theologian. Rev. Cyrus Prindle, D. D , and 
Rev. Adam Crooks, since deceased, all men of very 
marked ability. The present membership numbers 
160. Attendance at Sunday School about 100. 

Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, (^Colored.) 
—This church was organized on Salina street, 
where the present salt office is situated, March 2, 
1837. It was originally composed of about fifteen 
persons, among whom were Rev. W. H. Jenkins, 
Mrs. Gariner and Frederick Jackson. The edifice 
was purchased March 20, 1837, for about $100. 
The first Trustees were Richard Wandal, Frederick 
Jackson, Prince Jackson, Francis Jackson and Am- 
brose Dumbar. 

Rev. Thomas James, Rev. John Tappen, Rev. 
Demmes Kennedy, and Rev. J. W. Loguen were 
pastors of this church. Mr. Loguen, well known 
as an earnest anti-slavery advocate, and a man of 
acknowledged ability, came to Syracuse in 1841. 
In June. 1868, Mr. Loguen was elected Bishop of 
the African Methodist Zion Church, in the city of 
Washington, D. C, and was Presiding Bishop till 
1872, in June of which year he was reelected Bishop, 
and held the ofifice at the time of his death, Sep- 
tember 30, 1872. 

Catholic Churches. 

St. Mary's Church (first Roman Catholic in the 
village of Syracuse) was organized on Christmas Day, 
1842. There were then but few scattering Catholic 
families in the village. The first church building 
was purchased of the Protestant Episcopal Society 
— St. Paul's — and removed to Montgomery street, 
corner of Madison. It was enlarged and improved 
in 1848. Rev. Michael Haes was the first pastor. 



and continued in that relation till his death in 1859. 
He was succeeded by the present pastor. Rev. Dr. 
James A. O'Hara, who assumed charge of the 
church on the 4th of July, 1859. Doctor O'Hara 
has had a long and very successful pastorate, hav- 
ing ministered to his church over eighteen years, 
during which the influence of both pastor and 
people has become widely felt in the educational and 
charitable interests of the city. 

In 1S52, under the ministry of Rev. Father Haes, 
the congregation of St. Mary's became very large, 
and shortly after undertook the erection of the 
Church of St. John the Evangelist, on the corner 
of Willow and Pearl streets. Through the aid of 
Hon. Dennis McCarth)', Cornelius Lynch and 
others, the church was finished and occupied in 1 854. 

In 18 — , Father Haes introduced the Sisters of 
Charity, three of whom came and opened a school 
in the basement of St, Mary's Church. The 
Sisters have now three schools under the auspices 
of the St. Vincent de Paul's Society, viz : The St. 
Vincent de Paul Orphan Asylum and School, situ- 
ated on Madison street, and the Orphan Asylum 
for Boys and Home for Old and Infirm People of 
both sexes, situated in the town of Geddes. 

The building of the Orphan Asylum and School 
is of brick, 270 feet long by 50 feet in width, three 
stories and basement, and cost $125,000. The 
school has 12 teachers, 150 orphans, and 300 day 
scholars. 

The school in the country is situated on the 
Split Rock road just beyond the city limits in the 
town of Geddes. The site was purchased by An- 
drew Lynch for Rev. Dr. James A. O'Hara, in 1867, 
who started it as an industrial school for boys, un- 
der the management of the Christian Brothers, in 
which character it was continued about two years. 
Dui^ng the absence of Dr. O'Hara in Europe, the 
Brothers abandoned it, and the school was closed. 
About the year 1872, Messrs. Thomas McCarthy, 
Patrick Phelan and Timothy Sullivan, of the Gen- 
eral Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul So- 
ciety, reestablished the institution under the man- 
agement of the Sisters of Charity, as a Home for 
the old and feeble of both sexes and an Orphan 
Asylum for boys. It is managed by 10 Sisters, 
and contains about 100 orphan boys and 40 aged 
and feeble persons. There is a farm of 60 acres 
which is worked by the inmates. The building is 
140 feet long by 60 feet wide, and three stories 
above the basement. 

Both these institutions are very prosperous and 
are outgrowths of St. Mary's Church. 

The new Church building of St. Mary's is in 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



187 



process of erection. In 1874, Rev. Dr. O'Hara 
purchased of Hon. Peter Burns a prominent site 
for a new church, on the corner of Montgomery 
and Jefferson streets, consisting of four lots, on 
which he is now erecting a church of Onondaga 
gray limestone. The walls are partially erected, 
and when completed with its chapels and pastoral 
residence, will cost $250,000. It will be the finest 
piece of masonry in the United States, and in one 
of the finest situations, being at the intersection of 
six streets. Should the building be finished in har- 
mony with the exterior structure (and such is the 
design) it will certainly be one of the most substan- 
tial and elegant church edifices in the whole 
country. 

Church of St. Joh.\ the Evangelist. — This 
church is an out-growth of St. Mary's Church, of 
this city. In 1852, the congregation of St. Mary's 
had out-grown its accommodations in the old church, 
and Bishop McClosky delegated Rev. John Mc- 
Menony, Assistant Pastor of St. Mary's, to 
begin the erection of the Church of St. John the 
Evangelist, on the corner of Lock and Willow 
streets. The building was finished and opened in 
1854. Rev. John McMenony was appointed Pastor, 
and officiated till 1868, when he was succeeded by 
Rev. Joseph Guerdet, the present Pastor. The 
parish is a large one, numbering about three thous- 
and people, and Rev. Mr. Guerdet is assisted in the 
pastoral charge by Rev. Mr. O'Connor. The 
church is an elegant and substantial brick building, 
with seating capacity for 1,500 persons, and cost 
about S6o,ooo. There is a school connected with 
it, which was founded by Rev. Mr. McMenony and 
is under the management of the Christian Brothers. 
Church of St. John the Baptist. — The Church 
of St. John the Baptist is situated in the First Ward. 
The first church edifice of this parish (now used as 
a school house I was commenced and enclosed in 
1829 by the exertions of Thomas McCarthy and 
James Lynch, and a few Roman Catholics, together 
with the liberal donations of their Protestant fellow- 
citizens in the villages of Salina and Syracuse, and 
by collections made by Messrs. McCarthy and 
Lynch from their friends in Utica, Albany and New 
York. Rt. Rev. John Dubois was then Bishop of 
the Diocese of New York, and for the two succeed- 
ing years, the congregation being small, was visited 
by clergymen only once a month. The first resi- 
dent clergyman who officiated in the church was 
Rev. Francis Donahue, who was pastor for about 
six years, and was succeeded by Fathers Balfe and 
Drummond, who in turn gave place to Rev. James 
O'Donnell, who remained in charge of the church 



and mission some four or five years. The next 
pastors were Fathers Radigan and Chartier, the lat- 
ter a Frenchman, who left Canada on account of 
some rebellion troubles of that period. Then fol- 
lowed Rev. Michael Haes, afterwards pastor of St. 
Mary's Church, who was succeeded by Father Guil- 
lick, and he by Rev. Joseph Guerdet, now pastor of 
the Church of St. John the Evangelist of this city. 
The succession of pastors since has been Father 
Mullady, Rev. Michael Hackett, Rev. Morris Shea- 
han, Rev. James A. Duffy, Father Brown and Rev. 
William J. Bourke, the present pastor. 

Rev. Mr. Bourke was born and brought up in 
Syracuse, and is the first native Catholic priest 
ordained to the ministry in the city. 

The Church of St. John the Baptist (present 
building) is a large and elegant brick structure in 
the semi-Gothic style of architecture, occupying 
a beautiful and commanding site at the corner of 
Park and Court streets. It will seat 1,500 persons, 
was erected and dedicated in 1871, and cost $125,- 

000. This is now one of the largest Catholic 
parishes in the city and the school connected with 
it is kept in the old church building. 

The Church of the Assumption, St. Mary's, 
Roman Catholic, is situated in the Second Ward 
on North Salina street, near Isabella. The old 
church bearing the motto " Deo " was called St. 
Mary's. It was a wooden building 30 by 46 feet in 
dimensions, surmounted by a spire, and was erected 
by the Trustees, John B. Lange, George Miller and 

1. Afferdick, in the year 1844. The builder was 
Emerson Thayer, and the lot was purchased of 
Hon. E. W. Leavenworth for $500. 

The first Pastor was Rev. P. Adalbert Inama, 
O. S. N., who was appointed in 1843 by Rt. Rev. 
John McClosky, first Roman Catholic Bishop of the 
Diocese of Albany, N.Y. Following him were the 
Rev. Theodore Noethen : Rev. P. Flarian Schwen- 
inger, O. S. B. ; Rev. P. Simon Sanderl ; Rev. 
Joseph Raffeiner, who enlarged the first church. 

In the year 1861 commenced the administration 
of the Franciscan Fathers Minor-Convcnticals. 
They built the new Church of Assumption in 1865, 
under their Commissary-General V. R. P. Lapold 
Morzygemba, O. M. C, and the Guardian of the 
Convent and Pastor of the Church, Rev .P. Norbert 
Stoller, O. M. C. The church was consecrated 
May 3, 1867, by Rt. Rev. John Conroy, Bishop of 
the Diocese of Albany, and the two towers, contain- 
ing bells, were finished in 1872 by V. R. P. Fidelis 
Dehm, Guardian and Pastor of the Church of 
Assumption. The cost of the entire structure was 
$125,000. 



1 88 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 




St. Lucy's Church is Situated in the Fifth 
Ward on Gifford street between Niagara and Os- 
wego streets. The earliest meetings were held in 
the Cook Block, which is erected on the bank of the 
Onondaga creek, between Onondaga and Gifford 
streets. The origin of the church was owing in a 
great measure to the zeal of a few of the members 
of the congregation, who, seeing the increase of the 
Catholic population in that portion of the city, as 
well as the want of accommodation in the churches 
to which the people went, resolved, having obtained 
the permission of the Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, 
Bishop of Albany, and the concurrence of nearly 
all the Catholics of the ward, to commence the 
erection of the church. A committee of which 
Patrick Slattery was President, John J. Lynch, 
Auditor, John Heilmack, Treasurer, Thomas F. 
Delany, Secretary, and F"rancis Connelly, H. A. 
Duffy, Patrick Halloran, Anthony Chryst, Lawrence 
Ryan, Charles McFall, Thomas Kendrick, Francis 
Murphy, William Michaels and Dan. Moony were 
members, was appointed June, 1872, to make 
arrangements for the work. On August 15, 1872, 
the digging for the basement was began and was 
completed about September 12, at which time the 
Rt. Rev. Bishop Conroy appointed Rev. John J. 
Kennedy Pastor of the new congregation. The 
society was immediately incorporated under the 
name of St. Lucy's Church, Syracuse, N. Y. This 
is the first and only church in this country which 
bears the name of St. Lucy. There is a certain 
propriety in the name, from the fact that the annals 
of the life of St. Lucy tell us that she was born, 
lived, and suffered martyrdom in the old city of 
Syracuse, Sicily, and was afterward proclaimed 
patroness of that city. 

Architect Russell furnished the plans for the 
church and the work was pressed forward with 
great zeal by Patrick Commins, the builder. 

The corner stone was laid by Rt. Rev. Francis 
McNierny, the successor of Bishop Conroy, June 
22, '73, and the basement of the church was occu- 
pied for divine service November i, 'y^. The 
church was entirely completed December 23, '75, on 
which day it was solemnly dedicated by Rt. Rev. 
Francis McNierny. 

The present membership of the congregation is 
about two thousand 12,000. 1 The Sunday School 
attendance is about four hundred and fifty (450.) 
The church is very beautifully decorated with scrip- 
tural scenes from both the old and the new Testa- 
ment, as well as some pictures representing the life, 
death, and coronation of St. Lucy. 

St. Joseph's (French Catholic) Church was 



organized in 1869 in the church building, Eai 
Genesee street, by Rev. Joseph Guerdet. The 
original members were about 200, among whom 
were Romuald Tanguay. Louis La Branche, Louis 
Harnois, Theophile Fournier, Francis Bardo, Aimi 
Harnois, Joseph Gibeau, Peter Loignot and Jean 
Duplessis. The church was bought of the Central 
Baptist Society in 1869, and cost, with its improve- 
ments. Si 1,000. The first pastor was Rev. Joseph 
Quevillon, ( who is now in Pittsfield, Mass.,) from 
October, i86g. to April, 1870. The present pastor, 
Rev. J. S. Robillard, assumed charge in July, 1870. 
The present membership is about 450, with from 45 
to 70 in the Sunday School. 

U.MTARiAN Church. 

The Church of the Messiah, (First Unitarian 
Congregational Society,) was organized by Rev. 
George W. Hosmer, Dr. Hiram Hoyt, Stephen 
Abbott and others, October 4, 1838. The first 
Trustees were : Elisha Walter, Joel Owen and 
Stephen Abbott. 

Prior to 1836, several influential Unitarian fami- 
lies had become citizens of Syracuse, but no preach- 
ing of that faith had been enjoyed till about 1837, 
when Rev. Samuel Barrett, of Boston, and Rev. 
Mr. Green, of that city or vicinity, preached by in- 
vitation on two different occasions in the Baptist 
Church on West Genesee street. These eftbrts led 
to the movement which resulted in the formation of 
a society by Rev. Dr. Hosmer, of Buffalo, late 
President of Antioch College. The society was 
organized in Dr. Mayo's school house on Church 
street, where services had previously been held, 
and continued to be held after the organization of 
the society. 

In January, 1839, a small chapel, costing in those 
times of cheap labor S607. was completed and dedi- 
cated. It stood on East Genesee street opposite 
the present Barton Block. 

Rev. J. P. B. Storer, the first regular pastor com- 
menced his ministry with the completion of this 
little chapel, and continued till his death, which oc- 
curred March 17,1844. His installation took place 
in the First Methodist Episcopal Church, the Trus- 
tees generously proffering the use of the building 
for that occasion, on which an able sermon was 
preached by Rev. Orville Dewey, D. D. 

The society soon outgrew the dimensions of its 
little chapel, and in August, 1840, a committee, 
consisting of Capt. Hiram Putnam, John Wilkin- 
son, Esq , William Malcolm, Esq , Mr. Parley Bas 
sett and Hon. Thomas Spencer, was appointed to 
select and purchase a lot upon which to build a new 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



189 



house of worship. A lot was purchased of the 
"Syracuse Company," on the corner of Burnet and 
Lock streets, for the sum of $550, to which was 
subsequently added the adjoining south lot, pur- 
chased for $450, the whole forming the premises on 
which the " Church of the Messiah " now stands. 
The church was erected at a cost of $5,000, and 
dedicated November 23, 1843 — the pastor. Rev. 
Mr. Storer preaching the sermon, assisted in the 
services, which were of a very interesting character, 
by several eminent visiting clergymen. 

After the death of Mr. Storer, a correspondence 
was opened with Rev. Samuel J. May, who, after a 
full and frank statement of his views on " Christian 
doctrine" and " reforms," was called and settled 
over the society in 1845. Mr. May was an earnest 
opponent of slavery, and a zealous and able advo- 
cate of liberal and progressive views of education, 
and these views he advocated with signal ability and 
success to the close of his earthly labors. Such 
was his sweetness of temper, his candor, and his 
uniform courtesy of demeanor on all occasions that 
even his opponents were unconsciously influ- 
enced by his sentiments and spirit, and soon became 
co-workers with him for the common good of hu- 
manity. As an earnest and unfaltering advocate 
of Public Free Schools for the education of the poor 
as well as the rich, and for the devoted and self-sac- 
rificing labor which he bestowed on Institutions of 
Charity, no man in Syracuse was better known or 
more highly respected than Rev. Samuel J. May. 
His acknowledged abilities and his noble Christian 
character gave him an influence for good which will 
long be felt beyond his own immediate church, of 
which he was the faithful pastor. 

At the resignation of his pastorate the " Church 
of the Messiah," as a tribute of respect and esteem, 
generously settled on him an annuity for life. He 
died on Sunday, July 2, 1871. 

Rev. Samuel R. Calthrop, the present pastor, ac- 
cepted a call from the society April 7, 1868, and on 
the 29th of the same month was formally installed. 

The church was enlarged by a rear extention in 
1850. In 1852 the roof and walls were demolished 
by the falling of the tower in a furious gale. It was 
rebuilt nearly upon the old site, at a cost, including 
organ, of $( 1,000, and was dedicated April 11, 1853. 

Independent Church. 

The first step taken towards the formation of a 
strictly independent church in Syracuse, was the 
extension of a call to Rev. Ezekiel W. Mundy to 
occupy a free platform in Convention Hall. Mr. 
Mundy had just resigned the pastorate of the First 



Baptist Church of this city, on account of views 
differing widely in several important respects from 
that body and the denomination with which it is 
connected. The call was extended on the 13th of 
March, 1866, by a number of persons who were 
desirous of affording Mr. Mundy, or whoever 
might officiate as their religious teacher, an op- 
portunity for the free expression of his convictions, 
without the hindrance or dictation of any ecclesi- 
astical authority or creed. The call was accepted 
on the 4th of April, 1866, and on the 22d Mr. 
Mundy preached his first sermon of the " new 
departure" in Convention Hall. The attendance 
was large and the prospect of permanent interest 
encouraging. 

On the 25th of April, 1866, the Independent 
Society was organized with the following Board of 
Trustees : Harrold W. Chittenden, President ; 
George L. Farnham, Clerk ; Lyman Stevens, Treas- 
urer ; Frank Hiscock, George D. Cowles, Z. Law- 
rence Beebe, George A. Ostrander, William A. 
Hawley, Stewart B. Palmer. 

Services were held in Convention Hall and in 
Shakspeare Hall and the Court House till the edi- 
fice of the society on South Salina street was ready 
for occupancy. The corner-stone was laid with ap- 
propriate services on the 22d of September, 1870, 
and the building dedicated on the 2d of July, 1871. 
Mr. Mundy conducted all the services of the occa- 
sion. Rev. Samuel J. May had been expected to 
assist, but he died on that day, and Mr. Mundy 
performed the sad office of announcing his death 
to the congregation. 

About one hundred families are connected with 
the society and the congregation numbers about 
three hundred. The property, including church, 
furniture and lot, is valued at ;$20,ooo. 

This church has had no ecclesiastical connection 
with any denomination ; no creed or declaration of 
faith on matters pertaining to religion. The only 
article of its faith is the absolute freedom of in- 
dividual opinion, and its only article of agreement 
is the agreement to disagree, with courtesy and 
friendship. 

Rev. E. W. Mundy is still pastor. 

Church of Christ. 

The Church of Christ (Disciples or Christians) 
was organized at the City Hall, February 8, 1863 ; 
W. A. Belding, Evangelist, officiating. Thirty-five 
persons constituted the original membership, nine 
of whom were baptized by immersion, and the re- 
mainder received by letter and right hand of fellow- 
ship. The church obtained its legal organization 



IQO 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



under the corporate name " Church of Christ," June 
3, 1863, the following being the first Board of 
Trustees : Charles Tucker, J. B. Garrett and James 
M. Clapp. 

Meetings were held in the City Hall till the fall 
of 1S63, when the Court House was procured and 
occupied till June, 1864 The church edifice was 
then completed, No. 57 East Onondaga street, and 
occupied by the congregation. It is a brick struc- 
ture, capable of seating 450, and cost about S9.000. 

Number of persons baptized since the organiza- 
tion, 247 ; died, 31 ; dismissed by letter, 33 ; pres- 
ent number 225, resident members. 

Succession of ministers : W. A. Belding, Feb. 
I, 1863, to May I, 1S65 ; A. N. Gilbert, May i_ 
1865, to Oct. I, 1867 ; G. G. Mullins, Oct. 1, 1867, 
to April 15, 1871 ; J. M. Atwater, July 30, 1871, to 
June 30, 1872 ; John Encell, Sept. i, 1872, to May 
I, 1874; J. L. Darzie, July i, 1874, to Nov. i, 
1875 ; J. M. Streator, Feb. i, 1876, to Feb. i, 1877 ; 
N. J. Aylsworth, April, 1S77, present pastor. 

This church has a prosperous Sunday School, 
Eben Beard, Superintendent. 

Universalist Church. 

In Sept., 1859, Rev. A. A. Thayer came to this 
city and organized a society under the name of the 
" First Universalist Society of Syracuse," of which 
the following named persons were elected Trustees : 
Sampson Jacqueth, President ; David \Vilco.\,Wheel- 
er Truesdell, Gardner Woolson, John F. Clark, B. 
Austin Avery and E. K. Reed. Harry Giftbrd was 
elected Clerk. In June, i860, a church organiza- 
tion was effected, and Rev. Aaron A. Thayer be- 
came pastor. 

In 1862 the first church was built and dedicated, 
through the indefatigable efforts of the pastor and 
a few substantial friends. It was afterwards sold to 
the city and the present High School building 
erected on the site. In 1869 the society purchased 
another lot and erected their present church, corner 
of West Genesee and Franklin streets, which was 
dedicated in 1870. It is a brick structure, capable 
of seating 450, and cost about §28,000. 

A Sunday School was organized on "Children's 
Sunday," (first Sunday in June I iSOo. Horace P. 
Hall, Superintendent. The " right hand of fellow- 
ship " was given to the children of the school by 
the late Rev. Day Kellogg Lee, D. D. 

The following has been the succession of pas- 
tors, in the order named : Rev. A. A. Thayer, 
Rev. C. W. Tomlinson, Rev. E. C. Sweetser, Rev. 
George P. Hibbard, Rev. Dr. J. G. Bartholo- 
mew, Rev. George B. Stocking, Rev. Richmond 
Fisk, D. D. 



Lutheran Churches. 

EVA.NGELICAL LuTHERAN ChURCH OF St. JoHN, 

corner of Butternut and Union streets. The 
earliest services of this order in Syracuse were held 
in the session room of the First Presbyterian 
Church, corner of Salina and Fayette streets, where 
the Church of St. John was organized by Rev. 
Miihlhauser, of Rochester, in 1838. The first 
membership consisted of about forty families. The 
first church officials were the following : George 
Lupp, Henry Lammert, John Miller, Mr. Schneider, 
George Koenig, Frederick Haas, John Yehling and 
Philip Zahn. 

The first church was built on the present site in 
1 84 1, and cost about $1,300. It was destroyed by 
fire December 28, 1856, and rebuilt during 1857. 

The following have officiated as Pastors : Rev. 
George Julius Kempe, Dec. 25, 1838 to Jan. 1841 ; 
Rev. C. F. W. Reihenberg, Feb. 15, 1841, to 
April 22, 185s ; Rev. F. W. Weiskotten, May i, 
1855, till his death. May 20, 1863 ; Rev. C. H, 
Thomson, March, 1864, till his death. May 9, 1877 ; 
Rev. Leo Koenig, present Pastor, since Sept. i, 

1877. 

The present active membership of the church is 
108, with 275 children and 43 teachers in the Sun- 
day School. 

Salem Church of the Evangelical Asso- 
ciation OF North America. — This church is lo- 
cated on the corner of Lock and Laurel streets. 
Its earliest meetings were held in a private house 
and school house among the German people. The 
church was organized in 1S43, '" the house of Mr. 
Frederick Sprenger, on Grape street, the original 
members being seventeen, among whom were G. 
Lacker, Frederick Sprenger, Mr. Dauer, Jacob 
Luchsinger and J. Blumer. 

A small church, 22 by 34 feet was built on the 
corner of Grape and Cedar streets in 1844. The 
present brick edifice was erected in 1863, and cost 
about §20,000. The present membership is 180, 
with good attendance at the Sabbath School. 

The following named ministers have officiated as 
pastors of the church: 

Rev. J. Riegcl, Rev. L. Jacoby, Rev. M. Laucr, 
Rev. Thomas Schneider, Rev. D. Fischer, Rev. M. 
Lehn, Rev. P. Alles, Rev. A. Klein, Rev. A. Spies, 
Rev. M. Pfitzingcr, Rev. J. Siegrest, Rev. A. Holz- 
warlh, Rev. C. F. Schuepflin, Rev. Thomas J. Mil- 
ler, and the present pastor, Rev. J. Reuber. 

The German Evangelical Lutheran Zion 
Chukcii, southwest corner Union and Butternut 
streets, seceded from the German St. John's con- 
gregation in 1863, and was organized the same 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



191 



year under the pastorate of Rev. Charles Steinhauer, 
with about ninety members. They held their first 
meeting on the 31st of October, the anniversary of 
the German Reformation, and the following meet- 
ings in Ackerman's Hall, in the Fourth Ward, and 
the next year built a frame house of worship, cost- 
ing ^16,000. This church was burned in 1867, and 
was rebuilt of brick the same year, at a cost of 
nearly $24,000. During the rebuilding the congre- 
gation was allowed, by the kindness of the owner of 
Pfohl's Hall, to meet and hold their services at that 
place until the new church was finished and dedi- 
cated. 

The church has a basement for school purposes 
and meetings of the society, and is furnished with 
a fine organ and two bells. 

The first officers were John Steiger, Nicholas 
Morgenstern (Treasurer,) Charles Hamerle, John 
Schane, George Schane, Jacob Goettel, Philip 
Schefer, William Rheinheimer, P. Schneider. Some 
of them are living and still connected with the 
church. The first pastor. Rev. C. Steinhauer, left the 
congregation, after six years' service, in 1869, and 
was succeeded the same year by the present pastor, 
Rev. Alexander Oberlander, formerly pastor of the 
German Evangelical Church at Rome, N. Y. The 
present membership of the church is 250; Sunday 
School, 42 teachers and 370 scholars, Jacob Stahal, 
Superintendent. Present officers : Jacob Walter, 
Christian Fridrich, Nicholas Morgenstern, (Treas- 
urer since the organization ;) John Schane, John 
Surbeck, Jacob Gross, Michael Riibel, Nic. Walter, 
Rud. Seibert, Fred. Rothe, Ph. Scholl, Jacob West, 
John West, George Raufmann and Phil. Wain. 

St. Peter's (German) Church, corner of But- 
ternut and Union streets. Earliest meetings held 
in a small frame church opposite the present build- 
ing. Church organized in 1843. The first mem- 
bers were 36 families, some of the heads of whom 
were, Mr. H. Gresselmann, W. H. L. Walter, 
Peter Miiller, H. Ackermann, H, Lammert and Ch. 
Heboid. The church was built in 1861, and cost 
^7,000. The names and terms of service of the 
earliest pastors can not be obtained. From 1852 



to 1858 Rev. G. Piez was pastor ; Rev. P. Lischka, 
1859-60; Rev. C. F. Saldon, 1861-70; Rev. B. 
Pick, 1870-74; Rev. E. Henckell, the present 
pastor, since 1874. 

The present church edifice is built of brick. 
The old church was destroyed by fire, with the 
early records and documents of the parish. 

The regular membership is 300 ; besides from 
250 to 300 belonging to the congregation. Sunday 
School, 400 children and 50 teachers. 

St. John's (German Lutheran) Church, cor- 
ner of Butternut and Union streets, is the oldest 
Lutheran Church in the city. It was organized in 
1839, and the edifice erected in 1857, at a cost of 
$ 1 2,000. 

The Second Church of the Evangelical 
Association of North America, was formed in 
1859. It is located on Grape street corner of Jack- 
son. The edifice (brick ) was built in 1856, and cost 
about $4,000. 

Jewish Churches. 

The Jewish Churches of this city are as follows : 
Congregation of New Beth-Israel, 85 Grape street. 
Minister, Rev. M. Fenberg. Ofificers of the Soci- 
ety — M. Reuben, President ; E. Goldstein, Vice- 
President ; M. Ross, Secretary ; A. Shay, Treas- 
urer. Trustees — M. Levi, H. Diamond, A. Am- 
dursky, J. Goldinger, and D. Solomon. Harris 
Chapman, Sexton. 

Society of Concord, Mulberry street.corner of Har- 
rison. Organized in 1 841 ; building erected in 1851, 
brick and cost about $10,000. Rev. Herman Bir- 
kenthal, Reader. Officers — D. J. Hamburger, Pres- 
ident ; B. Bronner, Vice-President ; L. M. Lowen- 
thall, Secretary ; L. Leiter, Treasurer. Trustees — 
G. Barnett, I. Lowenthall, G. Falker, S. H. Zenner, 
I. H. Danzinger. M. Joel, Sexton. 

Adath Jeshuim ; organized in 1864. Building 
brick, and cost $5,000. Rev. Jacob Levy, Minis- 
ter. Officers — S. Rosenbloom, President; A. 
Leicht, Vice-President; J. Altman, Secretary; D. 
Obendorfer, Treasurer. Trustees — Meyer Weis- 
man, M. Lehmen, T. Wolf, L. Hirch. Sexton, Mr. 
Shire. 



192 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



« 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



LEWIS H. REDFIELD. 

In attempting to trace the career of Lewis H. 
Redfield, honorable as it is in itself, we are reminded 
at the very outset of the intimate relations it sus- 
tained to the development of an unoccupied region 
of country into a mighty and prosperous common- 
wealth. It comprehends almost the entire period 
of American constitutional history, he having lived 
under every Presidential Administration. His 
father, a soldier of the Revolution, having borne its 
hardships, and participated in its glories, was 
among the first of the sturdy band of New Eng- 
land emigrants who penetrated the Genesee coun- 
try, " then known as the far West," settled on a 
farm of about 200 acres, near what is now the vil- 
lage of Clifton Springs, reared a large family, all the 
members of which attained respectable, and some 
of them distinguished social and political positions. 
The father enjoyed the respect and trust of his fel- 
low citizens, and died at the advanced age of over 
ninety years. 

Lewis H. Redfield was born at Farmington, Conn , 
November 26, 1793, being only si.N years old when 
his parents removed to their new home in Ontario 
county. Until he was fifteen years of age his time 
was spent on the farm, his schooling being such only 
as the primitive character of the district aflforded, 
but many of his evenings were spent in a diligent 
course of reading, by the light of bark gathered 
from the woods. His mind craved more stimulat- 
ing exercise and a wider scope for the development 
of its prowess, and with the full permission of his 
father he became an apprentice in the office of the 
Ontario Repository at Canandaigua, a journal then 
edited by James D. Bemis, and whose publication is 
still continued. Here he remained for si.\ years 
steadily laying the foundation of that resolute inde- 
pendence and manly integrity which in due time 
gained him fortune and the respect of his fellow 
men. 

He had secured the confidence of his employer 
to such an extent, that, in the year 1814 when he re- 
solved to strikeout for himself in business, he easi- 
ly secured stock to commence with, and began 
the publication of the " Onondaga Register," in 
Onondaga Valley, with such men as Comfort Tyler, 
Thaddeus M. Wood, William H. Sabin and Joshua 
Forman to support him in that community. He 
has been over sixty years a resident of Onondaga 



county ; has lived to see it become an agricultural 
garden, netted with railroads and vital with manufac- 
turing energy ; expanding its population from 15,000 
to over 100,000, and becoming the seventh in 
numerical rank of the sixty counties of the Empire 
State ; and with /Eneas he may truthfully say, "All 
of this I saw and a part of this I was." 

At the outset his stock for business consisted in 
the material supplied by Mr. Bemis and seventy-five 
cents in cash. But his best capital stock was in his 
own resolute energy and inflexible integrity. In 
connection with his paper, he opened a book store 
in partnership with Mr. Bemis, the business of 
which he attended to during the day time, and at 
night combined in himself the functions of editor, 
compositor, proof-reader and foreman. By strict 
economy he paid off his debt to Mr. Bemis and be- 
came a free man. He continued the publication of 
the Register in the Valley until 1829, when he re- 
moved it to Syracuse and united it with the Gazette, 
under the name of the " Onondaga Register and 
Syracuse Gazette." 

In 1832 he disposed of his interest, its name was 
changed to the "Argus," and his direct connection 
with journalism ceased. In the files of the Regis- 
ter, published by Mr. Redfield, may be seen the 
evidence of his industry and fidelity to principle, 
and of the manner in which it moulded and modified 
many of the principal events in the local history of 
Onondaga County. The Register was an ardent 
though not a bitter partizan, consistent in its de- 
votion to the National Republican, out of which 
sprang the Democratic party, and which with both 
as editor and citizen, Mr. Redfield was always 
prominently identified. He was always pleased to 
acknowledge his identification, not only with the 
profession, but also with the craft of journalism. 
He is undoubtedly the oldest journalist in the State, 
if not in the United States, and although he has 
many claims upon the respect of his fellow-citizens, 
yet nothing gives him more genuine gratification 
than the cordial recognition extended him by jour- 
nalists as the father of the newspaper press of the 
State He has been particularly characterized by 
many acts of benevolence conferred upon the needy, 
of which thereis no record save in their hearts, and no 
other record did he desire. His just apprehension of 
the scope of the press, is given in his own words in 
the following sentiment which he transmitted to 
the Typographical Society of New York City, on 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



the occasion of the celebration of Franklin's Birth- 
day January 17, 1851 : 

"The Press — its mission — to establish civil and 
political equality throughout all nations, to strike 
off the fetters of the slave, and to set free the con- 
sciences of men from clerical bondage and super- 
stition." 

On coming to Syracuse, in addition to publishing 
the Register, Mr. Redfield opened a book store 
upon the present site of the Onondaga County 
Savings Bank, the business of which he continued 
for some twelve years and then retired. This, to- 
gether with his investments in real estate, secured 
him a competence sufficient to place him beyond 
the apprehension of want. 

His health was never robust, though his life has 
been prolonged beyond the ordinary span, he being 
now in the S5th year of his age. 

In February, 1820, he married Miss Ann Maria, 
daughter of Nathaniel H. Treadwell, of Plattsburgh, 
N. Y. From this union sprang a family of seven 
children, four daughters and three sons. The 
daughters were all born in the town of Onondaga 
and are residents of this city, viz : Mrs. C. T. Long- 
street, Mrs. James L. Bagg, Mrs. W. H. H. Smith, 
Miss Jane L. Redfield. Of the three sons, George 
Davis was admitted to the bar of this county, hav- 
ing been a student of General James R. Lawrence. 
He made an honorable record, both in civil life and 
in military operations against the Indians. He 
died in Minneapolis, Minn. The second, Lewis 
H., Jr., is a lawyer in San Francisco. The third, 
Charles T., is a member of the firm of McCarthy 
& Redfield, of Syracuse. 



193 



HON. MOSES SUMMERS. 

Mr. Summers is one of the oldest residents, and 
has long been one of the best known citizens of 
Syracuse. He was born in Wexford, Ireland, on 
the 1st of January, 1820, and his parents emigrated 
to this country while he was yet an infant. His 
father, who was a stone mason, was employed at 
various points along the line of the Erie Canal, in 
building locks and masonry, and the family fol- 
lowed the work in its process of construction, resid- 
ing in Utica, Rochester, Lockport and Buffalo. 
When the canal was completed his father removed 
to Oswego, where the subject of this sketch received 
such a very limited education as the common schools 
of that day could afford. His father died of cholera 
in 1832, leaving the family dependent upon the 
exertions of the mother and young children for 
support. At the age of fifteen years Moses, the 
eldest boy, was apprenticed to the somewhat noted 
25* 



prmter, Richard Oliphant, to learn the printing 
business. After working in Mr. Oliphant's office 
for a few years the Free Press, published by Mr. 
Oliphant, ceased to exist, and young Summers 
changed his location to the office of the Oswego 
Palladium, then published by Mr. John Carpenter, 
where he finished his trade. In 1841, Mr. Summers, 
then a journeyman printer in search of employment, 
came to Syracuse, and entered the office of the 
Onondaga Standard, then published by A. L. 
Smith and Marcellus Farmer. 

Mr. Summers was present as a volunteer fireman 
at the terrible gunpowder explosion in Syracuse, in 
August, 1841, and assisted in rescuing and re- 
lieving the unfortunate victims of that catastrophe. 
In 184s Mr. Summers purchased the interest of 
Mr. Smith in the Standard office, and the firm be- 
came Agan & Summers. He has been connected 
with the paper in the various capacities of journey- 
man, publisher and editor ever since 1841. Mr. 
Summers was conspicuously connected with the 
celebrated " Jerry Rescue " slave case in Syracuse 
on the 1st of October, 1851, and with others was 
prosecuted by the United States authorities for the 
alleged offence. The litigation was continued for 
several years, but no trial ever took place, and the 
prosecution was finally abandoned. 

In August, 1862, Mr. Summers enlisted in the 
149th Regiment New York State Volunteers, which 
was then organizing, and was mustered into the 
service as Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the 
Regiment, with Henry A. Barnum, as Colonel. 
Mr. Summers followed the various fortunes of that 
regiment during the whole of its three years term 
of service. The regiment was in the 12th Corps 
of the Army of the Potomac, and participated 
in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. 
After the battle of Gettysburg the regiment was 
transferred with the consolidated nth and 12th 
Corps, forming the 20th Army Corps, to the south- 
western army, then concentrated in the vicinity of 
Chattanooga. Mr. Summers was with his regi- 
ment in the famous battles of Lookout Mountain, 
and in nearly all the exciting battles and skirmishes 
of the Atlanta campaign. During that campaign, 
and while in the field, he received a commission 
from President Lincoln as Capt. A. O. M., U. S. 
Vols., and was detailed to the charge of the 2d 
Brigade, of which the 149th Regiment formed a 
part. The brigade to which he was attached was 
with the 20th Corps on its famous " March to the 
Sea," and Mr. Summers was among the first of the 
troops to enter Savannah in company with Gen. 
Barnum who commanded the 3d Brigade, 



194 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



In Savannah Mr. Summers concentrated the 
printing materials of that city into one office, and 
issued a Union paper called the " Loyal Georgian." 
The first number was issued the next day after the 
entrance of the Union troops into the city, and 
attracted much attention and interest. The paper 
was continued a few months under the editorial 
charge of Mr. Summers, and finally transferred to 
Mr. Hayes, a correspondent of the New York Tri- 
butie, who desired to make a permanent location in 
Savannah. Mr. Summers took charge of the print- 
ing offices of Savannah by authority of an official 
order signed by Major-General John V\' Geary, 
Military Commandant of the Post, and Capt. IraB. 
Seymour, Provost Marshal of the city of Savannah. 

Mr. Summers left Savannah with his command 
on the march through South and North Carolina to 
Raleigh, and was in Raleigh when the rebellion 



closed by the surrender of Johnston. He accom- 
panied his command through Richmond to Wash- 
ington and participated in the grand review at the 
Capital, and returned home overland, with a num- 
ber of animals and property purchased from the 
Government, bearing a commission as Brevet-Major 
from President Johnson. 

Mr. Summers was elected Alderman of the 6th 
Ward in 1861, serving one term. He also repre- 
sented the same ward for two terms in the Board of 
Supervisors, and in i86y was elected Member of 
Assembly from the Second District of this County. 
He holds a commission as Lieut -Colonel and Quar- 
termaster in the 6th Division N. Y. S. N. G., on 
the Staff of Major-General D. P. Wood, and is po- 
litical editor of the Syracuse Daily and Weekly 
Standard, a paper with which he has been connected 
in vaiious capacities for the past thirty-seven years 



THE SYRACUSE AND COUNTY PRESS. 



The Leiaiia Gazette, or Onondaga Advertiser, was 
the first newspaper published in C>non(laga County. 
It was established at Levana, in the town of Scipio, 
now in Cayuga County, by R. Delano, July 20, 
1798. No 25. Vol. I of this pajjerisin the collec- 
tion of H. C. Van Schaack. Esq., of Manlius, and 
bears date "Wednesday, December 5, 1798." It 
was a four-page paper, 12 by 14 inches, and fur- 
nished to subscribers at two dollars per annum. 

T/ie Western Luminary was published at Watkins' 
Settlement, in the town of Scipio, in 1799. We do 
not know that any copy of it is extant. Whether 
it was a paper of Onondaga County or not depends 
upon whether or not it was first issued before March 
8th of the year of its date ; for at that time Cayuga 
County was set off from Onondaga. 

The Derne Gazette, established at Manlius, by 
Abraham Romcyn in 1806, was the first newspaper 
printed within the present limits of Onondaga 
County. At that time an unsuccessful eftbrt was 
made to change the name of the village from Man- 
lius to " Derne." The paper was continued about 
one year. 

The Met alii of the Times was started at Manlius 
in 1808, by Leonard Kellogg. In 1813 its name 
was changed to 

'The Manlius Times, and it was successively 
issued by James Hcardsley, Seneca Hale, and 
Daniel Clark. October 28,181 8, Mr. Clark changed 
its name to 



The Onondaga Herald. Soon after it was changed 
to 

7 he Times, and continued about three years. June 
27, 1 82 1, Thurlow Weed became editor, and the 
name was changed to 

The Onondaga County Republican. October 27, 
1824, it passed into the hands of Laurin Dewey, 
who changed it to 

The Onondaga Republican. Luman A. Miller 
soon after became proprietor and the name was 
changed to 

The Manlius Repository. It afterwards passed 
into the hands of L. Stilson, and was continued 
about five years. 

The Onondaga Flag was published at Manlius a 
short time in 1831, by James Fonda.* 

'The Lynx was started at Onondaga Hollow in 
181 1, by Thomas C. Fay, and was continued about 
two years. Thurlow Weed commenced his appren- 
ticeship in the office of this paper. 

'The Onondaga Register was established at Onon- 
daga Hollow in 1814. by Lewis H. Redfield, and 
was continued till 1829, when it was removed to 
Syracuse and united with the Gazette, the first 
paper started in Syracuse, in 1823, by John Durn- 
ford The consolidated papers took the name of 
the 

•Filti at thnc pjpert are now m poucMion of J. C. Smith, Eiq , o{ 
Manliut. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



195 



Syracuse Gazeiie and Onondaga Register. In 1832 
it passed into the hands of Sherman & Clark, who 
changed it to 

T/ie Syracuse Argus, and continued it about two 
years. 

The Onondaga Gaceite was established at Onon- 
daga Hill in 1816, by Evandor Morse. William 
Ray, author of the " Horrors of Slavery," and a 
poet of some local note in his day, was editor at one 
time. In 1821 it passed into the hands of Cephas 
S. McConnell, and was changed to 

The Onondaga yoiirnal. In 1827, Vivus W. 
Smith became proprietor, and in 1829, he removed 
it to Syracuse, and united it with the Syracuse Ad- 
vertiser, the combined paper taking the name of 

The Onondaga Standard, September 10, 1829, 
published by Wyman & Smith. S. F., T. A., and 
A. L. Smith, W. L. Crandall, and Marcellus Farmer, 
were subsequently interested in its publication at 
different times till 1848, when it passed into the 
hands of Agan & Summers. In 1856, Mr. Agan 
sold his interest to William Summers. The paper 
was continued by Summers & Brother till July i, 
1866, when it passed into the hands of Summers & 
Co., by whom it was published till the Standard 
Publishing Company was formed, February 14, 
1873, by whom the paper is still published. 

The Syracuse Daily Standard was started 
in June, 1846, by Smith & Agan, and was con- 
tinued three months. It was revived January i, 
1850, and is now published by the Standard Pub- 
lishing Company. 

The Onondaga Gazette was established at Syra- 
cuse in April, 1823, by John Durnford, and was the 
first paper started in the Central City. About a 
year afterwards it was changed to 

The Syracuse Gazette and General Advertiser, and 
continued till 1829, when it was united with the 
Onondaga Register. 

The Syracuse Advertiser vidiS started in 1825, by 
John F. Wyman and Thomas P. Barnum. Nor- 
man Rawson was afterwards connected with it, but 
John F. Wyman soon assumed the entire control, 
and continued it till 1829, when it was united 
with the Journal and its name changed to the 
Statidard. 

The Salina Sentinel -vidiS started in October, 1826, 
in what. is now the First Ward of Syracuse, by 
Reuben St. John. In 1827 it was changed to 

The Salina Herald, and was issued a short time 
by Josiah Bunce. 

The Courier was published at Jordan a short 
time in 1831, by Fred Prince. In 1832 it was re- 
moved to Salina, and changed to 



The Salina Courier and Enquirer, but was dis- 
continued after a few numbers. 

The Onondaga Republican was started at Syra- 
cuse in 1830, by W. S. Campbell. In 1834 it 
passed into the hands of J. B. Clark & Co., audits 
name was changed to 

Tlie Constitutionalist. In 1835 L. A. Miller be- 
came its proprietor and changed it to 

The Onondaga Chief. In 1837 it was sold to J. 
M. Patterson, and published as 

The Syracuse Whig. In 1838 J. K. Barlow be- 
came proprietor, and continued it about one year. 

The Syracuse American \sz% started at Syracuse 
in 1835, by John Adams, and was continued about 
one year. 

The American Patriot was started in Franklin 
Village (now Fabius,) in 1836, by J. Tenney, and 
was continued for three years. 

The Western State youriuil was started at Syra- 
cuse, March 20, 1839, by V. W. & S. F. Smith. In 
1844 its name was changed to 

The Syracuse Weekly Journal. In 1S47 
it was published by Barnes, Smith & Cooper, and 
in 1 849 it passed into the hands of Vivus W. Smith. 
In 1850 Seth Haight became proprietor and George 
Terwilliger editor. 

In 1853, Danforth Merrick became proprietor. 
In 1854, it was purchased by T. S. Truair, and 
Andrew Shuman was made editor. In 1S55, J- 
G. K. Truair bought the establishment, and on the 
i.st of September, 1856, Anson G. Chester assumed 
the editorial control, which position he occupied 
about three years. It has since been published by 
J. G. K. Truair & Co , Truair, Smith & Miles, and 
Truair, Smith & Co., till April 21, 1876, when the 
firm became Truair, Smith & Bruce, the present 
publishers. 

The Syracuse Daily Journal was established 
July 4, 1844, by S. F. Smith, and has since been 
continued by the various proprietors of the Journal 
establishment. 

The Empire State Democrat and Utiitcd States 
Review was begun in 1840, by Hiram Cummings, 
and continued about three years, 

The Onondaga Messenger was started in 1S41, by 
Joseph Barber. In 1842, it was changed to 

The Statesman, and was continued about one 
year. 

The Evening Mail, the first daily paper in Syra- 
cuse, was published for three months in 1833, by 
Vivus W. Smith. 

The Morning Sentinel (daily) was started in 
January, 1843, by N. M. D. Lathrop, and was con- 
tinued about a year, when it was changed to 



196 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



The Onondaga Sentinel, and issued weekly, with 
a few intervals, till 1850. 

The Dnnocratic Fn-anan was commenced at Syra- 
cuse in 1844, by J. N. T. Tucker, continued a short 
time with James Kinney as publisher and J. N. T. 
Tucker as editor, when it was changed t<> 

The Syracuse Star. In 1846 it was published by 
Kinney, Marsh & Barnes ; in 1847-8, by Kinney & 
Marsh; in 1849-51, by Kinney & Masters. It soon 
after passed into the hands of George F. Comstock, 
publisher, and Winslow M. Watson, editor. In 
1852, S. Corning Judd became editor and pro- 
prietor. In October, 1853, it passed into the hands 
of Edward Hoagland, who changed it to 

The Syracuse Republican, and continued it about 
a year. 

The Syracuse Daily Star was established in 184O, 
and issued with the Weekly StaruW 1853, when it 
was changed to 

The Syracuse Daily Republican, and after being 
published about a year, was discontinued. 

The Bugle Blast, a campaign paper, was pub- 
lished about three months in 1844, by S. F. Smith. 

Young Hickory, another campaign paper, was 
issued about the same time by Smith & Farmer. 

The Religious Recorder, ( Presbyterian,) was 
started in May, 1844, by Terry & Piatt. In 1847, 
it passed into the hands of Avery & Hulin, who 
continued it till 1853. 

The Liberty Intelligencer was started in 1845, by 
Silas Ilawky, and was continued one year. 

The Young Ladies' Miscellany was started No- 
vember 7, 1845, by a committee of young ladies 
belonging to the Syracuse Female Seminary, and 
was continued twelve weeks. 

The Tea' hers' Advocate was commenced in 1846, 
by L. W. Hail, publisher, and Edward Cooper, 
editor. In 1847, it passed into the hands of Barnes, 
Smith & Cooper, and was continued about one 
year, when it was sold to Joseph McKean and 
removed to New York. 

The Onondaga Democrat was begun in the spring 
of 1846 by Clark & West, William L. Crandall, 
editor. In 1847, it was sold to John Abbott, who 
changed it to 

The Syracuse Democrat. At the close of one 
year it was sold to William W. Green, and in 1847 
to Agan & Summers, and merged in the Onondaga 
Standard. 

'The District School jfournal, organ of the State 
School Department, was removed from Albany to 
Syracuse in 1847, ^"'J published two years by L. 
W. Hall, and one year by Barnes, Smith & Cooper, 
when it was returned to Albany. 



The Syracuse Rcieille (daily i was started in 1848 
by William L. Palmer and W. Summers and was 
continued till January 1, 1850, when it was sold to 
the Standard. 

The Free-Soil Campaigner, a campaign paper, was 
published three months in 1848 by Agan & 
Summers. 

'The Clay Banner, a campaign paper, was pub- 
lished about the same time from the Journal Office. 

'The Impartial Citizen, {semi-monthly 1 was started 
in 1848 by Samuel R. Ward, and was continued 
about one year. 

'The Crystal Fountain was issued for about three 
months by A. B. F. Ormsby, in 1848. 

The Adventist was published three months in 
1849, by L. Delos Mansfield. 

The Literary I'nicn was commenced April 7, 
1849, by VV. W. Newman, J. M. Winchell and Jas. 
Johannot. It continued about a year and a half 

The Free School Clarion was published a few 
months in the fall of 1849, by William L. Crandall. 

The Liberty Party Paper was started July 4, 1849, 
by John Thomas, and was continued two years. 

The Central City 1 daily 1 was published a short 
time in 1849 by Henry Barnes. 

The Syracuscan 1 monthly) was established in 
1S50 by William H. Mosely. In 185 1 it was 
changed to 

The Syracusean and C 'nited States Review, and 
in 1856 to the Syracusean and Onondaga County Re- 
viexv. 

The Syracuse Independent was published about 
three months in 1850. 

'The Evening 'Transcript ( daily t was started in 
1 850 by Washington Van Zandt. 

The Archimedian was commenced in 1850; B. 
F. Sleeper, publisher, and John Abbott, editor. It 
was discontinued in 1851. 

'The Central A'ezu Yorker was commenced in 1S50 
by L. P. Rising, and continued only a short time. 

I'he Family Companion (monthly 1 was published 
a short time in 1850. 

The 'Temperance Protector ( semi-monthly 1 was 
commenced in 1850 by William H. Burleigh, and 
continued about two years. 

'The Carson League was started in 185 i, Thomas 
L. Carson, publisher, and John Thomas, editor. It 
was continued about two years, when it was re- 
moved to Albany. 

'The American Medical and Surgical yournal 
(monthly) was started January i, 1851, by Potter & 
Russell, and was continued till 1856. 

'The yournal of Health was published about six 
months in 1851, by S. H. Potter. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



197 



The Onondaga Demokrat (German) was started 
in September, 1852, by George Saul. In October, 
1856, it was changed to 

The Syracuse Demokrat, and subsequently to 
The Syracuse Union, which was for some time 
published by John L. Roehm, and is now conducted 
by Alexander Von Landberg. editor and pro- 
prietor. 

The Deutsche Republican (German) was issued a 
short time in 1852. 

The Free Democrat ^2ls started in 1852, by J. E. 
Masters, publisher, and R. R. Raymond, editor. 
In February, 1853, it was changed to 

The Syracuse Chronicle. The paper was owned 
by a joint stock company and edited by R. R. 
Raymond about one year, when George Barnes be- 
came proprietor. In June, 1855, Samuel H. Clark 
bought the concern, and S. W. Arnold assumed 
the editorship of the paper. In February, 1856, 
the office was burned and the paper merged in the 
jFournal. 

The Evening Chronicle, (daily,) was issued from 
the Chronicle office during the continuation of the 
weekly paper. 

The Seraph's Advocate, (monthly,) was started in 
the fall of 1852 by Miss Keziah E. Prescott, and 
was continued one year. 

La Ruche, a French paper, was started in 1852 
by A. L. Walliot. A few numbers only were 
issued. 

The Northern Christian Advocate, (organ of 
the M. E. Church— weekly,) was established in Au- 
burn by Rev. Mr. Robie in 1 840. In 1 844, Mr. Robie 
sold the paper to the General Conference, and from 
that time till 1862, it was published under the super- 
vision of a Publishing Committee, the General 
Conference appointing the editors. The Committee 
in 1862 placed it in the hands of the Methodist 
Book Concern of New York. In 1872, they moved 
the paper from Auburn to Syracuse. It is pub- 
lished by Nelson & Phillips, agents of the Book 
Concern ; Rev. O. H. Warren, D. D., editor ; J. P. 
Griffin, Business Manager. 

The American Wesleyan, (organ of the Wes- 
leyan Methodist Church,) was removed from New 
York to Syracuse January i, 1848, by L.C. Matlack. 
In October, 1858, Cyrus Prhidle became editor, and 
was succeeded by Adam Crooks. Rev. D. S. 
Kinney is the present editor and publishing agent. 
The Juvenile Instructor, (semi-monthly,) is 
issued from the Wesleyan office, and is under the 
same management. 

The Unionist and The Union Herald, (monthlies,) 
were issued from The Reformer office. 



The Evangelical Pulpit was started in January, 

1854, by Rev. Luther Lee, and was continued about 
two years. 

The Home Circle was published by L. W. Hall in 

1855, about one year. 

The American Organ, (daily,) was begun in 1855 
by Way & Minier. It soon passed into the hands of 
H. P. Winsor, and continued about one year. 

The Onondaga Hardshell was started October 26, 
1855, and was discontinued after the publication of 
the second number. It is supposed to have been 
edited by J. J. Peck and John A. Green, Jr. 

The Syracuse Daily Nezvs was started in 1856 by 
C. B. Gould, but was discontinued in a short time 

The Syracuse Zeitung, (German,) was issued Au- 
gust 15, 1855, by Otto Reventlow, and was con- 
tinued a short time. 

The Syracuse Weekly Courier was started 
October i, 1856, by F. L. Hagadorn. In Novem- 
ber, 1858, it passed into the hands of D. J. Halsted 
& Co., who changed it to 

The Onondaga Weekly Courier, which is still 
published. Up to 1873, it was published by D. J. 
Halsted & Co., since which it has been published 
by The Courier Printing Company. 

The Syracuse Daily Courier was started at 
the same time as the weekly. In 1858, it passed 
into the hands of D.J. Halsted & Co., and its name 
was changed to 

The Central City Daily Courier. During the 
campaign of i860, Mr. Halsted withdrew from it 
and established 

The Syracuse Union. At the close of the cam- 
paign the two papers were united under the name 

of 

The Syracuse Daily Courier and Union. The 
last name has since been dropped, and the Syracuse 
Daily Courier, in common with the weekly, since 
1873, has been published by The Courier Printing 
Company. 

The Syracuse Sunday Courier is published 
every Sunday morning by The Courier Printing 
Company. 

The Evening Herald (daily) was started Janu- 
ary 13, 1877, by Arthur Jenkins, who is still the 
publisher. 

The Sunday Morning Times was started in 
November, 1876, by Messrs. Fralick, Hitchcock & 
Weed, the present publishers. H. Perry Smith, 

editor. , ,. u J 

The Sunday News, (weekly,;^ was established 

August 25, 1872. It was recently changed to the 

Sunday Sun. 
The Commercial Traveler, organ of the Com- 



198 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



mercial Travelers' Association of the State of New 
York, established September, 1875, ^nd published 
monthly by the Association. 

The School Bulletin and New Yokk State 
EofCATiONAL Journal. — The BulUtin was estab- 
lished as a medium for educational news, September 
I, 1874. In April, 1875, 't was consolidated with 
The Xew York State Educational yountal, under 
the above name, and is published by Davis, Bardeen 
& Co., C. W. Bardeen, editor. 

Christian Work is the title of a monthly, com- 
menced April, 1876, and issued by the Young 
Men's Christian Association, from their rooms, 53 
East Genesee street. 

The Union Gem, a literary monthly for young 
and old readers, established May, 1877. De Puy & 
Scoville, editors and publishers. 

The Aurora Brazileira, established December 
15, 1875, and owned and edited by J. C. Alves 
de Lima. This is a paper for the Brazilians and is 
printed in the Portuguese language. It is doing 
much good by introducing American customs and 
establishing trade with Brazil. It goes to its 
Brazilian readers once a month, containing many 
illustrations of American inventions and improve- 
ments. 

The Temperance Union was started as a 
monthly in June, 1877, and has since been changed 
to a weekly. Samuel Gay lord, editor and proprietor. 
The i'uion is the organ of the different temper- 
ance associations. 

The University Herald is a monthly paper 
conducted by the students of the Syracuse Uni- 
versity. 

The Syracuse Central Demokrat, (German,) 
was established July 2, 1858, by Joseph A. Hofmann. 
It is still published and edited by Joseph A. Hofmann 
& Son. 

The State League was several years published at 
Syracuse by Thomas L. Carson subsequently to 
1858. 

The Skaneateles Weekly Democrat was 
commenced in 1840 by William M. Beauchamp. It 
was subsequently issued by W. H. Jewett, Philo 
Rust and Jonathan Kceney. In 1849 it passed 
into the hands of Harrison B. Dodge, who has con- 
tinued to conduct it ever since. It is independent 
in politics and has a circulation of about 1,100. 

The Xaval Bulletin was issued from the Demo- 
crat office a short time in 1853. 

The Minena was a short time published by W. 
H. Beauchamp in 1844, but was finally merged in 
the Democrat. 

The Juvenile Repository was also published at 



Skaneateles in 1838 by Luther Pratt. In 1840 it 
was removed to New York, and soon after discon- 
tinued. 

The Citizens' Press was published six months at 
Onondaga Hollow in 1832, by E. Russell Webb and 
James S Castle. 

The Tayetteville Times was published at Fayette 
villein 1S36 by Henry DePuy. 

The South Cortland Luminary was removed to 
Fayetteville in 1839, by Hon. Wesley Bailey, and 
its name changed to 

The Fayetteville Luminary. It was published 
about three years Its name was afterwards 
changed to the Methodist Reformer and removed to 
Utica. 

The Fayettcoille Gacette was started by J. E. N. 
Bachus. about 1839. ^^^ subsequently sold toT. E. 
Hitchcock, but it was short lived. 

The Fayetteville Recorder was established 
in 1S66 by F. A. Darling. In 1874 it passed into 
the hands of the Recorder Printing Association, 
under whose management it still continues. 

The Communist was started at Mottville, Novem- 
ber 27, 1844, by John A. Collins, as the organ of 
the Skaneateles Community. It was continued 
about one year. 

The Weekly Southern Onondaga was published at 
Tully by Frank P. Hale in 1868-9. 

The Baldioinsville Republican was commenced 
in 1844 by Samuel B. West. In October, 1846, it 
passed into the hands of C. M. Hosmer, and was 
changed to 

The Onondaga Gazette. In 1848 it was pub- 
lished by Sheppard & Hosmer, and afterwards by 
J. M. Clark, for many years, who sold it to J. B. 
Davis, and repurchased it, and in 1S69 sold it to X. 
Haywood, who enlarged the paper. In 1871, it was 
purchased by George S. Clark, the present proprie- 
tor. It has been recently changed to The Bald- 
'Li'insville Gazette. 

The Jordan Tribune was started in 1849 by P. 
J. Becker. In 1853 it was changed to 

The Jordan Transcript. It was subsequently 
published by Nathan Burrell.Jr., and by Charles B. 
Park, who was followed by H. P. Winsor, who has 
continued the paper ever since. It is a weekly, in- 
dependent, and well patronized. 

The Pearly Fountain (monthly* was published by 
Park & Cheal, John G. Cheal, editor, for a short 
time at Jordan. 

The Jordan Intelligencer was established in 
December, 1876, by Louis B. Lathrop, present edi- 
tor and proprietor. It is a weekly, strictly inde- 
pendent in politics, and has a good circulation. 




//cpCu c^^^i^U^^ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



199 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



ASA WHITE. 

Asa White was born in Monson, Mass., in the 
year 1774. His educational advantages were such 
as the common schools of his native State aftbrded. 
He early exhibited those traits of character which 
peculiarly distinguish business men. 

Inheriting the energy and active habits of his 
father, he soon learned to rely upon his own efforts 
for self-advancement in the world, and thus by 
persevering industry, economy and a just appreci- 
ation of a good reputation, he became the artificer 
of his own fortune and the moulder of his own 
character. In 1798, he emigrated to Homer, N. Y., 
and in 1800 married Miss Clarissa, daughter of 
Caleb Keep, who had also settled in that town in 
1798- 

HORACE WHITE. 

The subject of this sketch was born in the village 
of Homer, Cortland county, N, Y., April 19, 1802. 
He was the eldest of five children of Asa White 
and Clarissa Keep. 

When about fourteen years of age he went from 
home and became a clerk for Horace Hill, of 
Auburn, N. Y. About two years afterward he was 
engaged in a similar capacity in Albany in a store 
where his father had an interest. Subsequently 
he held the same situation with Jedediah Barber, 
of Homer, where, during the ten years of his stay, 
he acquired a reputation for business talent unusual 
for so young a man. 

His health, however, failed and he retired to a 
small farm on which he labored for two or three 
years About this time, and when he was thirty 
years of age, he became acquainted with the wor- 
ship and doctrines of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church. They commended themselves to his 
understanding, and on the 12th of April, 1835, he 
united with Calvary Church, Homer, N. Y. Rev. 
Henry Gregory, then missionary at that place, be- 
ing pastor. At the next visitation of the Bishop 
he received the Apostolic Rite of Confirmation and 
was admitted to the Holy Communion. From that 
time through his subsequent life he was steadfast 
in profession and practice. 

In the year 1838, Mr. White removed to Syra- 
cuse where he at once began to take an active part 
in business, and in connection with others, estab- 
lished the Bank of Syracuse, of which he was 
Cashier until his declining health compelled him to 



resign. In the year 1839 he was made a Vestry- 
man of St. Paul's Church, and in 1848 a Warden, a 
position which he held at the time of his decease. 

His career as a man of business was marked by 
almost uninterrupted success. He was connected 
with important enterprises for advancing the inter- 
ests of both the city and the State. In all moneyed 
transactions, it is the testimony of those best quali- 
fied to judge, that he was actuated by strict Chris- 
tian integrity. Nor did he content himself with 
this negative virtue. His munificence was widely 
directed. Hobart College and other less conspicu- 
ous institutions were recipients of his gifts, while 
the missionary and the needy received his earnest 
attention. 

Mr. White gave largely from his means for the 
support of church interests, and any enterprise 
looking to the advancement of education among the 
rising generation, and the establishment of good 
society. He was liberal because he loved to be, 
and because he seemed conscious of the perils of 
riches, and recognized ll7w it was that gave him 
power to get wealth. 

He was one of the thirteen Directors of the con- 
solidated Central Railroad Company and associated 
with Erastus Corning, at that time the head of the 
railway men of America. 

The Cotirier and Enquirer at that time speaks 
thus of him : 

" Horace White, of Syracuse, is a banker, with 
keen sagacity, extending and enlarging his opera- 
tions till he finds himself acknowledged among 
the front rank of financiers. He will give the 
Direction, the careful and far-seeing counsel of 
a man who has rigidly looked at the passing events 
and distinguishing the flash of the moment from the 
steady and the enduring light. Himself and his 
brother have made good use of their wealth. They 
are of those citizens of our Western counties, who 
emulate the liberality and the enterprise of those 
men who in the great city are teaching the world 
that wealth appreciates intellect, admires art, and 
has its leaning of kindness towards the suffering." 
In the year 1831, June 29th, he married Miss 
Clara, daughter of Andrew Dickson and Ruth 
Hall, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the 
latter a native of Connecticut. 

They have two sons, Hon. Andrew Dickson 
White, President of Cornell University, and Horace 
Keep White, one of the representative business 
men of the city of Syracuse. His wife still sur- 
vives at the time of writing this sketch. 



200 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



11 



HAMILTON WHITE. 

Hamilton White was born in Homer, Cortland 
County, N. Y., May 6lh, 1807. 

He was a son of Asa and Clarissa [Keep] White, 
who were among the early settlers of his native 
county. During his youth the only opportunities 
offered him for an education were those of the com- 
mon schools, which he enjoyed to a limited extent ; 
but his close attention to books while young, coupled 
with an unusual self-reliance, enabled him to become 
a teacher at the age of si.\teen, receiving the mea- 
ger compensation of nine dollars per month and 
board. After four terms as a teacher, he entered 
upon a clerkship with Messrs. Randall, at Cort- 
landville. 

Thus life opened before him its rugged path, and 
bade him rely upon his own energy in surmounting 
its obstacles and achieving succe^. These years 
of clerkship were years of strict economy, of faith- 
ful devotion to the interests of his principals, and 
consistent attention to all the duties of his position. 
In iS36Mr. White removed to Lockport, Niagara 
County, where he found in the life and enterprise 
of that rapidly improving country, a wider field 
for the exercise of his maturing judgment and his 
untiring energies. His capital was that only which 
he had accumulated by his own economy, from his 
own labor, but integrity and capacity became his 
ruling characteristics, and his sagacious investments 
in the course of two or three brief years, laid the 
foundation of that ample fortune which during the 
later portion of his life he administered prudently, 
yet liberally and without ostentation. 

In 1S39 he came to Syracuse and became Cashier 
of the Onondaga County Bank upon the retirement 
of Moses S Marsh. He continued in this position 
until January, 1854, when the charter of the bank 
expired. During this entire period, while the Board 
of Directors contained many of the best citizens of 
Syracuse, no occasion was ever found by any to 
criticise his official or personal conduct. After the 
closing of the old bank Mr. White conducted the 
business as a private banker. 

The enterprise of internal improvement in our 
own State, as well as in other States of the West 
and South, engaged his attention. His ripe judg- 
ment and high character as a man invited him to 
the confidence and councils of men whose energies 
were devoted to the construction of important rail- 
road lines, while his unvarying success aflbrdtd him 
ample means of lending material aid. 

The estimate in which he was held by his asso- 
ciates in such enterprises is manifested by the fact 



that for many years previous to and at the hour of 
his death, he was Director in all the companies 
constituting the entire line of railways from Albany 
to Chicago, except the Cleveland and Toledo. 

Hamilton White was eminently a man of public 
spirit, and not only ready to follow but to lead in 
endowing local and benevolent institutions. He 
was one of the few who secured to Syracuse, by 
material aid, the location of the State Idiot Asylum, 
in the prosperity of which he took an active part. 
He was a liberal patron of the Orphan Asylum and 
the Home of the Friendless, to the first of which 
he gave for many years his services as Treasurer, 
and both of which he remembered in his last hours. 
He was also prominent in the Association of Oak- 
wood, in whose retired and beautiful shade his 
ashes repose. During the rebellion Mr. White was 
an ardent and generous friend of the government, 
and his liberality in securing the quota of troops 
required of his city and district, was unsurpassed, 
and was uninterrupted even by his absence in 
Europe, while seeking the restoration of his impaired 
health. 

The church with which he was connected was 
the recipient of many tokens of his liberality, while 
with catholic spirit he contributed to the founda- 
tion and support of other churches and congrega- 
tions, here and elsewhere. He sought to shun the 
public eye in all his charity and to do good secretly 
rather than for notoriety. Mr. White's influence 
in all the departments of society, and in all associa- 
tions for business was characterized by the greatest 
modesty and diffidence, for his judgment (expressed 
without pretence and generally upon solicitation,) 
was almost invariably based upon reasons which 
demanded and secured concurrence. 

But home was the place in which Mr. White dis- 
played the most attractive and endearing traits of 
his character. He loved the domestic circle, the 
society of his wife and the voices of his children. 
He sought to make home attractive and happy by 
surrounding it with artificial adornments and by 
gathering within it the means of study, the instru- 
ments of recreation and the creations of genius in 
art. In 1S63 he was obliged to abandon business 
and seek relief abroad. He visited England, 
France, Italy, Egypt and other foreign countries, 
and as a careful observer of scenes which lead us 
back four thousand years in the history of our race, 
returned with stores of information and incident, 
the rehearsal of which was delightful to himself and 
his interested and listening friends. 

In 1864 Mr. White, with his wife and elder son, 
visited the West Indies, returning in June, 1865. 




Hc^^^f^Uf^ctc 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



20 1 



This, however, did not restore his failing health, as 
had been fondly hoped by his numerous friends, 
but, on the contrary, he gradually grew worse, and 
died on the 22d of September, 1865. 

Mr. White married, in 1841, Sarah Randolph 
Rich, daughter of the late Gains B. Rich, of Buf- 
falo, N. Y. For years her home was the center of 
an elegant hospitality, over which she presided with 
the rarest grace. Those who have experienced that 
hospitality, know how perfectly she exemplified in 
every detail the traits of a refined lady, a Christian, 
an example worthy of imitation. Her kindness to 
the needy was a peculiar trait of her character. 
She was prominently identified with the benevolent 
institutions of the city, and her charities were as 
unostentatious as they were free. She died March 
29, 1867. 

To Mr. and Mrs. White were born six children, 
whose names are as follows : 

Jane Antoinette, now Mrs. Thomas Parish Sher- 
man ; Clara Keep, wife of Robert L. S. Hall, of 
New York; Barrett Rich, (deceased;) Hamilton 
Salisbury, Syracuse ; Howard Ganson, Syracuse, 
and Sarah Aphia, (deceased.) 



NATHAN F. GRAVES. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Oneida 
County, N. Y., Feb. 17, 1S13. 

He was the third child in a family of eight chil- 
dren of Benjamin Graves and Molly Stark. The 
former was a native of Lyme, New London County, 
Conn., and son of Elijah Graves, of English de- 
scent ; but the ancestry traces its origin back to the 
Norman Conquest 1066, the first ancestor being 
physician to William the Conqueror. Molly Stark 
was also a native of Lyme, Connecticut, named by 
and connected with Gen. Stark, of Revolutionary 
fame. 

His father was a well to do farmer, gave his chil- 
dren not only the advantages of the common 
schools, but educated them in the academies of 
Oneida County. 

When Nathan F. was only 16 years of age he 

entered the list as a teacher, and spent several years 

either as a student or in teaching. Afterwards he 

entered the law office of J. Whipple Jenkins of 

Vernon, and after a year became a student at law 

with the Hon. Joshua A. Spencer of Utica, where 

he remained two years, and was admitted to the bar 

of the State in 1840 in the class with the Hon, 

James C. Smith and others who have distinguished 

themselves at the bar of the U. S. 
26* 



He entered a law partnership with Timothy Jen- 
kins, a prominent lawyer of Oneida Castle, with a 
very large practice, where he remained for five years, 
and from the beginning, rapidly extending their 
practice, until the year 1844, when he went to New 
York and opened an office at 49 Nassau street, where 
he grew into an extensive practice in the course of a 
few years, but on account of ill health gave up his 
practice in that city, came to Syracuse in the year 
1849 and opened a law office with Hon. Daniel R 
Wood, which partnership continued for some fifteen 
years, when Mr. Wood retired from the firm. Mr. 
Graves has continued the practice of his profession 
until the present time. He was a Director and 
President of the Burnet Bank from its organization 
in 1852, till its discontinuance and the Fourth Na- 
tional Bank took its place, of which he was Presi- 
dent until that Bank gave place to the " New York 
State Banking Company," of which he has been 
President from its organization, and still occupies the 
same position, having been continuously President 
of a bank longer than any other person in the 
city. 

He has been for several years a Trustee of the 
Syracuse Savings Bank, and one of the Trustees of 
the Idiot Asylum located at Syracuse. In politics 
Mr. Graves has been a Democrat, and although not 
solicitous of public office, was elected Mayor of 
Syracuse in 1874, and has been identified with the 
school interests of the city for several years as 
School Commissioner and also President of the 
Board of Education. 

In the year 1873, Mr. Graves with his wife 
visited the Pacific coast, Japan and several coun- 
tries of the Eastern Hemisphere, and by land and 
sea made a trip around the world, and with a ready 
pen furnished many valuable letters as a correspond- 
ent of the New York Observer, Syracuse Courier 
and Northern Christian Advocate. 

He has been married twice — first to Miss Helen 
P., daughter of S. Sidney Breese of Oneida county, 
June 1st, 1842. His wife died July 20, 1844. For 
his second wife he married Miss Catherine H., 
sister of his first wife, November 23, 1845, who 
now survives, to share with him the results of a life 
of active business and labor. 

Mr. Graves belongs to the class of citizens who 
give stability to the financial status of our country, 
and character to society, a liberal supporter of pub- 
lic enterprise, a safe counsellor, and a judicious 
manager of his own affairs. He is unpretentious, 
a man of excellent habits and characteristic in- 
tegrity of purpose. 



2o: 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



HON. D. P. WOOD. 

Daniel P. Wood was born in the town of Pompey, 
Onondaga county, N. Y., November 5, 1819. He 
was next to the youngest in the family of children 
of Daniel Wood and Sophia Sims. His father, in 
the year 1800, came from Berkshire, Mass , and 
settled in the town of Pompey. He was a lawyer and 
farmer, the latter being his chief occupation. He 
died in 1838. His mother was also of New Eng- 
land stock, but the ancestry, some four generations 
back, came from Jamestown, Virginia. She was a 
lineal descendant in the fifth generation from Joseph 
Loomis, born in England about 1590, sailed from 
London April 11, 1638, in the ship Susan and 
Ellen and arrived at Boston July 17. 1638. She 
died November, 1841. 

D. P. Wood inherited, and has exhibited through 
life, the New England traitsof character— readiness 
to labor and to learn, strength of will, forecast and 
sympathy with those movements which have for 
their end the well being of the country and for their 
means the advancing condition of all classes and 
races. He worked upon the farm of his father dur- 
ing his earlier years, receiving such education as the 
district school afforded, and acquiring a vigor of 
constitution which has since enabled him to endure 
the severest mental labor. At about eighteen 
years of age he pursued a preparatory course at 
Pompey Academy, and at twenty entered Hamilton 
College, where he not only disciplined his mind by 
close study, but expanded it by a wide range of 
reading, graduating from that institution in 1843. 

In 1844 he entered the law office of Victory 
Birdseye at Pompey, and in 1845 came to Syracuse 
and studied law in the office of George W. Noxon, 
and after being admitted to the bar in 1846, (in 
the last class admitted under the old Constitution 
of the State I he entered into partnership with Mr. 
Noxon. 

He met the barriers common to young attorneys 
in competition with older and more experienced 
lawyers, with that resolution and energy, yet with 
that integrity of purpose and courteous manner, so 
characteristic of his whole life. 

He was City Attorney for three years, from the 
organization of the city government till 1853, and 
in that year and also in 1854. he represented his 
district in the Assembly of the State. 

As Chairman of the Committee on Salt, in which 
interest many of his constituents were largely en- 
gaged, and as a member of the Committee on the 
Code he brought to the discussions of those sub- 
jects his legal acumen and conscientious industry. 
In the exciting and able debates on the completion 



and enlargement of the canals, and in the impeach- 
ment of Canal Commissioner John C. Mather by 
the Committee of Managers of the House, of which 
Mr. Wood was a member, and took an active and 
efficient part, his speeches were no slight tribute to 
his reputation and capacity. 

In 1854. as Chairman of the Committee on Col- 
leges, Academies and Common Schools, he matured 
and carried through the act creating the Depart- 
ment of Public Instruction, and was member of the 
Committee on Ways and Means, in those days the 
most exacting and laborious committee of the Leg- 
islature. Mr. Wood attended to his profession dur- 
ing the three years following, but in 1 857, on account 
of over taxation of both body and mind, his health 
became so impaired that he went to South Carolina, 
returning thence on horseback. 

In 1865, '(^, '67, he was elected to the Assembly 
as Representative from Onondaga county. In 
1865-66 he was Chairman of the Committee on 
Canals and a member of the Committee on Ways 
and Means, and the following year Chairman of 
the latter, — positions requiring almost ceaseless 
labor. ffe defended their interests with honor 
to himself and usefulness to the State. In 1861, 
he was one of the party who escorted President 
Lincoln on his memorable trip to Washington a few 
days preceding his inauguration, and, in 1865. was 
Chairman of the Special Legislative Committee 
to receive the remains of President Lincoln at the 
city of New York and conduct them through the 
State. 

In politics Mr. Wood was a Whig, but afterwards 
a Republican upon the formation of that party. 
During the late rebellion he was an unswerving 
supporter of the Union cause. He was very active 
in the organization of the first regiment that went 
from Syracuse, raised in one week. His patriotism 
knew no fear nor faltering ; keeping up his patience 
and hope, speaking words of good cheer all the 
more when the hours were darkest. 

In the fall of 1871, he was elected to represent 
the 22d Senatorial District, composed of Cortland 
and Onondaga counties, in the State Legislature. 
His record was such that at the end of his first 
term his renomination was made by acclamation, 
and his election took place without opposition by 
the Democratic party. 

In the Senate Mr. Wood, during his four years 
service, held the leading and imijortant position of 
Chairman of the Finance Committee, which re- 
quired him to act upon the vast fiscal interests, 
claims and necessities of the State, and gave him 
great weight in determining its public policy. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



203 



In this capacity he used all the power of his place 
in enforcing retrenchment, resisting unjust and un- 
worthy claims, fighting extravagance and prodi- 
gality of expenditure and relieving the burdens of 
the people. 

In 1874, Mr. Wood was appointed by Governor 
Dix, with the concurrence of the Senate, Major 
General of the 6th Division, N. G., S. N. Y., com- 
prising twelve counties of the State, viz : Oneida, 
Oswego, Onondaga, Madison, Cayuga, Seneca, 
Cortland, Tompkins, Tioga, Broome, Chenango and 
Otsego. 

General Wood was one of the organizers of the 
Onondaga County Savings Bank, and has been a 
Trustee of the same since its beginning, and is its 
present President ; he is also identified with the 
Trust and Deposit Company of Onondaga, and 
of the New York State Banking Company as Di- 
rector. He is President and Treasurer of the High- 



land Solar Salt Manufacturing Company of Syra- 
cuse, and is largely interested in the manufacture of 
salt. He is interested as one of the originators 
and managers of the Syracuse and Geddes, and 
the Genesee and Water Street Railways, and is the 
President and principal manager and largest stock- 
holder of the Metallic Burial Casket Manufacturing 
Company of New York city. 

In the year, 1848, August 24th, he married Miss 
Lora Celeste, daughter of Silas Smith and Eunice 
Bagg, the former from Lanesborough, Mass., and an 
early settler of the town of Marcellus— the latter 
a lineal descendant in the fifth generation of Joseph 
Loomis of Windsor, Conn. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been born six chil- 
dren, whose names are as follows : Frank, of the law 
firm of Wood & Stone, Syracuse ; Mary Bagg, (de- 
ceased,) Fannie Loomis, (deceased,) Mary Clifton, 
Cornelia Longstreet, and William Sims, (deceased.) 



BANKS OF SYRACUSE. 



National Banks 
The banking interest of this city is intimately 
identified with the interests of the city itself, and 
therefore deserves more than a passing notice. We 
shall, in accordance with the purpose of this work, 
give a brief historical review of the various banks, 
including their organization, present officers and 
latest official statement of resources, beginning 
with the 

First National Bank. 

In 1 863, when the national banking system was 
adopted, the Secretary of the Treasury requested 
certain gentlemen of financial repute to meet him 
in consultation at Washington. Among these 
gentlemen were Governor English, of Connecticut, 
and Mr. E. B. Judson, of this city. The consulta- 
tion over, Mr. Judson came home, and immediately 
took measures for the organization of a National 
Bank in Syracuse. Although this bank is No. 6, 
owing to certain delays in the transmission of 
papers, still the fact remains that the First Na- 
tional Bank of Syracuse was the second one organ- 
ized in the United States. 

The original capital of the bank was placed at 
^100,000; this has since been increased 10^250,- 
000. Upon effecting the organization Mr. Judson 
became President, and Mr. George B. Leonard, 
Cashier, and no change in the official management 
has since occurred. Indeed but two changes have 



taken place in the directorship, one caused by re- 
moval from the city, the other by death. The 
Board of Directors is now comprised of E. B. Jud- 
son, C. T. Longstreet, James J. Belden, Jacob 
Crouse, Orlin Mead, John Crouse, C. B. Sedgwick, 
Dennis McCarthy and D. Edward Crouse. 

The E.xecutive Committee for the year 1877 con- 
sists of three members of the Board, Messrs. E. B. 
Judson, John Crouse and Jacob Crouse, but the 
active every-day management falls upon the Presi- 
dent — a gentleman who has been connected with the 
banking interest of the city ever since 1851, and to 
whom reference is again made in connection with 
the Merchants National Bank. Mr. Judson has 
been a resident of this city for twenty-nine years, 
coming from Constantia, where he was engaged in 
the manufacture of lumber and iron. He still car- 
ries on the manufacture of lumber there, as he has 
for forty years, and in this city he is interested in 
the manufacture of iron, salt and glass. The man- 
agement of the business of the Bank, however, re- 
quires most of his time. Mr. Judson was also one 
of the original incorporators and Vice-President of 
the Merchants Bank, now the Merchants National 
Bank, of this city, one of the organizers of the 
Trust and Deposit Company of Onondaga, a direc- 
tor of the Bank of Syracuse, and one of the organ- 
izers of the " Salt Springs Bank," and for some 
years its Cashier. Resigning the latter position, he 



ii 



204 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



■went to Oswego to take charge of the Lake Ontario 
Hank owned by bankers throughout the State — a 
place which his financial abilities well fitted him to 
fill. 

The following is the official statement of this 
bank made on the first of October, 1877 : 
Resources. 

Loans and Discounts §588,659 23 

Overdrafts 536 54 

United States Bonds to secure circu- 
lation 278,000 00 

United States Bonds on hand (par 

value I 6,800 00 

Other Stocks, Bonds and Mortgages. 1 1,200 00 

Due from Approved Reserve Agents 93,518 00 

in Gold 190,030 85 

Due from other National Banks .... 31,241 80 

Due from State Banks and Bankers. . 3.437 26 

Current E.xpenscs and Ta.xes Paid . . 7.632 60 

Exchanges for Clearing House 26,724 85 

Fractional Currency and Nickels . . . 3.638 00 

Sjiecie — Gold Coin $ 1 34 88 

Silver Coin 50000 634 88 

Premiums Paid 8 1 2 73 

Legal Tender Notes 30,8 10 00 

Redemption Fund with U. S. Treas- 
urer, ( not more than 5 per cent, 
on circulation ) 1 2,500 00 

Total $1,286,206 96 

Liabilities 

Capital Stock Paid in $250,000 00 

Surplus Fund 50,coo 00 

Undivided Profits 140,001 59 

Circulating Notes received from 

Comptroller 250,000 00 

Individual Deposits subject to check, 593,466 03 

Due to other National Banks 2,739 34 

Total $1,286,205 96 

The premises of the P'irst National Bank will 
compare favorably with any banking office in the 
country, and were fitted np expressly for its use 
when the Onondaga Savings Bank building was 
erected. The equipments and furniture are all of 
the first order. At the paying teller's desk is a lit- 
tle knob which, touched by one's finger, conveys by 
electricity warning to the police headquarters ; the 
vault is of solid masonry and steel lined, with Irip- 
ple doors, and the burglar-proof safe is a model of 
its kind. A night watchman is also always on duty 
each night. 

Salt Springs National Bank. 

This institution is the outgrowth of a State Bank, 

and was organized as the Salt Springs I^ank in 

1852, with a capital of $200,000. The first Board of 

Directors consisted of David Munro, Thomas G. 



Alvord, George H. Waggoner, James E. Heron, 
Henry S. Candee, Matthew Murphy, Cornelius 
Lynch, Dennis McCarthy, Edward B Judson, 
George Geddes, William Clark, Orla F. Whitney, 
Sands N Kenyon, John D. Norton and B. Davis 
No.xon. Mr. A. A. Howlett became a director the 
same or the following year. Thomas G. Alvord 
was the first President, and E. B. Judson the first 
Cashier. Mr. Alvord was succeeded by Wm. Clark, 
he by Alfred A. Howlett in 1859. Mr. Howlett has 
continued to be President ever since. The cashier- 
ship has undergone some changes. When Mr. Jud- 
son retired, Mr. Cornelius Alvord was Cashier for a 
time, and upon his death and before the election of 
Thomas J. Leach, in 1859. Mr. Howlett officiated. 
Since then, the presidency and cashiership have 
been respectively filled by these gentlemen. 

The Salt Springs Bank continued as such, oper- 
ating under the general banking law of the State, 
till 1865, when it was deemed advisable to merge 
its business in that of a national bank. It accord- 
ingly obtained a charter from the government, sim- 
ply interpolated the word " national," and continued 
its business under the same management and with 
the original cajiital of $200,000. When the Syra- 
cuse Savings Bank building was ready for occu- 
pancy, the Salt Springs National Bank removed to 
one of the elegant suites of offices in it, and there 
it will doubtless remain. 

That the management of this bank has been 
fruitful of satisfactory results is evinced by the fact 
that its surplus is now $55,000. Its deposits ap- 
proximate from two hundred to two hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars, and its loans and discounts 
range from $300,000 to $450,000, depending upon 
circumstances. We herewith present the official 
statement, dated October i, 1S77 : 

Resources. 

Loans and discounts. $370,750 68 

Overdrafts 436 91 

U. S. Bonds to secure circulation. . . 11 1,000 00 

Other stocks, bonds and mortgages. . 432 00 

Due from Approved Reserve Agents 26,236 55 

Due from other .National Banks. .... 7.928 42 

Due from State Banks and bankers.. 5.371 41 

Checks and other cash items . 1.385 00 

Exchanges for Clearing House, in- 
cluding gold checks 1 1,01 1 96 

Bills of other banks 6,422 00 

Silver coin $ 370 80 

Gold treasury certificates... 8,000 00 

8,370 80 

Legal tender notes 16,800 00 

Redemption fund with U. S. Treas- 
urer, (not more than 5 per cent, 

on circulation; 4.995 00 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



205 



Due U. S. Treasurer, (other than 5 
per cent, on redemption fund,) . . 



$16,800 00 



Total $590,140 73 

Liabilities. 

Capital stock paid in $200,000 00 

Surplus fund 40,000^00 

Undivided profits 1 1,493 35 

Circulating notes received from 

Comptroller ... 1 16,700 00 

Individual deposits sub- 
ject to check ... $218,315 89 
Demand certificates of 

deposit 2,422 45 

220,738 34 

Due to other national Banks 1,209 04 



Total $590,140 7Z 

The following is the present Board of Directors : 
Jacob Crouse, David A. Munro, Charles Hubbard, 
J. W. Truesdell, George Geddes, Payne Bigelow, 
William Brown Smith, Erastus Phillips, Alfred A. 
Hewlett, I. H. Munroe, Daniel Gates, Elizur Clark, 
Giles Everson and George N. Crouse. 

The President, Mr. Howlett, devotes his whole 
time to the business of the bank. He has lived in 
this city about twenty-five years, and while con- 
nected with large enterprises of one kind and 
another in Syracuse, has also been interested else- 
where, especially in pork packing at Delphi, Indiana, 
under the firm of Spears, Case & Co. At Oswego 
he has been engaged in milling and the provision 
trade, firm of Howlett, Gardner & Co., and in 
private banking at Oswego, firm of Ames, Howlett 
& Co. For some time he also officiated as 
President and Vice-President of the Chenango 
Valley Railroad, in the building of which he was 
largely interested. For twenty years or more Mr. 
Howlett has been engaged in salt manufacture, and 
has been busy in many enterprises. 

Mr. Leach, the Cashier, is a banker by profession. 
Previous to becoming associated with the Salt 
Springs Bank, he had been Teller in the old Salina 
Bank, and now brings to bear upon his multifarious 
duties his comprehensive knowledge gained in the 
school of experience. 

Third National Bank. 

The Third National Bank of Syracuse has been 
in existence about fourteen years, and during that 
time it has made for itself a record such as any 
monetary institution may well be proud of It was 
organized in the latter part of 1863, but did not 
begin business till January i, 1864. Its capital was 
placed at $150,000, at that time supposed ample 
for the transaction of its prospective business. 
Events demonstrated the reverse, however, and in 



May, 1864, it was increased to $200,000. This did 
not suffice, and on the 21st of November, of the 
same year, the capital was again increased, this 
time to $300,000, at which amount it has since re- 
mained, increased, of course, by the accumulated 
surplus, which is now $79,000. 

The first Board of Directors of the Third National 
consisted of the following named gentlemen : John 
W. Barker, James M. Munro, Charles Pope, Allen 
Munroe, Timothy R. Porter, H. W\ VanBuren, 
Lucius Gleason, Frank Hiscock and James Munroe. 
The first President was James Munroe ; he was suc- 
ceeded by Allen Munroe, and in January, 1871, 
Mr. Lucius Gleason, the present incumbent, was 
elected to the Presidency. The first Cashier was 
Fraficis H. Williams, who retained the position till 
February, 1873, when Mr. George S. Leonard be- 
came Cashier. 

Official statement of the Third National Bank 
made on the 6th day of October, 1877 : 

Resources. 

Loans and Discounts $416,043 45 

United States Bonds to secure circu- 
lation 

United States Bonds to secure De- 
posits 

Other Slocks, Bonds and Mortgages.. 

Due from Approved Reserve Agents. 

Due from Approved Reserve Agents 
igold ) 

Due from other National Banks 

Due from State Banks and Bankers. . 

Exchanges for Clearing House 

Bills of other Banks 

Fractional Currency (in'ding Nickels) 

Specie, silver 

Legal Tender Notes 10,000 00 

Redemption Fund with U. S. Treas- 
urer, (five per cent, of circula- 
tion) 12,375 00 



275,000 00 

100,000 00 

6,615 00 

28,225 79 

4,005 66 

16,505 42 

248 55 

4,450 33 

4-255 00 

121 28 

500 00 



Total $878,345 48 



Liacilities. 

Capital Stock paid in 

Surplus Fund 

Undivided profits 

National Bank Notes outstanding. . . . 
Individual Deposits subject to check., 

United States Deposits 

Due to other National Banks 

Due to State Banks and Bankers . . . 



$300,000 00 

60,000 00 

23.388 87 

247,500 CO 

200,929 83 
42,833 28 

2,684 66 
1,008 84 



Total $878,345 48 

The President of the Third National, although 
attending to his official duties, resides in the neigh- 
boring village of Liverpool, where he was born. A 
large part of his life has been passed in mercantile 
pursuits. Since 1842, he has also been extensively 



206 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



engaged in the manufacture of salt, continuing the 
business, in addition to carrying on large coal min- 
ing interests in Pennsylvania. Of late years, how- 
ever, the management of the bank has chiefly oc- 
cupied his time. 

The present Board of Directors are Lucius Glea- 
son, Frank Hiscock, Harmon VV Van Buren. 
James J. Beldcn. George P. Hier, Giles Everson, 
Payne Bigelow, Frank H. Hiscock, and George S. 
Leonard. 

The Third National l^ank is now located in a very 
elegant suite of offices in the White Memorial 
Building, second floor, and is one of the representa- 
tive monetary institutions of the city. It is the 
designated United States Depository of internal 
revenue for this district, and also acts as " Clearing 
House " for the ten associated banks of the city. 
The Clearing House has now been in operation 
about three years, and is conducted on the same 
principles as the New York Clearing House. Mr. 
Leonard, the cashier of the Third .Vational Bank, 
is the Manager. 

Merchants National Bank. 

The history of this bank comprises a period of 
about twenty-seven years. It was organized under 
a State charter in 1850 as the Merchants Bank. 
Of that corporation, John D. Norton was President ; 
Edward B. Judson, Vice-President ; Eli H. Sher- 
man, Cashier. These gentlemen, together with 
Herrick Allen, Marcus Cone, Peter Outwater, Jr., 
Charles C. Richardson, Joseph F. Sabin, James M. 
Baker, Lucius D. Cowan, Harvey Loomis, Simon 
C. Hitchcock and Jacob M. Cook, comprised the 
Board of Directors. The names of these gentle- 
men will be remembered, especially by the older 
citizens of Syracuse ; they were the leading busi- 
ness men of that day, and now all are deceased ex- 
cept Mr. Judson. The capital of the Merchants 
Bank was placed at 5135,000. At a special meeting 
of the Board in the fall of 1851, this capital was 
increased to $160,000, and subsequently, to meet 
the demands of the business, the capital was again 
increased to $180,000. Continuing business as a 
State Bank till June, 1865, the Merchants was 
then merged in a National Bank, with an authorized 
capital of $500,000, the paid-in capital remaining : 
$180,000. Jefferson Freeman was President, and 
since him, the presidency has been filled by Mr. 
Kennedy, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. R. N. Gere, the 
latter gentleman being elected President in 1868. 

Mr. Gere has long been a resident of Geddes | 
and has been intimately identified with the prom- ' 
inent interests of this section. He has been a 



prominent salt manufacturer, and is now President 
of the Syracuse Iron Works. He is also President 
of the Geddes Street Railroad Company, is con- 
nected with the Blast Furnace, and in manufactur- 
ing and other circles has always borne a part of 
whatever work was necessary. His time is now 
largely occupied with the management of the Iron 
Works, though he exercises the general supervision 
of a president over the affairs of the bank. 

Mr E. R. Plumb has been Cashier since June, 
1864, he succeeding Peter Outwater, Jr., deceased. 
Such have been the changes in the official manage- 
ment. The present Board of Directors : George 
N. Kennedy, J. A. Sherman, George P. Hier, E. 
R. Plumb, R. Nelson Gere, H. D. Denison, George 
Stevens, Peter Burns and N. S. Gere. 

While the capital of the Merchants National 
Bank is nominally $180,000, it is really $280,000, 
for the surplus is $100,000. The loans and dis- 
counts appro.\imate $400,000, and the deposits 
$225.000 — a mere mention of facts to show in what 
esteem the bank is held. 

Its official statement, made October i, 1877, is 
as follows : 

Resources. 

Loans and discounts $368, 1 42 07 

Overdrafts. 1,519 21 

U. S. bonds to secure circulation. . . . 143,500 00 

Due from approved reserve agents... 40,010 38 

Due from other National Banks 10,213 81 

Due from State Banks and bankers . 14,420 83 

Real Estate 2,261 97 

Current expenses and taxes paid. ... 3,817 67 

Exchanges for Clearing House 3.042 87 

Bills of other banks 5,000 00 

Specie 602 46 

Legal tender notes 15,000 00 

Redemption fund with U. S. Treas- 
urer, (5 per cent, of circulation) 6,457 5° 

Total $613,98877 

Liabilities. 

Capital stock paid in $180,000 00 

Surplus fund 50,000 00 

Undivided profits 52,381 61 

National Bank notes outstanding. .. . 129,150 oo 

Individual deposits subject to check. 188,386 49 

Demand certificates of deposit 10,000 00 

Due to other National Banks 1,885 57 

Due to State Banks and bankers. ... 2,185 36 

Total $613,988 77 

The management of the bank is largely with the 
Cashier, a gentleman who has been connected with 
banking operations for twenty years. In 1S56 he 
entered the Merchants Bank as book-kcejjer, sub- 
sequently became teller, and now for thirteen years 
has been Cashier. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK. 



207 



The bank has pleasant, roomy quarters in the 
Wieting Block, corner of South Salina and West 
Water streets, with every convenience for the trans- 
action of its large and increasing business. 

Syracuse National Bank. 

The history of this bank now belongs wholly to 
the past, it having closed up its business in 
1877. While it was in existence it was the old- 
est bank in the city, having been organized as the 
" Bank of Syracuse " under the general State bank- 
ing law, in 1839. John Wilkinson, Esq., was its 
first President, and Horace White, Cashier. The 
bank entered upon a career of prosperity which it 
maintained without abatement for a long series of 
years, being one of the leading monetary institu- 
tions of the city. Its capital in 1839 was $200,- 
000, which remained the same till its close. Mr. 
Wilkinson died while occupying the position of 
President, on the 19th of September, 1862, and 
Mr. Hamilton White became President for a short 
time ; he was succeeded by Mr. John H. Chiddell, 
who in turn yielded the Presidency to Hon. Andrew 
D. White, a gentleman better known in educational 
than in banking circles — the President of Cornell 
University. But one change occurred in the Cash- 
iership ; Horace White being succeeded by Mr. 
Orrin Ballard in 1856, who henceforth became the 
active manager of the bank. Mr. Ballard has 
been by profession a banker, having had experience 
in the business here and elsewhere from boyhood. 
The bank, however, during its career of prosperity, 
was indebted to the talents and capital of Hamil- 
ton and Horace White, Esqs., who gave it its im- 
petus and largely shaped its fortunes. These gen- 
tlemen, together with John Wilkinson, Esq., the 
first President of the bank, were early and promi- 
nent residents of the city, and for many years in- 
timately identified with all its leading interests. 

The Bank of Syracuse continued business under 
its State organization till 1865, when it availed itself 
of the national banking law under the name and 
style of the Syracuse National Bank. Thus it con- 
tinued till the close of its business in 1877. The 
stock holders have all been paid up, and the affairs 
of the bank are in a satisfactory state of settle- 
ment. 

State and Private Banks. 

Mechanics Bank. 
The Mechanics Bank of Syracuse was originally 
organized in August, 185 1, under the old free 
banking law of the State. It began business in 
November following with a paid-up capital of ;$ 140,- 
000, and through the changes which the bank has 



since passed the original capital has been retained. 
Upon its organization Thomas B. Fitch was elected 
President and E. B. Weeks Cashier. The original 
incorporators were, Edward B. Weeks,* Jonathan 
R. Warner,* Cornelius T. Longstreet, John P. 
Ballard, Alfred H. Hovey,* Charles B. Sedgwick, 
Joseph Bruce,* George Salmon,* Curtis Moses and 
Joel Thayer. Of these original incorporators the 
only ones now remaining with the bank are Messrs. 
Longstreet, Thayer and Fitch. Mr. Longstreet is 
a native of the vicinity ; for years he was connected 
with the trade of Syracuse, and subsequently was 
engaged in trade in New York City. His efforts 
were productive of substantial results, and about 
fifteen years ago he retired from business. Mr. 
Thayer is a resident of Skaneateles ; he is largely 
identified with some of the heaviest manufacturing 
interests of the city, and at his home is engaged in 
banking, milling and other operations. 

Mr. Weeks remained President until his death in 
1872, when Mr. James M. Ellis was elected to the 
Presidency. Such have been the changes in the 
official management. The Mechanics Bank con- 
tinued business as a Stale Bank till July, 1865, 
when it obtained a charter as a National Bank. It 
was known and continued business as the Mechanics 
National Bank till 1873, when the National charter 
was resigned, and tlie name became, as of old, 
simply the Mechanics Bank, and the same general 
business has been adhered to. 

The bank was originally located in the building 
immediately south of Wieting Block on Salina 
street, which was sold to Dr. Wieting. P'rom there 
it removed to the Earned Block, where it remained 
about one year, or until the spring of 1876, when 
removal was made to the elegant banking offices 
now occupied by it in the Syracuse Savings Bank 
Building. 

The active management of the Mechanics Bank 
is with the President and Cashier, both of whom 
are old residents of the city. Mr. Ellis is a native 
of Onondaga Hill, and for twenty-three years has 
been connected with business interests here, as a 
merchant, manufacturer and banker. Mr. Fitch 
has resided here since 1831 ; till 1846, he was en- 
gaged in the drug trade, and during most of the 
time since has been a banker. Both he and Mr. 
Ellis are also copartners in the jobbing boot and 
shoe house of Dunn, Salmon & Co. Their man- 
agement of the affairs of the bank has been charac- 
terized by a liberal and judicious spirit, and the 
effect is to be seen in the business of the institu- 
tion. The following named gentlemen constitute 



* Deceased. 



208 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



the present Board of Directors : James M. Ellis, 
T. B. Fitch, C. T. Longstreet, Joel Thayer. John 
Dunn, Jr., F. S. Wicks, E. F. Rice. 

State Bank of Syracuse. 

The founders of the State Bank of Syracuse 
were, for the most part, gentlemen who had been 
incorporators of the Trust and Deposit Company. 
The special charter of the last named Company did 
not admit of a general commercial banking busi- 
ness, which the incorporators wished to combine 
with the peculiar features of the Trust and Savings 
Bank, and therefore a new enterprise under the 
name of the State Bank of Syracuse, was organized 
under the general banking law, and began business 
on the first of February, 1873. The paid-up capi- 
tal was S 100.000, most of the stock being held in 
this city. The officers of this bank are John J. 
Crouse, President ; Frank Hiscock, Vice President ; 
Matthew J. Myers, Cashier ; and the Board of Di- 
rectors, John J. Crouse, Frank Hiscock, George 
Barnes, Henry L. Beard, George N. Kennedy, 
Thomas Molloy and M. J. Myers. This bank does 
business in the same office with the Trust and De- 
posit Company, viz. : in the Onondaga County 
Savings Bank building, but the capital and business 
of the two institutions are wholly distinct, and the 
formation of the State Bank has added a valuable 
banking capital to the monetary interest of Syra- 
cuse. 

The active management of the business of the 
bank is with Mr. Myers, the Cashier, although there 
is an E.xecutive Board composed of Messrs. Crouse, 
Hiscock and Barnes. Mr. Myers has been con- 
nected with the banking interest of Syracuse for 
more than twenty years. In 1855 he entered the 
Burnet Bank as book-keeper, and afterwards became 
its teller. For a time he was with Wilkinson & 
Co.'s Bank, and for a number of years receiving 
teller of the Onondaga County Savings Bank. Then 
he became Cashier of a bank in the oil regions of 
Pennsylvania, and also carried on a private bank 
there for a short time. He has been Cashier of 
the State Bank of Syracuse since its organization, 
and is also Secretary of the Onondaga Trust and 
Deposit Company. The bank transacts a general 
business, and although not long established, has 
won for itself a good reputation in monetary circles. 

New York State Banking CoMrANV. 
The origin of this bank goes back to 1852, when 
the Burnet Bank was incorporated under the State 
banking law. In this capacity it continued to do 
business till after the national banking system was 
adopted, when it was merged in the " Fourth Na- 



tional Bank of Syracuse," and continued to do bus- 
iness as such till the national charter was resigned 
in 1872. At this date the name of the New York 
State Banking Company was assumed, and the bank 
has continued without any change in the general 
character of its business. 

Mr. Nathan F. Graves, one of the old and well- 
known citizens of Syracuse, has remained President 
of the bank ever since its original incorporation in 
1842. By profession, Mr. Graves is an attorney, 
and he is now one of the old members of the Syra- 
cuse bar. Since making his home in this city he 
has become largely interested in real-estate mat- 
ters ; he has built and now owns a large number of 
residences in the city. For a number of years he 
was a member of the Board of Education and its 
President, and he has also been Mayor of the city. 
In brief, his life has been both public and active. 
While he still continues to give the business of the 
bank more or less of his personal attention, the 
active management of its details devolves upon Mr. 
R. A. Bonta, the Cashier. Mr. Bonta entered the 
Burnet Bank in 1856 as a clerk. Subsequently he 
became book-keeper, then teller, and in 1864 was 
made Cashier, a position he has since retained. 

The New York State Banking Company retains 
its old location in Wicting Block, second floor, 
where it has pleasant and well furnished apartments 
for the transaction of its business. Being a private 
bank, we can make no authorized statement of its 
capital, deposits or discounts. Nor is it necessary, 
since its character as a reliable and prosperous 
monetary institution is well known to the public. 
The present officers are, Nathan F. Graves, Presi- 
dent ; John White, Vice-President ; R. A. Bonta, 
Cashier; George L. Bonta, Teller ; J. Frank Cock- 
ings. Discount Cleik ; William S. Reed, Book- 
keeper, and Louis L. Cole, Clerk. 

Wilkinson & Co.'s Bank. 

The Banking House under this firm name was 
established nearly twenty years ago by Alfred 
Wilkinson and S. H. Slosson, the last named gen- 
tleman supplying the needed capital. It has been 
in existence long enough to be regarded as one of 
the permanent institutions of Syracuse. Since its 
organization no change has occurred in the firm 
style, and but one change each in co-partnership 
and location. Beginning its career in the Syracuse 
House Block, it continued to occupy that place till 
1874, when removal was made to the very central 
location now occupied, corner of South Salina and 
Railroad streets. In 1 863, Mr. Slosson retired and J. 
Forman Wilkinson became a partner with his brother. 




The snbject of this sketch -was born in the town of Pompey, 
Onondaga Co., N. Y., July 2, 1831. He was the youngest son of 
Thomas Rice and Charlotte Flint, both natives of Massachusetts. 
His father came to this county in the year 1818, and settled in 
the town of Pompey, half a mile east of Oran, and hence was 
one of the pioneers of that part of the county ; he was a farmer 
by occupation, and died March 25, 1843. 

The subject of this memoir came to the city of Syracuse at 
the age of twelve years, and having lost his father about this 
time, and not being pecuniarily assisted, was, unaided and alone, 
at that age left to begin obly as a boy can. His first two years 
were spent as a bundle boy. During the next two years he was 
a clerk in a general merchandise store at Marcellus. Returning 
to the city he entered upon a clerkship in the dry-goods trade, 
and remained until 1852, and went to New York and became 
a clerk in a large wholesale house, then one of the largest 
dry-goods houses of that city. Here he remained for one year, 
and returned to his native county. During these years, by 
strict economy, he had got together a few hundred dollars. 
This money, on his return, he invested, first in partnership 
with Col. Charles Richardson. After two years he started alone 



in the dry-goods business, in a small way, in the old Franklin 
building. East Genesee street. Although limited in an oppor- 
tunity for an education from books while young, the past few 
years' experience had suppUed him with a practical business 
education, and strengthened his business ability. He began 
his business career in a modest way, determined to succeed if 
en«rgy, indomitable pei"severance, and business habits would 
win success. At the time of writing this sketch he Ls one of 
the oldest dry-goods merchants in the city, and during these 
years his name has been a synonym for strict integrity of pur- 
pose, honorable dealing, and a business thrift often characteristic 
of self-made men. The result of deserved ambition may be 
seen on South Salina street, in the fine brick structure occupied 
by him for a dry-goods house, being one of the best in the city, 
and erected in 1876. 

In the year 1854, August 31, he married Miss Ellen, daughter 
of Hon. Hiram Eaton, of Fayetteville, to whom has been born 
three children, — Nellie Z., Lizzie E., and Edward I. 

In politics Mr. Rice i.s identified with the Republican party. 
Is not solicitous of any political preferment; looks rather to 
principles involved than to party in casting his vote. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



209 



The Messrs. Wilkinson are the only bankers of this 
city who are natives of Syracuse. Many others 
are old residents, but were not born here. It is a 
singular coincidence that the Wilkinson brothers 
are now doing banking business upon the very 
premises where they were born, their father, John 
Wilkinson, Esq., having occupied the place with his 
residence and law office, at a time when he was the 
only lawyer in the village, and his office was con- 
sidered " out of town." 

The Messrs. Wilkinson are both civil engineers 
by profession, and each has been connected with 
railway enterprises as superintendents of roads or 
divisions. They became bankers by the force of 
circumstances, and although the experience was 
new to them, they seem to have adjusted them- 
selves as naturally to this branch of business as if 
they had been brought up in it. At least the suc- 
cess which has attended their efforts is a sufficient 
proof that they have not mistaken their calling. 

The Banking House of Wilkinson & Co. deal 
in foreign exchange, receive deposits, issue loans and 
discounts, and, in short, attend to all the branches 
of a general banking business. Its affairs are in a 
satisfactory condition, and its increasing deposits 
are evidence of a large share of public confidence. 

The Cashier is Mr. Edward Westcott, son of a 
former Mayor of Syracuse. He has the reputation 
of being a business man in every sense of the 
word, and his relations with the monetary and 
other interest of the city have always been of the 
highest character. Mr. E. C. Seager is the teller, 
Mr. Charles Whitney book-keeper, and William 
Hookaway, discount clerk. These gentlemen have 
been associated with the bank for several years, 
and creditably fill their responsible positions. 

Trust and Deposit Company of Onondaga. 

This Banking Institution has a sphere of busi- 
ness somewhat peculiar. The company is author- 
ized by its charter to make investments for parties 
at home or abroad, in bonds, stocks, &c., and to act 
as agent, receiver, e.xecutor, administrator, guardian, 
treasurer, assignee or trustee, either by power of 
attorney or appointment of court. The duties of 
administrator have extensively fallen to it, and it is 
well fitted to act in this capacity from its capital 
which is pledged for its trust funds, its absence of 
personal interest, and its command of time to de- 
vote to such business. Having all the rights and 
privileges of a Savings Bank, it designs to go far- 
ther, and provide safe receptacles for money, bonds, 
and other valuables, diflering in its reception and 
keeping of them from the system which character- 
27* 



izes ordinary deposits. The Trust and Deposit 
Company of Onondaga was organized in 1869, with 
Dudley P. Phelps, President ; Daniel P. Wood and 
E. B. Judson, Vice-Presidents ; and Matthew J. 
Myers, Secretary. The offices of this company are 
in the Onondaga County Savings Bank building, 
where every facility is provided for the safe keep- 
ing of deposits. The company for a small consid- 
eration guarantee their absolute safety, and thus 
meet the wants of prudent men and women who 
desire to secure their earnings, small or large sums, 
or valuables of any kind from being lost or de- 
stroyed. To accomplish this object, the office of 
the company is provided with one of the finest 
vaults in the State. This vault, resting upon solid 
masonry, is encased in steel. Three doors lead to 
its interior, two of them being iron and steel, pro- 
vided with burglar-proof combination locks, and 
one of them is the famous Sargent chronometer 
lock. The third door is of iron wicker work. 
Reaching the interior of the vault one sees a num- 
ber of safes — one of them burglar-proofs where are 
now stored thousands of dollars worth of bonds for 
safe keeping. The others are for the safe keeping 
of papers, wills, deeds, insurance policies, mort- 
gages, and the like. These latter safes are sub- 
divided into a great many apartments, each being 
provided with lock and check lock, and a party 
renting one of these boxes has absolute control 
over it. These small boxes or safes are rented at 
a trifling cost for a longer or shorter time as may 
be desirable. Provision is also made within the 
vault for the safe keeping of jewelry, silver ware, 
&c., an excellent convenience which should be bet- 
ter understood and more generally used, for heavy 
securities and valuables may be thus preserved, 
against the depredations of burglars and against fire. 
In addition to this peculiar function, the company, 
as a savings bank, receives deposits in sums, of five 
cents and upwards, interest on all sums being com- 
pounded every six months. 

The Company has a paid up capital of $100,000, 
one half of which is dejjosited with the Superin- 
tendent of the Banking Department of the State of 
New York for the security of trust funds and de- 
positors. All the safeguards which the State has 
provided are thrown about it, and the company 
stands upon the most substantial of foundations. 
The present officers of the company are the follow- 
ing named gentlemen : 

Officers — John J. Crouse, President ; Geo. Barnes, 
M. J. Myers, Vice-Presidents ; James Barnes, Sec- 
retary. 

Trustees.— ]o\iVi N. Babcock, D. Edgar Crouse, 



2IO 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Frank Hiscock, Martin A. Knapp, Thomas MoUoy, 
William C. Williams, Robert G. Wynkoop. George 
Barnes, Frank Bigelow, John J. Crouse, George 
N. Kennedy, Alfred Mercer, Matthew J. Myers, 
Daniel P. Wood 

Mr. Dudley P. Phelps having retired from active 
connection with the aft'airsof this Company, its man- 
agement will hereafter devolve upon Mr. James 
Barnes, for the past thirteen years connected with 
the Onondaga County Savings Bank. 

The recently retired President, Mr. Phelps, is an 
old citizen of Syracuse, having resided here forly- 
eight years. He is an attorney by profession, 
although he has never practiced, except for a brief 
time. For a long time he was connected with the 
Syracuse and Utica Railroad, continuing with it till 
the consolidation. F"rom 1861 to 1 808 he was 
Treasurer of the Onondaga County Savings Bank, 
and since the formation of the Trust and Deposit 
Company, he has given his whole attention to the 
duties of the Presidency of the Company. The 
other gentlemen connected with the Company are 
all well-known citizens whose names would not be 
associated with anything doubtful or visionary. 
Dow, Short & Co.'s Bank. 

The firm of Dow, Short & Co., bankers, com- 
menced business in January, 1876, the copartners 
being H. F. Dow, H. W. Short and O. B. Sperry. 
Their offices are in the basement of the Onondaga 
County Savings Bank building. 

Savings Banks. 

The Savings Banks of this city have accom- 
plished greater good within com[)aratively few years 
than was anticipated at the outset of their career. 
Their immense deposits bespeak habits of thrift 
and economy which cannot be too warmly com- 
mended. But while this is the case, the savings 
banks have more money than they want, because 
they are limited by State law in their loans upon 
bond and mortgage to sixty per cent, of their de- 
posits, and they are constantly compelled to refuse 
deposits from the simple fact that the money cannot 
be desirably placed. It is for this reason that the 
savings banks have an absolute plethora of money, 
notwithstanding the cry of hard times. The very 
"hard times" make people more economical and 
saving, and there is less inclination to use money 
in active enterprises. When such active enter- 
prises shall again be generally resumed throughout 
the country the evil will be remedied. But this is 
not the place for a dissertation on finance ; our 
object is to give the history of the different Savings 
Banks of the city, and we begin with the oldest 
institution of the kind established in Syracuse. 



The Syracuse Savings Bank. 

This bank was incorporated March 30, 1849. 
The original incorporators were Harvey Baldwin, 
Moses D. Burnet, James Lynch, George Saul, John 
B. Burnet, Johnson Hall. Harvey Rhoades, Phi- 
lander W. Phobes, Edward B. Wicks, William W. 
Teall, Thomas T. Davis, Thomas B. Fitch, Dennis 
McCarthy, George F. Comstock, Henry Giflord, 
Thomas Bennet, William Clark and Elias W. 
Leavenworth. Of these gentlemen many have 
since died, others have either removed from the 
city or otherwise dissolved their connection with the 
bank, and at this time Messrs. Leavenworth, Fitch 
and McCarthy are the only ones who still remain 
connected with the enter|)rise. L'pon beginning 
business the Syracuse Savings Bank had its head- 
quarters in William W. Teall's law office, on Fay- 
ette Square. Subsequently it removed to the 
Townsend Block, and from there to the corner of 
Church and Salina streets. Works were begun 
upon the magnificent building now owned by the 
bank in May, 1875, and the building was completed 
late in 1876, the aggregate cost being about $300,- 
000 — probably a little in excess of that amount. 
Space will not admit of our entering into an elabo- 
rate description of the building, the style and work- 
manship of which can only be appreciated by a per- 
sonal inspection ; suffice it to say that, in point of 
architectural appearance, elaborateness and beauty 
of finish, it is not surpassed by any similar structure 
in the country. It is an ornament to the city and 
a monument to the frugality of the jjeoplc and the 
enterprise of the trustees of the bank, under 
whose direction the work was carried forward. 

From 184910 1855, the bank did but a limited 
business ; the people were not aroused to the 
full benefits accruing from such an institution ; but 
in latter years a forward movement was manifested, 
and from that time on the business has constantly 
increased. Till 1862, no surplus was acquired, but 
since that date the surplus has accumulated to 
S250.000. Below we give a statement of the con- 
dition of the bank on the ist of July, 1877 : 

Resources. 

Bonds and Mortgages . . ^1,149,428 20 

Stock Investments 497. '37 54 

Amount Loaned on Stocks 220,830 00 

Banking House and Lot, at cost 360.227 17 

Amount of other Real Estate 2,665 97 

Cash on Deposit in Bank, &c 104,608 83 

Cash on Hand 34.862 42 

Amount of all other Assets 245,135 94 

Total $2,716,149 07 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



211 



The actual cash transactions of the Syracuse 
Savings Bank during the six months ending July 
I, 1877, were ^1,871,540. The number of open 
accounts was 5,965 ; the number of accounts which 
exceed ^5,000 was 30, and the largest amount due 
any one depositor was $1 1,700. 

The President, General E. W. Leavenworth, is 
a well-known public man, having been Secretary of 
State and lately a representative from this district 
in Congress. He is President of a number of the 
leading corporations of this city, and his duties, 
public and private, are of such a character as to 
demand all his time. To the affairs of the bank he 
gives his personal attention for a number of hours 
each day, and in its management is assisted by the 
Treasurer, Mr. A. F. Lewis, who has been sixteen 
years connected with the bank, eight years as Treas- 
urer. Mr. Lewis has won an excellent reputation 
in the position he has so worthily filled. He was 
formerly connected with the Canastota Bank, at 
Canastota, Madison county. 

Onondaga County Savings Bank. 

A special charter for this bank was granted by 
the Legislature in 1855. Its design then, as now, 
was that of a Savings Bank, or an institution in 
which the large or small savings of individuals 
might be deposited, and not only be safe but gain an 
increase for the benefit of the depositors. The 
principle is one which tends directly to develop 
economy and frugality in the use of even small sums 
over and above the actual expenses of living, and 
thus to aid thousands in the first steps towards a 
competency, who might otherwise be poor and de- 
pendent all their days. The amount of good which 
savings banks have done in this direction cannot 
be estimated in dollars and cents. This general 
remark is true of the Onondaga ^County Savings 
Bank. During the twenty-two years of its existence 
it has been a conservator of the public welfare in 
more directions than one. The original incorpo- 
rators of this bank were Allen Munroe, James L. 
Bagg, Robert G. Wynkoop, George Barnes, Perry 
Burdick, James Forman, John W. Barker, Daniel P. 
Wood, William E. Abbott, Harlow W. Chittenden, 
Isaac H. Bronner, Charles F. Williston, Edward 
S. Dawson, John Yorkey, Levi W. Hall, Cornelius 
L. Alvord and John Fitzgerald. These gentlemen 
had no selfish purpose to serve ; their work was a 
philanthropic one ; and judged by the light of sub- 
sequent events, they deserve honor for the action 
then taken. 

The first President was Allen Munroe, and the 
first Treasurer S. H. Slosson. Mr. Munroe re^ 



mained President till quite recently,' when he was 
succeeded by Daniel P. Wood. Mr. Slosson, as 
Treasurer, was succeeded by Dudley P. Phelps, 
and he by Edward S. Dawson, the present Treas- 
urer, and one of the original incorporators of the 
bank. Maj.-Gen. D. P. Wood has for many years 
been a resident of this city. He is a native of 
Pompey. An attorney by profession, he has also 
been largely interested in the manufacture of salt 
here, and in a thousand ways has been identified 
with the upbuilding of Syracuse. For a number 
of years he has represented this county and district 
in the State Senate and House of Assembly, and 
he was the author of the banking law passed in 
1875. He is also Treasurer of the Highland Solar 
Salt Company, and is carrying on one of the leading 
burial casket manufactories in the country, located 
in New York. Mr. Dawson has been Treasurer 
and ex officio general manager of the bank for the 
past eight years. He has been a resident of the 
city for the past thirty-three years ; was formerly 
a merchant and manufacturer of saddlery hardware, 
and in his business relations with the community is 
well known as a gentleman of high standing. His 
whole time is now occupied with the duties of his 
onerous and responsible position. 

The first business place of the Onondaga County 
Savings Bank was over No. 16 South Salina street, 
whence it removed to the Syracuse House Block 
and remained till taking possession of its new build- 
ing. This building is one of the finest in the city ; 
it is of gray Onondaga limestone, a model in archi- 
tectural design and proportions, and surmounted by 
a superb clock-tower, which is lighted up gradually 
by electricity as the darkness of night comes on. 
This building is not only an ornament to the city 
and a credit to its architect and builders, but it 
serves to illustrate what elegant building material is 
found here at home. The bank is truly a repre- 
sentative institution of the county. The building 
and lot cost about ;?300,ooo. The condition of the 
bank financially is shown by the following official 
statement, made July i, 1877 : 

Bonds and mortgages ;^2,704,209 14 

Government and municipal bonds 1,641,423 75 

Amount loaned on stocks and bonds 166,231 39 

Banking House and lot, at cost 293.823 8 1 

Other real estate, at cost 44.995 86 

Cash on hand and in bank 64,878 jZ 

Accrued interest 1 23,287 94 

All other assets 30,61738 

Total resources $5,069,468 05 

Due depositors 4.649-257 19 

Net surplus $420,210 ^6 



212 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



The number of open accounts in the Onondaga 
County Savings Bank July i, 1877, was about 
15,000. 

The present officers of the bank are as follows : 
Daniel P. Wood, President ; Robert G. Wynkoop, 
Vice-President ; Charles Franchot, Secretary, and 
Edward S. Dawson, Treasurer. 



Trustees-Archibald C. Powell, Charles F. Wil- 
listen, James Terwilliger, John J. Crouse, Thomas 
Molloy, George Barnes, Charles Andrews, Robert 
G. Wynkoop, John W. Barker, Charles Franchot, 
James J. Belden, Daniel P. Wood. William E. 
Abbott, Rasselas A. Bonta, Francis E. Carroll, and 
James L. Bagg. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



HON. DANIEL PRATT. 

Daniel Pratt was born in Greenwich, Washington 
county, N. V., in 1806. In 1833, he was graduated 
at Union College, and in the same year moved to 
Onondaga county, where he read law with David 
D. Hillis, Esq., at Camillus. 

In the fall of 1836, he removed to Syracuse, where 
he has since resided. He was admitted to the bar 
in July 1837, with Judge George F. Comstock and 
Hon. Charles B. Sedgwick and commenced the 
practice of his profession with David D. Hillis, Esq. 

In February, 1843, he was appointed by Gov- 
ernor Bouck, First Judge of Onondaga county. 
Four years later he was elected Judge of the 
Supreme Court and was reelected in 1851. At the 
close of the term for which he had been reelected, 
he retired from the bench enjoying the unreserved 
confidence of the people he had so long served, 
both as to his unquestioned integrity and his judi- 
cial ability. 

It is said of him that while acting in the capacity 
of Judge of the Supreme Court, he never in one 
instance adjourned his court closing the term with- 
out clearing the calendar of all causes ready for 
trial. While upon the bench, both Hamilton and 
Union Colleges conferred upon him the degree of 
LL. D., — a fitting tribute to his legal attainments 
and to his private and public worth. 

He resumed the practice of law January ist, 
i860, forming a partnership with the late David J. 
Mitchell, an advocate of surpassing persuasive 
powers. Two years later Mr. Wilber M. Brown 
was admitted to the partnership, and the firm as 
thus constituted for fifteen years ranked among the 
first in the State, having an unusually successful 
and lucrative practice. 

Judge Pratt was elected as one of the counsel to 



prosecute Judge Barnard in the impeachment of 
the latter, and the same year received the appoint- 
ment from Governor Hoffman as one of the Com- 
missioners to revise the Constitution of the State, 
In 1873, he was elected Attorney-General, a posi- 
tion which he filled with distinction and honor. 

The mind of Judge Pratt had been thoroughly 
disciplined in early life by study and reading, 
and the mental training involved in his classical 
education and study of law gave him an ultimate 
mastery of his profession which placed him among 
the leading jurists of his time. 

His genial disposition, strong intellectuality, and 
direct and positive argumentative powers, strength- 
ened and enforced by a fund of knowledge always 
at his command, made him very effective as an 
advocate, and won for him a large share of popular 
appreciation. Few public men stand higher in the 
confidence and esteem of their fellow citizens. 

In the year 1838, he married Miss Maria, sister 
of S. B. Rowc, of Camillus, in which town 
she was born. To Mr. and Mrs. Pratt were bom 
four sons, viz : William, (drowned while young,) 
George Comstock, (died young, 1 Charles and Daniel, 
the latter admitted to the practice of law and in the 
office with his father. 

Mrs. Pratt was a most devoted Christian wife and 
mother, — a friend of the poor, and foremost in all 
work for their relief and elevation. She was one of 
the first who founded the Onondaga Orphan Asylum 
and Syracuse Home, which to-day bear testimony 
to her sagacity and disinterested benevolence. She 
died on the nth of September. 1872, aged sixty- 
six years. For more than thirty years she had 
resided in the city of Syracuse and been for many 
years a communicant of the First Presbyterian 
Church. 






t>.<^'^~^ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



213 



WILLIAM CRAWFORD RUGER. 

This eminent member of the legal profession was 
born at Bridgewater, Oneida county, N. Y., January 
30th, 1824. His father, John Ruger, was a prom- 
inent lawyer, who practiced his profession at Bridge- 
water until his removal to Syracuse, in 1847, where 
he continued in practice until his death, in 1855. 
William C. attended school at the Bridgewater 
Academy, a well known institution of learning, 
where he received a good classical education, and 
afterwards entered the office of his father as a stu- 
dent and was regularly admitted to the bar under 
the old Supreme Court at Utica in July, 1845. 

He first opened an office at Bridgewater and 
practiced at that place until 1853, when he removed 
to Syracuse and entered into partnership with his 
father, under the firm name of J. & Wm. C. Ruger. 
Since that time he has been constantly in active 
practice at Syracuse, and connected successively 
with the law firms of Ruger & Lester, Ruger & 
Jenney, Ruger, Wallace & Jenney, and Ruger, 
Jenney, Brooks & French. Among the important 
cases with which he has been connected are the 
Lindsay murder trial, the litigation arising out of 
the failure of the People's Safe Deposit and Savings 
Institution, and the celebrated " canal ring " prose- 
cutions instituted by Governor Tilden. 

Mr. Ruger has always been a Democrat, and 
frequently represented his district in the councils of 
his part)', among others the famous Hunker conven- 
tion held at Rome and Syracuse in 1849, ^^'^^ ^''st 
State Judicial Convention in 1870, the National Con- 
vention of 1872, and the State Convention of 1877. 
He has also been twice the candidate of his party 
for member of Congress, viz : in 1863 and 1865 ; 
but owing to the ascendency of the Republican 
party and not from any want of personal merit, he 
failed of an election. 

Upon the organization of the Onondaga County 
Bar Association in 1875, he became its first Presi- 
dent, and continued in that office for three years, 
when he was succeeded by Judge Pratt. He was 
also elected President of the first State Bar Con- 
vention, held in this state at Albanx- in 1876, when 
the State Bar Association was formed, of which he 
is now one of the Vice-Presidents. He was also the 
first President of the social club organized at Syra- 
cuse in 1864, and known as the Onondaga Club. 
He was married May 2d, i860, to Harriet, eldest 
daughter of Hon. Erastus S. Prosser, of Buffalo, 
N. Y., and has one child, Crawford Prosser Ruger, 
born Nov. 8, 1861. 

Mr. Ruger holds a most enviable position in his 
chosen profession. Endowed with natural abilities 



of a high order, and possessed of a peculiarly acute 
and logical mind, he is justly distinguished for ex- 
tensive learning and sound judgment. With these 
qualifications as an advocate, his forensic eftbrts are 
exceedingly able and effective, while his arguments 
upon questions of law are remarkable for clearness 
of expression and for a style of reasoning at once 
forcible and convincing. Above the use of tricks 
or artifice, he presents his causes upon their real 
merits, and his professional conduct is conspicuous 
for uniform fairness and courtesy. Of fine personal 
appearance, and with refined and cordial manners, 
he is a universal favorite among his professional 
brethren, by whom he is justly regarded as a most 
able lawyer and genial gentleman. 



HON. ELIZUR CLARK. 

Mr. Clark was born in the town of Saybrook, 
Middlesex county. Conn., October 5, 1807. 

The Clark family dates back to the early settle- 
ment of the New England States, and is descended 
from John Clark, who immigrated to America about 
the year 1644, and settled first in the State of 
Rhode Island. The ancestors of Elizur Clark were 
much noted for longevity ; his grandfather's family, 
consisting of four sons and four daughters, all lived 
to upwards of eighty-three years of age, the young- 
est living to the advanced age of ninety-three years. 
His father, Beamont Clark, born July 25, 1767, 
lived to be ninety years of age and was a native of 
Saybrook, Conn., as was also the grandfather. 

His father came with that part of the family 
which had not preceded him and settled in the 
town of Cicero, Onondaga county, in the summer 
of 1823. He was a farmer by occupation and did 
very much in the early settlement of that town, 
until 1837, when he removed to Michigan, where he 
died in the year 1857. His mother, whose maiden 
name was Nabbe Spencer, lived to be seventy-three 
years of age, and died in Michigan. She was born 
January 14, 1770. 

The subject of this record was only fifteen years 
of age when he came to this county with his father 
and was next to the youngest in a family of eleven 
children— eight sons and three daughters— all of 
whom, except one besides himself, are deceased. 

Mr. Clark's early opportunities for obtaining an 
education were limited. On coming to Syracuse 
he embarked in business for himself, and his sub- 
sequent successful career has abundantly proved 
that a practical education is more the result of 
capacity, energy and self-application than of book- 
study. 



214 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



He spent his time until the year 1834 in such 
various kinds of business as presented. He leased the 
Salina mill property of Henry Seymour, and carried 
on the lumbering business until 1837, when Mr. 
Seymour died, and Mr. Clark purchased a half 
interest in the pVoperty, the other half being 
owned by e.x-Governor Horatio Seymour. He 
carried on this business until 1846, when he pur- 
chased the other half of the property, and sold the 
same to Hon. Thomas G. Alvord, and in partner- 
ship Messrs. Clark & Alvord carried on the lumber 
business until 1863, when Mr. Clark retired from 
the firm, and ( with the exception of an agency in 
connection with the party to whom he leased the 
mill property, which continued until 18701 retired 
from the active duties of life. 

He has been a director in the Salt Springs Bank 
since 1867, and a trustee of the Syracuse Savings 
Bank for several years past. 

Unlike his father and grandfather, who were 
closely allied to the Federal party and afterward 
the Whig, he cast his first vote for General Jackson, 
and has been an unswerving and consistent mem- 
ber of the Democratic party ever since. He has 
never been an active politician and has looked 
rather to principles than to party interest. He has 
been identified with the public offices of trust and 
responsibility in the history of Salina and Syracuse 
in many instances, and was one of the first Alder- 
men elected after the organization of the City 
of Syracuse, representing the First Ward. In 
1856 he was Supervisor for the same ward, 
and in the year 1863, represented his district 
in the State Legislature. All these public positions 
ha%'e been filled with that integrity of purpose and 
honest dealing which have characterized his whole 
life. 

Mr. Clark is a plain, unassuming man, having the 
full confidence of his fellow men, and now at the 
age of seventy years retains an active mind and 
business ability apparently unimpaired. 

In the year 1825, November 13, he married Miss 
Jerusha N. Spencer, of Onondaga county. To 
them were born ten children, of whom Chauncey 
B., Harriet E., wife of Augustus Avery, of Syra- 
cuse, John Seymour, of New York City, and 
Mary D., wife of Edward Manning, of Syracuse, 
are living. 

His wife died in 1865. For his second wife he 
married, in November, 1869, Miss Augusta M. 
Peck, daughter of Charles L. Peck, a native of 
Lynn, Conn., and a descendant of Deacon William 
Peck, born in England 1601, and came to America 
1638 and settled in New Haven, Conn. 



CORNELIUS TYLER LONGSTREET. 

Mr. Longstreet, the subject of this biographical 
notice, is a native of this county, having been born 
in Onondaga Valley on the 19th of April, 1814. 
He is the youngest son of Cornelius and Deborah 
[Tyler] Longstreet, who had a family of five chil- 
dren. His father was a native of New Jersey ; his 
mother was born at Caughnawaga, now the village 
of Fonda, on the Mohawk River. The family of 
Longstreet, or t^Longstreth.) comes from three 
brothers who immigrated from Holland to America, 
first stopping in New Jersey in the early settlement 
of that State. One went to Pennsylvania and set- 
tled ; a second settled in Georgia, and the third 
(from whom the subject of this memoir is descend- 
ed) remained in New Jersey. Judge Longstreet, 
of the Georgia branch of the family, was President 
of Columbia College, of South Carolina, at the 
time of the breaking out of the late war of the Re- 
bellion ; he was uncle of Gen. James Longstreet, 
of the Confederate army, and his family is connected 
by marriage with some of the most prominent fam- 
ilies of the South. 

About the year 1802, Cornelius Longstreet came 
to Onondaga West Hill and opened a general store. 
He was among the first who sold goods in this 
county. In the year 1805, he married Deborah, 
daughter of Col. Comfort Tyler. Col. Tyler was 
one of the first settlers of the county, coming with 
Gen. Asa Danforth and his son, Asa, Jr., to Onon- 
daga Valley in 1788. He was then a young un- 
married man. Col. Comfort Tyler is said to have 
felled the first tree, manufactured the first bushel of 
salt, put the first plow in the ground, and built the 
first ten miles of turnpike in the county. When 
I the subject of this notice was only eight months 
old, in the year 18 14. his father died, leaving a large 
property for those times, which, however, through 
the mismanagement of his executors, was nearly 
lost to the family, except for their use for a few 
years and until about the time of the death of the 
mother, in 1826. 

Until the death of his mother, Cornelius T. was 
kept in school, but about one year afterwards he 
engaged as an apprentice in Syracuse to the tailor- 
ing trade, and after three years he went to Geddes, 
where he remained until he was seventeen years of 
age, when he established business for himself as a 
merchant tailor, buying his stock of goods in New 
York. After three years he established his busi- 
ness in Syracuse, and for the next ten years is said 
to have carried on the largest business in this line 
of any man in the State west of New York city. 
In the year 1846, perceiving that there was a want 



r 





^.^w^t^^^^ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK. 



215 



in the means of supply of clothing in New York for 
the northern trade, he removed his business to that 
city and established a wholesale clothing house, the 
first for supplying the northern trade. Here his bus- 
iness increased and the change proved very success- 
ful. He remained in New York, shipping goods to 
the Northern and Western States, for six years.when 
he returned to Syracuse, and for the next three years 
was engaged in the erection of what is known as 
" Renwick Castle." In the fall of 1855, he returned 
to New York for the purpose of establishing his 
son, Charles A. Longstreet, in the same business 
which he had himself formerly carried on. He re- 
mained there until the fall of 1862, (meantime keep- 
ing his family and home in Syracuse,) when he gave 
up business on account of ill health, returned to his 
native county, where he now resides. 

Since the organization of the First National 
Bank of Syracuse, he has been one of the directors. 
He has been also a director of the Mechanics' 
Bank since its organization. 

His first vote was cast in the Whig party, and 



upon the formation of the Republican party he 
adopted its principles, and has since unswervingly 
stood firm upon its platform. 

At the age of 23 years, he married Miss Mary 
E. Barlow, of Syracuse, to whom were born four 
children— Charles A., Juliet, James L., and Edward 
W. — all deceased. 

His wife died in the year 1846. For his second 
wife, he married, in the year 1847, Mrs. Caroline A. 
Sanford, daughter of Lewis H. Redfield, of Syracuse. 

By his second wife he had five children, viz : 
Cally Redfield, Alice Meeta, Comfort Tyler, Cor- 
nelius Tyler, and Cornelia Tyler Longstreet, now 
Mrs. Poor, of Skaneateles, the only surviving child 
of the second family. 

The only surviving offspring by the name of 
Longstreet, are the three sons, C. Tyler, Jarvis 
Dennis, and Guy Longstreet, of Los Angelos, Cal- 
fornia, sons of the late Charles A. Longstreet, who 
was the eldest son of the subject of this sketch, and 
for many years a prominent merchant of New York 
city. 



SYRACUSE MANUFACTURES. 



The advantages of Syracuse as a manufacturing 
city are greater than those of most inland towns, 
being situated on so many lines of transportation 
and in easy access to the coal mines of Pennsyl- 
vania. The time has been when the immense salt 
interest overshadowed all other branches of manu- 
facture, and it was hardly thought that Syracuse 
furnished facilities for making anything else than 
salt. True, this great interest will doubtless always 
continue to take the lead ; the salt deposited by 
nature in vast and inexhaustible quantities under 
the very foundations of the city, was that which in- 
vited the original settlers to this spot, and has built 
up the city and its adjacent villages. The develop- 
ment of the resources of this immense gift of 
nature has supported a large percentage of the 
population, and is to-day the chief interest of this 
locality ; but the time is coming when Syracuse 
will be a City of Iron as well as a " City of Salt," 
when other manufactures will share equally with 
the great salt interest the time, attention and 
capital of her enterprising citizens, and when foreign 
capital will be directed here for profitable invest- 
ment. Already the manufactures of Syracuse are 
more numerous and diversified than is commonly 
supposed, and every year is adding to their number 



and variety. It is our purpose in this article to re- 
port some of the leading manufacturing interests 
of this city — interests which are part of the history 
of the city itself and without which its local record 
would be very incomplete. We shall begin with 
the useful rather than the ornamental, and take first 
the staft" of life represented by the 

Empire State Flouring Mills of Jacob Amos 
& Sons. — These mills are situated on West Water 
street, and are supplied with the best modern im- 
provements, with reference. to the production of the 
finest grades of flour. Jacob Amos & Sons are 
the only manufacturers of merchant flour in the 
city, and have a high reputation wherever their 
brands are known. The senior member of the 
firm, Mr. Jacob Amos, is an old resident of Syra- 
cuse, having came here in 1839. Without tracing 
his business operations of one kind and another 
subsequent to that date, it is sufficient to state that 
in 1852 he became a miller. In 1861 he bought 
the property on West Water street recently occupied 
by the firm, adapted it to milling purposes, put in 
six run of stone, and until lately the business has 
been carried on in this building. A seventy-horse 
power engine supplied steam for the machinery and 
the capacity of the mills was lOO barrels per day. 



2l6 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Jl 



In addition to the manufacture of flour this firm 
carry on an extensive business in the splitting of peas, 
the product of which amounts to 40,000 bushels 
a year. Feed and farina are also manufactured in 
large quantities. There are but few mills for the 
manufacture of farina in the country, and therefore 
the business of the firm in this article is profitable. 
The old mill till recently occupied by the firm is 
now being removed to make room for a new and 
substantial block which will soon be erected. In 
the fall of 1877, Messrs. Amos & Sons purchased 
the property known as the J. W. Barker Mills on 
West Water street, paying therefor ^50,000. These 
mills have a capacity for the production of 1,400 
barrels per week. 

Besides their mills here, Messrs. Amos & Sons 
have at Baldwinsville one of the largest flouring 
mills in the State. It has fifteen run of stone, a 
capacity of 250 barrels of flour daily, fifty kegs of 
pearl barley and thirty kegs of farina. The business 
there is under the charge of Mr. Jacob Amos, Jr. 

Sweet's Manufacturing Company, as now 
organized, was established in 1871, with a capital 
of $250,000, with William A. Sweet as President ; 
George W. Harwood as Treasurer, and Henry Clay 
Barnes as Secretary. Since that time, however, 
Messrs. Harwood and Barnes have resigned and 
their places have been filled respectively by J. M. 
Schermerhorn, Jr.. in 1873, as Treasurer, and Fred. 
B. Chapman, in 1872, as Secretary. The real be- 
ginning of Mr. Sweet's connection with the manu- 
facturing enterprises of Syracuse should date from 
1858, when he established a business upon the 
property adjoining the office of Greenway's Brewery 
for the manufacture of cutler knives for mowers 
and reapers. In i860, he sold this property to Mr. 
Greenway and purchased that now occupied by 
George Barnes & Co., and formed the firm of Sweet 
Brothers & Co., under the style of the Ceresian 
Cutter Works, for the continuance of the manufac- 
ture of mowing machine knives and sections, to 
which business, in 1863, he added the manufacture 
of steel, under the style of the Onondaga Steel 
Works, and occupied for that business the part of the 
block situated on the corner of Wyoming and Otisco 
streets. In 1864, he formed a stock organization 
with the whole of this business and property under 
the corporate name of Sweet, Barnes & Co., and 
under his management their highest prosperity was 
attained, as through him the entire manipulation of 
the metal from its crude state in the bar iron to the 
steel knives and other articles finished and ready for 
use, was not only thoroughly superintended, but each 
one of the various processes was really invented and 



introduced by him and successfully carried out by 
his instructions. 

In April, 1868, he bought of this company the 
Onondaga Steel Works and began business by him- 
self in the manufacture of steel goods, such as 
springs, tire, crowbars, &c., in which business he 
was joined, in October, 1868, by George W. Har- 
wood. forming the firm of W. A. Sweet & Co., 
which continued till the organization of Sweet's 
Manufacturing Company, in 1871. In 1870, the 
works were destroyed by fire, but from the debris 
arose in forty days new buildings, which, in their 
extent and appointments, far surpass the old. 
About two-thirds of an entire block are occupied 
with brick buildings of a substantial character, and 
a telegraph instrument in the office, to which lines 
of wires are attached, connects the works with the 
Geddes steel mill, tin which Mr. Sweet has an in- 
terest,) and also with the general oflfice of the West- 
ern Union Telegraph Company in the city. This 
arrangement effects a saving in time which is simply 
incalculable. By the side of these works, on the 
corner of West and Marcellus streets, has been 
added another building, (^completed in 1876,) 
equipped with two additional trains of rolls and 
other necessary machinery. 

Some of the most valuable tools used in these 
works are entirely new to the steel manufacturing 
business and are the inventions of Mr. Sweet, for 
instance, the Gas Furnace for heating the metal for 
rolling, is his patent, and saves for the company a 
very large percentage in fuel and time. The Con- 
verting Oven, which takes the place of the old Eng- 
lish pottery oven, for the conversion of iron into 
steel by the cementation process, is another of his 
inventions, and has been proved successful by many 
years of use. Finally, the Gas Furnace for melting 
the steel in the crucible, is an invention of Mr. 
Sweet's, not inferior in point of importance and 
utility to the others. These inventions may be 
said to have created a revolution in the steel man- 
ufacturing business. 

The works now in operation, among other things, 
have eight trains of rolls, five steam engines of from 
25 to 250 horse power each, six pairs of shears, 
eleven heating furnaces, three converting ovens 
and three steam hammers. 

Sanoerson Brothers' Steel Companv, Ged- 
des.— In August, 1872, Sweet's Manufacturing 
Company purchased the old distillery property in 
Geddes and converted it into steel works, and since 
have operated it in connection with the works in 
this city. The mill at Geddes has five engines and 
two trains of rolls, six gas furnaces, two converting 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK. 



217 



ovens, two gas furnaces for melting steel, and other 
necessary equipments. In 1876 this property was 
sold to a stock company organized under the title 
of Sanderson Brothers Steel Company, with a 
capital of $450,000, all paid in, of which the follow- 
ing gentlemen are directors : Robert B. Campbell, 
Samuel William Johnson and Edward Frith, of 
New York ; and William A. Sweet and J. M. 
Schermerhorn, Jr., of this city. The company took 
possession of these works on the ist of September, 
1876, with the following officers: Robert B. 
Campbell, President; Samuel William Johnson, 
Secretary ; Edward Frith, Treasurer ; and William 
A. Sweet, General Manager. It is the intention of 
this company to manufacture the celebrated brand 
of Sanderson's best cast steel from the same brand 
of Swedish iron, in the same kind of crucibles and 
with precisely the same mixture and manipulation 
as at the works of Sanderson Brothers & Co., 
(limited,) at Sheffield, England. In pursuance of 
which plan, this company have purchased from them 
all right and title to their peculiar mixtures in the 
manufacture of steel for use in this country. The 
history of cast steel making in this country would j 
show from first to last a series of unsuccessful at- 
tempts to reach the English standard of uniform 
qualities and tempers ; it will be seen, however, that ' 
this company have every facility for making them 
precisely identical. This is the first time that 
English cast steel has ever been manufactured in 
this country under exactly the same methods as 
those of any existing English steel company, and it 
is quite remarkable that in the Centennial year of the 
Sanderson business and in our Centennial year as a 
country, the beginning of this enterprise should have 
been inaugurated. Old England is stretching out her 
hands towards our broad domain as her field for 
further business expansion, and it is fitting that 
the citizens of Syracuse should congratulate them- 
selves that here are found a satisfactory manager 
and works for the first American fine steel enter- 
prise. 

It is indeed something that Syracuse should make 
a note of as an era in her history, that upon her 
borders has been inaugurated the first attempt at 
the reproduction of English cast steel in America. 
Who knows but the success of this undertaking will 
be the means of drawing other English companies 
to this locality, and not merely the manufacture of 
the finest steel in the world, but various other 
English and foreign manufactories will be centered 
here ? The fact that one such establishment already 
exists here will bring Syracuse into notice in Eng- 
land, and companies wishing to locate for manufac- 
28* 



turing purposes in America will be much more 
likely to select this place than any other. 

The Sanderson Brothers Steel Company had it 
in contemplation at the outset to carry on the busi- 
ness on a scale that should place this enterprise in 
the front rank of the steel manufacturing interests 
of this country. Accordingly, large improvements 
on the existing Geddes works were undertaken and 
completed in the fall of 1876. New rod and plate 
trains have been put in place, and other enlargements 
will be made as the exigencies of the business may 
require. 

George Barnes & Co — The manufacture of 
knives for mowers and reapers has become one of 
the leading interests of this city. Without slop- 
ing to notice the wonderful progress made in the 
manner of harvesting both grass and grain as sug- 
gested by the mower and reaper in contrast with 
the ancient scythe and sickle, it will suffice for our 
present purpose to record the progress made in 
an establishment whose chief business is the 
manufacture of the most important and particular 
parts of these machines, viz : the knives by which 
the grass and grain are cut. It is easy to see that 
an efficient mower or reaper depends very much 
upon the character of the knife that is to do the 
cutting — the stalk of the grass or grain being cov- 
ered with a silicious coating which very soon de- 
stroys the edge of an inferior knife. To perfect a 
knife, therefore, that will hold an edge, has re- 
quired a great deal of study, practice and experi- 
ence, and like everything requiring special skill and 
machinery, it has become a separate branch of in- 
dustry, a part of the manufacture of the mower and 
reaper entirely by itself. The beginning of the 
movement for the manufacture of mower and 
reaper knives in this city dates back to 1858, when 
Sweet Brothers & Co. began the enterprise on a 
small scale. At that time there was only one 
other establishment of the kind in the United 
States — the works located at Fitchburg, Mass. 
This is still true, we believe, as the Fitchburg es- 
tablishment has been discontinued, and only an- 
other similar factory exists at Akron, Ohio. In 
1859, William B. Cogswell became associated with 
Sweet Brothers & Co., and in i860, Mr. George 
Barnes purchased his interest. Thus Mr. Barnes 
became interested in the manufactory of which he 
is now the head. His name did not appear, how- 
ever, in the firm style till 1864, when a joint stock 
company was formed under the title of Sweet, 
Barnes & Co. Meantime the company had en- 
gaged in steel manufacture also, and in 1868, it sold 
the steel works to Mr. Sweet, who has since been 



3l8 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



1^ 



identified with that interest. In 1873, by virtue of 
an order from the Supreme Court, the name of the 
company was changed from Sweet, Barnes & Co. 
to that of George Barnes & Co., and such it has 
since remained. 

The employed capital of the company is $416,- 
000. The shops of the works have been added to 
from time to time, and now present an unbroken 
frontage of 253 feet on Marcellus street, and 175 on 
Wyoming, the buildings being of brick, two stories 
in height. 

To illustrate the extent of this business, a few 
facts and figures are here supplied. Let us premise 
that a " section " is a single V-shaped knife attached 
by two rivets to a cutter-bar, and that a complete 
bar contains sixteen of these sections. In 1869, 
the company made 1,017,361 sections; in 1870, 
1,412,254 sections ; in 1871, 1,517,043 sections ; in 
1872, 1,853,263 sections; in 1873, 2,428,357 sec- 
lions ; in 1874, 2,Qio,i99 sections. This last figure 
of 2,910,199 sections is equivalent to 181,888 com- 
plete cutter-bars of sixteen each, manufactured in a 
single year. In the manufacture of these about 
200 tons of American sheet steel are used. In 
1875, the works used up 700 tons of grindstones^ 
2,200 tons of coal, 2,000 bushels of charcoal, 3,000 
bushels of coke, 75,000 feet of pine lumber for 
packing boxes, and paid §115,30966 as wages to 
workmen, exclusive of salaries to officers, &c. The 
product of the works amounted in value in round 
numbers to $481,000. in comparison with $158,000 
in 1868. 

The grindstones, which are rapidly worn down, 
are purchased in lots of three car loads per week. 
They come into the grinding room great bulky 
masses, six feet in diameter and twelve inches thick, 
and are carried out as dust. 

We have not space to describe the whole process 
of manufacture — perhaps the most interesting is 
the process of tempering the knives or sections. 
On coming from the cutting machine, they arc 
placed in a reverberating furnace and slightly heated, 
are then straightened and partly annealed, and 
thence go to the molten lead baths, of which there 
are a number. From these baths they are plunged 
into a brine, and from the brine go to the tempering 
furnace, (a " double ender,")from which all air is 
excluded. Here the temper is "drawn out," and, 
whereas under the old process the loss was fully ten 
per cent., under this, (the new and improved, 1 it 
is scarcely one per cent. In fact, scarcely a defect- 
ive section is ever made. In this tempering de- 
partment is " the secret of the whole business," and 
it may well challenge a moment's attention. 



The knives of George Barnes & Co. find a market 
wherever mowers and reapers are made and used, 
throughout the old world and the new. 

The President of the company is Joel Thayer, of 
Skaneateles, a gentleman well and favorably known 
as a citizen and business man, having been long 
identified with some of the leading interests of this 
section. Mr. Barnes, the Treasurer and General 
Manager, formerly held responsible positions in 
railroad affairs ; was Superintendent of the division 
of the New York Central between Syracuse and 
Utica until the consolidation, and afterwards Super- 
intendent of the Marietta & Cincinnati railway. Of 
late years he has devoted himself wholly to the * 
business of the company which he has so success- 
fully managed. 

Jn September, 1877, the consolidation of these 
works in Syracuse with those of Akron, Ohio, was 
eflfected, and a new company formed, called the 
Whitman & Barnes Manufacturing Company, with 
a capital of $400,000. The new company will be 
managed in Syracuse by Mr. George Barnes, pre- 
cisely as the old shop has been. 

The Syracuse Chilled Plow Companv. — 
This company has been formed in Syracuse for the 
purpose of manufacturing Chilled Plows. It has a 
capital of $100,000. James M. Ellis, President ; T. 
F. Andrews, Vice-President ; L. W. Hall, Secre- 
tary and Treasurer ; and H. Wiard, Superintendent. 
The company occupies the Williams Mower and 
Reaper Works in this city — premises which could 
not have been better adapted to plow making pur- 
poses if the company had erected them ; and on the 
2d of August, 1876, the first plow was manufac- 
tured. Since then the company have used every 
effort to facilitate their business ; from day to day 
the number of plows turned out has increased ; 
every improvement in modes of finishing has been 
adopted ; and the result is the production of an im- 
plement which promises to effect an important 
change in the manufacture and material of the plow. 

There are three other concerns in the country 
engaged in the manufacture of chilled plows, 
some of them really excellent, but others base 
imitations. In the Syracuse chilled plow the de- 
fects of others have been avoided ; the iron is chilled 
by a process differing greatly from that of others : 
the shape of the plow is more symmetrical, the 
finish more perfect. In the construction of this 
plow the same iron is used by the company as that 
used by the United States in the manufacture of 
its guns. By certain processes this iron is chilled 
and made effective for the purpose designed. A 
comjjarison has been made between this process 




Phot<». I>y .Suruny, N. Y. City. 



The subject of this sketch was ituin iu Warwickshire, Englaml, Jan. 6, 
1821. He was the eldest child uf Thomas Greeuway imd Anna Padbury, 
both natives of England. His paternal grandfather's name was John. 
His father, with his family of wife and five children, John, Elizabeth, 
George, David, and William, sailed from Liverpool about the middle of 
June, 1837, and landed in New York in August, after a very stormy pas- 
sage. The mother died soon after coming tu this country, in Jersey City. 

The family felt a great loss in the death of the wife and mother, but the 
same year, by steamboat up the Hudson river and by canal the balance of 
the way, came to Syracuse. His father died at the age of seventy-three 
years. Upon reaching Syracuse, John worked on a farm for Walker Knapp 
one month for five dollars. He afterwards went into the grocery store of 
Ephraim Hull, where he spent most of his lime fur the next three years as 
a clerk, but by odd spells worked at other business ; helped to cut a track 
through the swamp for the survey of the Syracuse and Utica railroad; 
assisted in cutting the piles for the road, receiving therefor one cent each ; 
was on call for any general work, iind during this time received a very limited 
opportunity for an education, being a part of two winters in a district 
school. He spent his boyhood before leaving England in agricultural pur- 
suits; this, together with his three years' e.\perience among strangers, 
had well fitted him to meet the obstacles common not only to foreigners, 
but as well to the native poor, both of which he had to surmount. 

In 1841 he, with his brother George as partner, opened a grocery store 
at Lodi Locks, for the purpose of supplying the canal trade. In this they 
cleared during the spring and summer one hundred dollars apiece, and he 
remembers of feeling very rich in this world's goods at such a success. 
Another summer was spent in trade, with greater profits, and sufficient to 
induce them to sell out their store and invest in a horse and wagon, and 
start on the road as peddlers. This business lasted only a short time, and 
he and his brother determined to go south; but upon reaching Lancaster, 
Ohio, the roads being nearly impassable, an English penny, tossed up, 
determined whether they should go ahead or return. The return was fixed 
upon, and John and his brother, after many interesting adventures, came 
back to Palmyra, N. Y., and the next year opened a grocery store in that 
place, which was continued only one season, and iu this store they were also 
successful. John, iu the fall, thinking to speculate, started to New York 
with a cargo of live poultry by canal. On his way the canal froze over, and 
with no possibility of getting his freight carried by railroad, he was left in 
a sad dilemma; but after a short time got his poultry to market, with the 
price of the same out of pocket. Thence he went to New Orleans, where he 
Worked for a Portuguese merchant, in a provision store, until the next June, 
and returned to Syracuse. From this time (1845) Mr. Greeuway's career 
was more fixed to one branch of business. He became the agent for the 
sale of ale manufactured by a firm at Palmyra, and continued with that 
firm and others for several years, when, in 1S5;{, he formed a co-paitner- 
ship with his brother George, and bought the entire lirewster interest in 
Syracuse. The new firm pushed their business with great vigor. Both 
partners were men of unusual enterprise and activity, and they managed 



the manufacture and business in such a way that gave them at once repu- 
tation and profit. The ales and porter made by them became known in 
all parts of the country, and they made it a rule that every article should 
be kept at a standard quality. About the year 1867, Mr. John Greeuway 
came into possession of the entire business, occasioned by his brother's 
death. He at once entered upon his increased responsibilities with still 
grander schemes of enlargeniunt and improvement, which he has fully 
carried out within the last few years. He has completed one of the largest 
brewery and malt-houses to be found in the United States. An idea of 
this|immcnse structure may be gained when we state (hat it is six stories 
high, with a French roof, and extends nearly one- eighth of a mile in 
length. It includes a malt-house, large elevator, brewery, storage, and 
shipping departments, and elegant office. The capacity of the malting 
department is sufficient for converting into malt about three hundred 
thousand bushels of barley iluring the malting season, and not less than 
five thousand barrels of ale atiii porter are continuall}' in the vaults. Mr. 
Greenway is perfectly unselfish in his efl'orts to establish a large and 
profitable business. At all times he has exhibited a determination to make 
those laboring with him participate in its increase and profits. Whenever 
be could better the circumstances of any man Ity increased pay, he has 
been mindful to do it; and has succeeded in many ways in giving his 
workmen advantages not enjoyed in other establishments. 

While Mr. Greenway has been prosperous iu business, he has not 
been unmindful of the needy, and of any and all interests of his city and 
county requiring a helping hand. His liberal spirit and actions wore 
most notably shown on New Yt-ar's Day. 1870. by a great barbecue which 
he gave to the poor of Syracuse- and the country around. It is said that 
forty thousand persons were present, and that ten thousand wore fed. 
As a fitting crown to the feast, two thousand four hundred pounds of plum 
pudding were distributed for dessert. 

The pudding was brought on the ground in sleighs decorated with ever- 
greens and flags, and having on the aides, in large letters, the words 
"Happy New Year." At the close of the barbecue a large, uncooked ox 
was cut up. and, with supplies of bread, was distributed to the poor 
widows and orphans of the city. In the winter of 1877, Mr. Greenway 
opened a soup house for the benefit uf the poor of (he city, and in this 
way he shared with the needy the munificence of his hospitality. 

Mr. Greenway is a man of plain appearance, — an honest, humble-minded 
person, of practical views in regard to all things. His face bespeaks his 
encro-y of character and goodness of heart. He has the same frank and 
genial manners and address with all persons, and couscquontiy enjoys the 
widest popularity. Hospitable and sociable in his home circle, he goes 
abroad with a cheerfulness and goodness that arc inseparable from his 

nature. , , i * e- 

In the year 1848, Fob. 18, he married Miss Nancy Ann, daughter of 
Ephraim Hull, of Syracuse, by whom he has had four sons and two 
daughters, now living, Gertrude, George, John, William, Thomas, and 
Annie Laurie. 




V 




HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



219 



and that of the Oliver Plow Factory at South Bend, 
Indiana, the largest chilled plow establishment in 
the world, showing that while the chilling process 
of the Oliver works requires twenty-five hours, the 
method adopted by the Syracuse Chilled Plow 
Company completes it in a very few minutes. The 
iron thus chilled is crystalized for about two-thirds 
of its thickness, leaving an iron basis as a matter 
of strength and durability. The appearance of the 
crystalized surface is as if the metal was made up 
of an infinite number of needles, and the superiority 
of the chilled iron over steel is in the fact that 
the wear upon the metal is across the point-like 
crystalizations instead of lengthwise of the metal. It 
has been observed that this chilling process changes 
the polarity of the metal, or in other words, the 
course of the magnetic current ; for applying the 
magnet to the chilled side the needles will point to 
the south, and vice versa when applied to the other 
side. This is a curious problem for the scientist 
to solve. 

Greenway's Brewery is one of the sights of 
Syracuse. It occupies a peculiarly commanding 
and central position in the heart of the city and 
fronting the passenger tracks of the New York 
Central Railway. An immense parallelogram, it 
stretches away a distance of nearly one-eighth of a 
mile. Nor is it simply a pile of brick and mortar 
without shape or comeliness : on the contrary, in 
an architectural point of view, it deserves to rank 
with the finest in the city. Its proportions are sim- 
ply superb, and the mansard roof and tower that 
crown the edifice give it a light, graceful appear- 
ance. In its general aspect, architecturally con- 
sidered, it is unlike any other building devoted to 
like purposes in the country, and its immense cost 
— ^500,000 — shows how complete it must be in all 
its appointments. It is fitted out with all the com- 
plete paraphernalia of a modern brewery, including 
malt house, elevators, ice houses and cellars of the 
most approved construction. 

The malt house consists of twelve floors, each 
106 by 65 feet, in which is annually made 200,000 
bushels of malt, and the coal consumed for malting 
purposes amounts to 800 tons yearly. The gran- 
eries consist of three floors, with storage capacity 
for 200,000 bushels of grain. The hop room is 65 
by 45. feet, and the yearly consumption of hops is 
about 200,000 pounds. The boiling tub will hold 
over 400 bushels at one time. The boiling is done 
by steam, requiring 1,200 tons of coal each year, 
making the total amount of coal consumed per 
annum over 2,000 tons. The coal bunkers have a 
storage capacity of 500 tons. 



These few figures give some idea of the magni- 
tude of the business, to which must be added the 
fact that Mr. Greenway owns 50,000 ale casks and 
25,000 lager beer casks ; his cellars, which are im- 
mense in extent, have a storage capacity for 30,000 
casks of ale and lager. Such statements seem 
like extravagance, or the baseless fabric of a dream, 
but they are solid, indisputable facts. Perfect sys- 
tem and order mark all the operations of this mam- 
moth establishment and the men employed are all 
experienced in their several branches of work. 

The Ale and Lager Beer Breweries are connected 
by a tunnel which runs under the Erie Canal. 
The casks are made in Mr. Greenway's own shops, 
which are connected with the brewing establish- 
ment, as are also carpenter's, tinner's, copper- 
smith's, blacksmith's and harness-maker's shops. 
Mr. Greenway employs and has constantly in use 
from 70 to 80 horses. 

Mr. Greenway is ably assisted in the conduct of 
his immense establishment by his financial manager, 
Samuel W. Sherlock, who has filled many positions 
of responsibility and trust in the city for the past 
twenty-five years ; also George H. Greenway, his 
elder son, and John Greenway, Jr., who holds the 
position of cashier, and also William N. Greenway, 
assistant brewer. His younger son Thomas has 
charge of his model farm. 

Onondaga Pottery Company — The works of 
this company are located in Geddes, where an ex- 
periment of manufacturing fine Ironstone China had 
been carried on about two or three years before the 
present joint stock company was organized in July, 
1 87 1 . Hitherto the American market for this class 
of goods had been supplied wholly from England, 
and it was not supposed that such goods could be 
manufactured in this country. But the country 
abounded in the best kind of material, and a knowl- 
edge of the art, enterprise, and skilled labor were 
only required to produce a variety of goods that 
should fairly compete with, and even rival, the 
famous Staffordshire wares of England. Such 
knowledge, enterprise, and skilled labor have been 
organized by the Onondaga Pottery Company, and 
are now in successful operation, producing every 
variety of both plain and decorated table and toilet 
ware. 

Certain specimens of the pottery made at these 
works were sent to Staffordshire for examination 
in 1875. The Times of that city reported upon 
them as follows : " This week we have been called 
to view a few pottery specimens from America, and 
are able impartially to say that they are as fine a 
sample of granite ware as most that is produced in 



Tl 



220 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Staffordshire. The body evinced greater potting 
skill, and the tint or stain much care and knowl- 
edge of the art. If anything, the American pro- 
duction is a shade lighter than the ware of the 
same character in this country, but this is a matter 
of taste, and has no reference to art only in quality. 
Our first impression on viewing the samples was 
that they were StafTordshire ware, and we were 
certainly much surprised when informed to the con- 
trary." 

The company at Geddes are running four kilns, 
including one decorating and one calcining kiln. 
The quantity of coal consumed is about 1,200 tons 
a year ; tlint and feldspar, 250 tons ; kaolin, 250 
tons ; Ball and Sagger clay, from 400 to 500 tons ; 
besides large quantities of other materials. About 
75 hands are employed, and the sales amount to 
$70,000 per annum. The kaolin used is found 
mostly in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Missouri and 
South Carolina. The flint, feldspar, &c., are found 
in Maine, Connecticut and New York, large quanti- 
ties of the former being brought from Whitehall, 
Washington county. This is an enterprise of great 
importance, for it gives a value to otherwise worth- 
less ledges of rocks and strata of clay, developing 
and utilizing the resources of the earth, enlarging 
home industry, and supplying the American market 
with American manufactured goods. There can 
be no doubt but the time will soon come when the 
people of this country will be entirely independent 
of England for their fine granite table and toilet 
wares. 

The following are the Directors and oflScers of 
the company : N. S. Gere, C. E. Hubbell, M. P. 
Pharis, C. D. Avery, D. A. Moore, Stephen Hunt, 
R. N. Gere, G. W. Draper, G. A. Cool, Directors. 
N. S. Gere, President ; Charles E. Hubbell, Vice- 
President ; George W. Oliver, General Manager. 
Mr. Oliver has active charge of the works, and their 
successful operation is largely due to his excellent 
management. 

Porter Manufacturing Company, Limited, is 
the style of a firm doing a large business in cast- 
ings and machinery. Their foundry and machine 
shops are situated on Salina street in the First 
Ward of the city. Originally a foundry was started 
here by Messrs. Burr liurton and T. R. Porter in 
18—, who made castings chiefly for the salt works. 
The style of the firm was at first Burton & Porter ; 
then it became Porter & Luther, Mr. John M. Lu- 
ther acquiring an interest in the business ; subse- 
quently, by the association of T. R. and George A. 
Porter, it became Porter & Co., which it remained 
till January i, 1877, when the present stock com- 



pany was formed. The oflScers of the Company 
are : R. B White, President ; R. Townsend, Vice- 
President ; G. A. Porter, Treasurer, and D. H. 
Gowing, Secretary. The Company are largely en- 
gaged in the manufacture of steam engines, boilers, 
cotton presses, steam pumps, salt kettles, grates, all 
kinds of castings for salt blocks, and everything in 
the line of castings and mill machinery, together 
with the " Economizer Portable Engine," which is 
one of their specialties in trade. The shops and 
store-rooms of these works cover about half a block, 
and seventy men are employed in the business. 

The Onondaga Iron Company. — The immense 
works and blast furnaces of this company are located 
in the town of Geddes, and are conveniently situated 
for handling their coal, iron and ore <m the Erie 
Canal and the New York Central and Oswego 
railroads. The corner stone of their works was 
laid in 1869, at which date the company was in- 
corporated with a capital of $150,000, which has 
since been increased to $300,000. The officers of 
this company are: J. J. Belden, President ; R. N. 
Gere, Vice-President ; and W. H. H. Gere, Secre- 
tary and Treasurer. The company own sixty acres 
of land, and their works cover about ten acres. 

The Svkacl'se Iron Works. — Another mam- 
moth establishment located also in Geddes, just 
outside of the city limits, is the Syracuse Iron 
Works, covering several acres of ground and pre- 
senting an imposing appearance to travelers pass- 
ing in and out of the city. This company began 
on a small scale in 1861, at which date it was in- 
corporated with a capital of $30,000, and since then 
has gone on rapidly increasing till its present 
nominal capital is $200,000. They manufacture 
from pig and a small amount of scrap iron from 
eight to ten thousand tons of metal annually of over 
two hundred difl'erent sizes, and of one quality, (the 
best I comprising merchant bar iron, horseshoe and 
rivet iron, brazier and wire rods, band and hoop 
iron, also fish joint and bridge bolts, railroad spikes, 
toe-calks, tire and cutter-shoe steel, &c. The 
company control a very large local trade, with a 
general market extending from Boston to Chicago, 
competing strongly and profitably with the Pitts- 
burg manufacturers. This establishment gives 
employment night and day to about two hundred 
hands. 

The officers of the company are: R. N. Gere, 
President, and C. E. Hubbell, Secretary and Treas- 
urer. Mr. Gere resides in the village of Geddes, 
with the interest of which he has always been 
identified. He is a large owner of real estate both 
in Geddes and Syracuse, a manufacturer of fine and 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



221 



coarse salt, President of the Merchants' National 
Bank of Syracuse, and an enterprising and influ- 
ential citizen. The interests of Syracuse and Ged- 
des, however, are identical, and in the course of 
events will undoubtedly be included in one corpora- 
tion. 

DuGUiD, Wells & Co. — The Saddlery and Coach 
Hardware interest of Syracuse is among its leading 
branches of trade, and is represented by the firm of 
Duguid, Wells & Co., Nos. 31 and 33 West Water 
street. The house is an old established one, dating 
its origin back to 1845. In the years which have 
since elapsed, the business has been almost com- 
pletely revolutionized and has attained to an im- 
portance which may well challenge public atten- 
tion. 

Duguid, Wells & Co., are successors of the old 
firms of Pope & Dawson, and of E. S. Dawson & 
Co., the present firm style having been adopted in 
1868. The copartners in the present firm are H. 
L. Duguid, J. Emmet Wells, Gilbert W. Lyon and 
Frank Simmons. Their premises on West Water 
street present an appearance not easy to describe, 
on account of the extent and variety of the stock, 
which finds a market, about half in the State of New 
York, and the balance in nineteen other States and 
in Canada. Every year shows an increase, which 
is a substantial testimony to the worth of the house. 
In horse-blankets and lap-robes the stock of this 
house is simply immense, their sales in this specialty 
amounting in one year to over si.\ty thousand dol- 
lars. 

The firm are extensive manufacturers as well as 
dealers. On East Water street they have a com- 
pletely equipped factory, Nos. 134, 136 and 138 — a 
large brick structure devoted exclusively to the 
manufacture of saddlery hardware of all kinds, and 
which gives employment to from fifty to seventy- 
five hands. Gig saddles and coach pads are a spe- 
cial branch of their business ; also carriage hard- 
ware and trimmings, including axles, springs, hubs, 
spokes, and all kinds of bent wood work, as well as 
cloths, plushes, and enameled and patent leathers. 

Mr. Duguid has been connected with the busi- 
ness since 1858, and is one of the best known busi- 
ness men of the city. The members of the firm 
all give their personal attention to the business, and 
the enterprise which has been manifested by the 
house is creditable alike to themselves and to the 
city. 

Frazer, Burns & Jones. — The late firm of Frazer 
& Burns, founded in 1853, consisted of the late 
Kasson Frazer, a native of this county, and Peter 
Burns, who became a resident of the then village of 



Syracuse in 1836. These gentlemen were trained 
from youth to the saddlery business, which they fol- 
lowed as mechanics until about 1845, when they be- 
came identified with C. Pope & Co. in the saddlery 
hardware business here, Mr. Frazer in the depart- 
ment of manufacture, and Mr. Burns as general 
clerk. 

At this time the manufacture and introduction of 
American saddlery hardware in this country was 
comparatively new. After eight years of practical 
experience in their respective departments, these 
gentlemen became identified in business, which in- 
terest has continued during the past twenty-five 
years. From comparatively small beginnings, this 
business, during the past eighteen years, has em- 
ployed an average of one hundred and eighty per- 
sons annually. Its sales — which are exclusively 
wholesale — mostly made in distant parts of the 
country, were confined to articles of their own 
manufacture. 

This successful business has now passed into the 
hands of a new combination, under the style of 
Frazer, Burns & Jones, with additional facilities 
and an increasing trade. 

Jacob Brown & Co. — Another branch of the 
saddlery and coach hardware business of this city, 
was established in 1870, the partners being Jacob 
Brown and the late Kasson Frazer. Since the 
death of Mr. Frazer, his estate has remained the 
Company of the firm, so that the style continues 
unchanged, while the active management devolves 
upon Mr. Brown, who has been a resident of the 
city of Syracuse since boyhood. 

A. C. Chase, Pianos and Musical Instru- 
ments. — In addition to manufacturing pianos, or- 
gans and melodeons, Mr. Chase deals in instru- 
ments made by other parties. Having learned the 
trade of piano making in Boston, he came to Syra- 
cuse in 1855 and soon after commenced business as 
a musical instrument dealer. Beginning in a small 
way, his headquarters were located first on the 
corner of Salina and Fayette streets, whence he re- 
moved to the Washington Block and commenced 
the manufacture of pianos, organs and melodeons. 
Subsequently, to meet the demands of business, he 
built the block on Clinton street, which was occu- 
pied till 1876, when his new factory and salesrooms 
fronting on Clinton street, between Jefferson and 
Onondaga, and with entrance both from Clinton 
and Salina streets, was erected. This new building 
is a four-story brick structure 50 by 70 feet, and of 
sufiScient dimensions to bring his entire business 
under one roof, aftbrding to the different depart- 
ments of the trade such space as is necessary. Mr. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Chase, by his energy and perseverance, has made 
his business a success, although he has had every- 
thing in the way of musical instruments to com- 
pete with, showing that manufactures of any de- 
scription can as well be established and sustained 
in Syracuse as in any other city in ^he United 
States In 1875 Mr. Chase was appointed Post- 
master of this city, which position he now fills. 

Gray Bkotheks. — This firm, which has justly 
acquired a wide reputation in the manufacture of 
Ladies' and Misses' Fine Shoes, was organized at 
Little Falls, N. Y., where the brothers, Harrison 
H. and John D. Gray, had served a long apprentice- 
ship to the business in their father's manufactory 
and had established and carried on one of their 
own for some time. Heing ambitious to e.xcel in 
this branch of manufacture and to secure greater 
advantages for the future than their limited sur- 
roundings aflforded, they transferred their business 
to Syracuse in 1866, and established their head- 
quarters in the Kimber Block. They had in view 
from the first the building up of an enterprise that 
should be national in its character, and, in order to 
secure this, had to work slowly, for trade was the 
first requisite to the accomplishment of their object. 
Remaining in the Kimber Block for two years, re- 
moval was then made to the Evcrson Block, which 
answered only a temporary purpose ; for their grow- 
ing business required more ample accommodations, 
where the improvements suggested by experience 
and observation could be more fully applied. This 
led to the erection of their present factory on the 
corner of Franklin and Walton streets in the fall of 
1872. It is a substantial four-story brick block, 
forty by one hundred feet, and admirably adapted 
to the necessities of the busines.s, having been built 
expressly to meet its requirements. The building 
is heated by steam throughout and is furnished with 
all the best modern appliances for comfort, conveni- 
ence and facility for carrying on the extensive busi- 
ness for which it is designed. Everything through- 
out the building, from basement to fourth floor, is 
thoroughly systematized, and the whole moves on 
like a single piece of machinery. In the basement 
is stored the sole leather and other coarser goods, 
and here the soles are also cut by machinery. On 
the first floor arc the offices and shipping rooms, 
and here are stored quantities of manufactured 
goods. The second floor is devoted to bottoming 
ladies', misses' and children's shoes. The third 
floor is used for the cutting and preparing of uppers 
for the fourth floor where the work is put together 
and fitted. On the fourth floor arc fifty improved 
sewing machines and six to eight latest improved 



button-hole machines constantly in use. These 
various floors are connected with the office by 
speaking tubes and by a steam elevator ; the 
machinery also throughout the building being pro- 
pelled by steam. 

The Gray Brothers have heretofore devoted a 
share of their eflbrts to the manufacture of men's 
boots and shoes, but their plan for the future con- 
templates the discontinuance of this branch. 
They are putting in a new and improved line of 
machinery, embracing the McKay Heeling Ma- 
chines, the Tripp Beating-Out Machines, and the 
Union Edge-Setting Machines, which, with other 
improved machinery, will give a capacity of from 
600 to 800 pairs of Ladies' and Misses' Fine Ma- 
chine Sewed Shoes per day, and will employ a force 
of from 250 to 350 hands. The cost of building 
and machinery was about §50,000. 

Alfred Underhill & Co. — In January, 1873, 
Mr. Underbill began to manufacture Infant's Soft 
Sole Shoes on a small scale in a room 20 by 40 on 
Fayette street, and turned out 25 pairs a day. The 
firm now occupy two floors in the Baum Block, 
with a capacity for making 500 pairs of shoes and 
slippers daily and have added a line of children's hard 
soled shoes and of ladies' black dress slippers and 
button walking shoes. The gross amount of their 
manufacture for the first year was §6,000 ; the ag- 
gregate for the past year foots up $30,000. The 
trade has steadily increased till sales are now made 
in nearly every part of the United States and 
Canada. 

One of the peculiarities of this establishment is 
that the work is nearly all done by women and girls, 
there being from 30 to 45 employed in the business, 
and only two men in the establishment. 

The book-keeper, and one of the partners. Miss 
Sarah Nutting, has full charge of the books, con- 
taining the names of over 1,200 customers, and at- 
tends to all the correspondence. She has been con- 
nected with the business from the beginning. 

The Cutting Department is overseen entirely 
by Willie Underhill, who is also a member of the 
firm. 

H. O. Pratt, Wholesale Manufacturer of Men's 
and Boys' Boots and Shoes. Mr. Pratt is a native 
of Massachusetts, having come to this city in 1868. 
He established a manufactory of boots and shoes 
at No. 93 South Salina street, which he carried on 
for about three years, when he moved to the new 
block, Nos. 5 and 7 East Jefferson street, and re- 
mained there four years. While located at the last 
named place, Mr. James R. Barrett became a part- 
ner, the firm being known as H. O. Pratt & Barrett. 




Photo. l>y Boiita H t'urtiss, Syracuse. 



The subject of this sketch was born in Sauquoit, Oneida Co., 
N. Y., September 19, 1814. He was the fifth child of a family 
of eight children of Dr. Spaulding Pierce and Abigail Bacon, 
the former a native of Plainfield, Windham Co., Conn., the latter 
a native of Dedham, Mass. 

His father, although a practicing physician, carried on a farm, 
on which the subject of this memoir worked summers, attending 
school wintere, until he was twelve years of age, at which time 
his father died. 

Sylvester went to Utica, his native town, for another year. 
From there he went to Rome and, acted as clerk for Jay 
Hathaway, where he remained for two years. He "afterwards 
spent some three years as clerk in Utica, with Theodore S. 
Gould, and took charge of the sale of a stock of goods in 
Oswego for Mr. Curtis, where he remained over a year. 

This experience in business with different and successfiil 
business men gave him a desire to go into trade for himself, 
and cultivated also his natural business capacity. In the }'ear 
1839 he came to the city of Syracuse, then a village, and opened 
a crockery-store in partnership with Ransom Curtis, and in the 
beginning made importations direct from P]ngland. Their 
trade rapidly increased as the village and surrounding country 
increased in its demands. After some four years, Mr. Curtis 
went out of the concern, since which time, with the excep- 
tion of a few years, Mr. Pierce has been in business alone. 

From the first, on coming to Syracuse, he has carried on the 
wholesaling of his goods, which reached out until now they find 



their way into nearly all the counties of the State, and his im. 
portations are from Germany, Holland, France, and England 
direct. His economical management of his small means, accu- 
mulated while a clerk, has increased, until he ranks not only 
among the successful business men of his city, but among the 
strong financial men of his county. 

His close attention to business, and integrity of purpose in 
dealing, has won for him the high esteem of his fellow-men, 
and is only another example of the result of well-directed efi'ort 
and ambition, with a will to succeed. 

In politics he was first identified with the Whig party, but 
upon the formation of the Republican party became an ardent 
supporter of its principles. Has never sought political ofiices, 
nor shrank from bearing public burdens when placed upon him. 
Was supervisor of his ward (sixth) for two terms. 

In the year 1841 he married Miss Cornelia M., daughter 
of Elisha Marsh and Lovina Wiard, of Onondaga Hill. Her 
grandfather came with his family from Coleraine, Mass., about 
the year 1800, and became one of the pioneer settlers of this 
county. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have been born four children, — 
Marsh C, Charles H., William K., and Emma C. 

Mr. Pierce is a liberal supporter of church interests ; has been 
for many years vestryman of St. Paul's church of the city, and, 
with his wife, are warmly attached as members of the same 
to not only its interests, but are ready supporters of all enter- 
prises looking to the building up of good society. 




1 



Pkolo. I>y ILiita A I'lirtlia, SyrmcUM. 



The mibjcpt of this sketch was brirn in Niwton, Mats., Nov. 7, 
1793. llii viHs tlie cl<lo.-t chil.l, in ft fiiinily of live children, of Ben- 
jamin ('i"ik, iKJrn Feb. 2t!, nt'iT, in I'liinhriilni-, Mass., niiil Ann 
.Ml Ncftl HiMi(;«, of Nowton, Mil**. His KmiHlfulher, Henjimiin 

Cook, Willi l).>rn in 17r.', in Cambridge, an>l his u'ruiid llier, 

Lvdia Hammond, wa« born in Newton, Mnss., in K'lii. 

When William was thirteen years old he came to Che-iterlield, 
Cho-hire Co., N. U., with his pnrenU, and in IHIS moved with 

ihem to Onondaga County, and settled at <> idaga Hill. 

. On Oct. ft, 1810, he married Miss Harriet Byron, daughter of 
Gon. John Klli.« ami Suhmil OKU, cnrly settlors of this county, 
and among the most prominent families of the county. 

The next year after his marriage ho entered into the mercantile 
business in Camilliis, fniin which place he soon removed t" Onon- 
daga Hill. ThiTi- he was apjMiiiiteil under-sherilV by the late Dr. 
Hezukiab (Jrangor, of .Manlius, which oftlce ho held, iimbr various 
shorifls, for llfteen years. 

In the year 1817 ho was appointed brigade inspector, under Gen. 
John Kills, in the Stale militia, and continued in that oflice for 
some nineteen years ; and it is said of him that, as an ofDcer, " his 
fine proportions of body, \\\> gontlnmanly bearing among the sol- 
diers on miliUiry ilays, when in his full dress uniform, mounted 
on his gallant iloed, inspired every cmo with confldenee, pride, 
and delight." 

In May, 1836, he came to Syracuse, where he has filled .«cvcral 
oltlces of trust, and in 184fi was appointed police justice, the duties 
of which office ho faithfully discharged until nearly tho time of 
his death, Nov. 128, 1848. 

Major Cook was dopiity-supcrinlondcnl of the Salt Springs of 
Syracusi^ for many years. A special characteristic of him was 
his temperance priH-livitics, being an ardent promoter of that in- 
terest wherever he was, and closely identitlcd with the Sons of 
Temperance society of Syracuse. Major Cook was for more than 
twenty years a member of the vestry of tho Episcopal society, 
first on the Hill, and subsoiuently In Syracuse. For eight years 
lie was a vestryman of Zion church, Onondaga, and for about 



twelve years a senior warden of St. Paul's church, of Syracuse. 
In the latter office ho was associated with the lato Jonas Karll, Jr., 
Henry Kaston, and Amos 1'. Granger. 

At the time of his decease, the common council of the city pre- 
sented his widow with a deed for a lot in Hose Hill cemetery, to 
bury her husband's remains, rather than he should lie taken to tho 
family (Ellis) burying-ground at Onondaga Hill, and in ai'cord- 

ance with llii' wishes of the | pie his remains were inlerri-d at 

Kose Hill. 

To Major and Mrs. Cook were born four children, — Charles 
Augustus (deceased), Harriot Marnnda (died in infancy), Wil- 
liam Edgar (died at the age of seventeen years), and Laura K., 
wife of the late E. J. Foster, of Syracuse, but formerly of Beverly, 
Mass. They have oni' daughter, Kate Lovclt Fibster. 

.Mr. Edward J. Foster was born in Beverly, Mass., in 1817. 
When a child ho removed with his parents to Syracuse, where 
thev lived a few years, and then returned to their former home. 
When fourteen years of age ho returned to Syracuse, where he 
lived until his death. Mr. Foster wa-s an honest, upright man, 
who.se whole life, embellished as it was with manly, unostentatious 
deeds, and ailorned with noble qualities of heart and mind, is 
worthy the hinting remrmbranci> and the emulation of his fellow- 
men. 

Mrs. Cook died at the ago of seventy-seven years. Her declin- 
ing venrs were made happy by the kindness of her devoted 
daughter, Mrs. Foster, and the ministrations of countless friends. 
Being born in tho town of Onondaga, she was tho oldest living 
n'sident of that town. She camo to Syracuse to live forty years 
previous to her death, and was liest known among the older resi- 
dents of the town. She was a general favorite, and her intelli- 
gence, culture, and vivacity made her a most charming companion. 
She was the oldest re.«ident member of St. I'auls church at tho 
time of her ileath, and a constant attendant. She was possessed 
of remarkable vitality, and did not cease in her charitable minis- 
trations until disease incapacitJiled her from further work. Her 
life was one of labor more for others than for herself. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



223 



Mr. Pratt sold his interest to Mr. Barrett in the 
winter of 1875, and immediately established him- 
self in his present location, No. 38 West 
Railroad street, where he conducts his busi- 
ness, occupying two stories of that number. He 
employs, on an average, 45 hands in the manufac- 
ture of his goods, which are sold principally in the 
State of New York, and also in Pennsylvania, Ohio, 
Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota. The production 
of his factory is about fifty pairs of men's first- 
class, hand-sewed and pegged boots and shoes per 
day, aggregating in value about ;^40,ooo a year. 

Wilson & Blye. — This firm, composed of Newell 
W. Wilson and Alphonso W. Blye, commenced in 
the spring of 1872 the manufacture of an Oil Tank 
for use principally in stores and manufacturing es- 
tablishments. At first they manufactured what is 
known as the Winchell Oil Can, working the same 
under a royalty contract from the patentee. Later 
they improved upon this tank and secured patents 
of their own under which they are now and 
have been for some two years making a tank which 
they name " The Perfection." Early in the year 
1873, this firm established an office in New York 
City and goods of their manufacture are now well 
known and sought after in every State of the Union. 
The business has increased from the beginning, when 
they made them only as sales were effected and to 
a limited amount, to the present production of 
nearly 300 a month. They have also taken hold of 
and introduced several new and useful specialties 
such as a Tobacco Safe, Flour Safe and a Fish 
and Bait Pail, all of which are meeting with appro- 
bation. 

Recently they accepted the agency for the coun- 
ties of Cortland and Onondaga, for the sale of the 
Corinthian Monuments, cast from pure zinc, which, 
as they become more and more known, must largely 
supercede marble and granite, being much more 
durable than either, and having the advantage over 
them in that they can be more highly ornamented 
and more beautifully finished than either, and re- 
tain for all time their color and beauty. 

E. L. Walrath & Co , Manufacturers of Gold 
Pens, No. 3 Granger Block. In 1852, E. L. Walrath 
& Co , purchased the interest and good will of their 
predecessors in this line of business in Syracuse, 
Messrs. Benedict & Barney. Mr. Walrath has labored 
and experimented for several years to produce a gold 
pen characterized by the same flexibility and action as 
the quill, and has brought out the result of his 
thought and experiments in his famous quill-spring 
pen, which is acknowledged by those familiar with 
its use to be a very superior article. Pens of this 



peculiar construction, pointed with iridium (the 
heaviest and most durable metal known) may be 
used with pleasure and satisfaction by the penman 
during a lifetime. There is no such thing as wear- 
ing the point further than a smooth surface, and 
the peculiar flexibility imparted by Mr. Walrath to 
his pens render them very desirable both for ease 
of writing and durability. Messrs. Walrath & Co. 
are the only manufacturers of pens in the county of 
Onondaga. 

John Q. Smith, Manufacturer of Galvanized 
Iron Cornice, and manufacturer and wholesale 
dealer in Tinware, Nos. 55 and 57 S. Clinton street. 
The business of Mr. Smith was established in its 
present locality in 1874 ; it amounts to $100,000 a 
year, the capital employed in active business being 
$25,000. Employment is given to 50 hands. 

William Malcolm, Rifle Telescope Manufac- 
turer. Mr. Malcolm is a son of one of the early set- 
tlers, Wm. Malcolm, who came to Syracuse in 1824, 
and was 20 years connected with the hardware 
business. William, Jr., was born in the town of 
Sullivan, Madison county, Oct. 13, 1823. He began 
the peculiar branch of scientific mechanism in 
which he has attained so rare an excellence — the 
manufacture of rifle telescopes — in 1855, and now 
supplies the leading gun dealers in Boston, New 
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and has sent 
them indirectly to China, Japan, Siberia, Spain, 
Egypt, and India. Only a limited quantity of these 
superior instruments can be made, as all the work 
has to be done by Mr. Malcolm individually. His 
telescopes are used to some extent in the United 
States army, by Col. BuUis, of Texas, Lieut. W. L. 
Carpenter, of Red Cloud, Neb., and in Gen. Wood's 
Battery, Capt. P. Birchmeyer, Syracuse, N. Y. 

To the astonishment of many scientific men, Mr. 
Malcolm produces in his small telescopes of the 
diameter of only one-half inch, the power and field 
of large field telescopes. Objects such as small 
birds, the robin, for instance, can be seen at two 
miles distance ; and, incredible as it may seem, with 
these half-inch glasses the field is large enough to 
take in four full moons in a parallel line ; at 15 rods, 
10 feet is embraced in the field, and at 40 rods, 
about 27 feet. These telescopes are used by Rocky 
Mountain hunters, who claim a greater degree of 
accuracy in sighting the rifle in dark woods than 
can be attained by any other known sight, as the 
concentration of light by means of an intermediate 
lens (first brought into use by Mr. Malcolm in this 
instrument) is so intense and bright that the diffi- 
culty of sighting in the dark, shadowy retreats of 
the forests is entirely overcome. 



224 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Syracuse Makble and Granite Works.— 
Francis & Dufty, Nos. 17, 19 and 21 West Onon- 
daga street. Among the many successful business 
houses of Syracuse, should be mentioned the pros- 
perous firm whose name appears above. 

There is perhaps no manufacturing interest that 
shows a greater degree of development of late years, 
than that of which this enterprise is a representa- 
tive. Closely allied to the highest type of art, and 
calling for the employment of talent in designing 
and executing, the marble works of our large cities 
to-day have become studios, instead of mere work- 
shops. The Syracuse Marble and Granite Works 
have had a busy career, extending over a period of 
nearly fifteen years. 

They were originally established by the late Geo. 
W. M. Lewis of Utica, in 1865, and who is favor- 
ably remembered by many of our citizens. In 
January, 1867, Messrs. Francis & DufTy succeeded 
to the business, and in 186S they purchased the 
marble works of Robert Spaulding, long and favor- 
ably known in this community. This firm con- 
tinued the manufactories separately for four years ; 
then enlarging their premises, they consolidated 
the two establishments in one, at Nos. 17, 19 and 
21 West Onondaga street. 

During this time the business has been very 
much developed. A demand has been created for 
finer grades of work. The firm commenced their 
first importation of Scotch Granite ten years ago, 
and were the first to introduce it in this vicinity. 
Since then they have imported largely, and have 
brought to the notice of the people, such beautiful 



and enduring granites as the light and dark 
" shap " from Westmoreland, England, and of 
American, the beautifully mottled granites from 
Clark's Island, Maine, as well as the Westerly, 
Quincy, Fo.x Island and many others. 

The proprietors of the Syracuse Marble and 
Granite Works are young men who believe that en- 
ergetic action and prompt attention to business can 
not fail of achieving abundant success. Their 
works, as seen in Oakwood and other principal 
cemeteries of Central New York, show not only the 
beauty of materials and workmanship, but that as 
designers they exhibit rare originality. 

H. Stanton, Novelty Match Works, East 
Water street — Established at Richfield Springs, 
Otsego county in 1852 ; removed to Syracuse in 
1864, in which year the present factory was erected. 
The premises, building and machinery are valued 
at ^8,000. The capacity of the works is equal to 
the production of 150 gross of matches daily, 
which find a market in six different Northern 
States. The number of hands employed in the 
whole establishment, including box-making, is about 
40 ; the revenue stamps used amount to $40,000 a 
year. Mr. Stanton began on a small scale, produc- 
ing at first about 10 gross per day. H. Stanton, 
Jr., has the management and superintendence of 
the works. 

JuDSON & Ryder, Excelsior Match Com- 
pany. — Building erected December, 1874 ; manu- 
facturing commenced March 25, 1875. Works 
have capacity for making from 140 to 160 gross of 
matches per day. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



JOHN CROUSE. 

John Crouse was born at Mindenville, Montgom- 
ery County, New York, on the fourth day of June, 
1802. His father, Jacob Crouse, was born in Mont- 
gomery County in 1769. He was descended from 
German ancestry, his grandfather, George Crouse, 
having been born in Palatine, Sa.xony, in 1740. 
While a young man he came to America to seek his 
fortune and settled in Montgomery County. His 
son Jacob Crouse, had a family of twelve cijildren, 
one of whom was John Crouse, the subject of this 
biography. Jacob Crouse was a farmer, and his son 
John in his early life was brought up to assist his 



father in the care and management of the farm. 
He received his early education at the district school, 
whose advantages in those days were exceedingly 
limited. Never, however, was the saying that "e.x- 
perience is the best teacher," better illustrated than 
in the life of John Crouse. Every man is the archi- 
tect of his own fortune and controls in a measure 
his destiny. Upon the foundation of his district 
school education, guided by the principles that were 
early instilled in his mind, he reared the superstruct- 
ure of his successful and honorable business career. 
At the age of seventeen he engaged as clerk and 
passed the next five years of his life in that capacity, 
in Schoharie County and in the city of Albany. At 





vwv/nnwy 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



225 



the end of that period, he engaged in business for 
himself in Canastota, N. Y., forming a partnership 
first with a man named Hawley. The partner- 
ship continued one year when Mr. Crouse entered 
into partnership with his brother, Daniel Crouse. 
For twenty-eight years, with uninterrupted pros- 
perity, they carried on a general merchandise busi- 
ness in Canastota. In 1853 the partnership be- 
tween them was dissolved, and John Crouse, with a 
younger brother, James, came to Syracuse and es- 
tablished a wholesale grocery house under the firm 
name of J. & J. Crouse. Previous to moving to 
Syracuse, Mr. Crouse had been for several years 
largely interested in banking in that city. He was 
one of the originators of the City Bank, and its 
Vice-President for several years, controlling its stock 
to a large e.xtent. Disposing of his interest in that 
bank, he, with his brothers, James and Daniel, and 
others associated with them, established the "Crouse 
Bank," the Crouse interest controlling the stock. 
The Crouse brothers held their controlling interest 
for four or five years, when they disposed of it. 

Mr. Crouse was one of the first directors of the 
First National Bank of Syracuse, and has been its 
Vice-President since its organization. He is also 
a director of the Canastota National Bank, of Can- 
astota, N. Y. 

The wholesale grocery business, established upon 
coming to Syracuse, was carried on successfully for 
a few years when his son, John J., was admitted to 
a partnership in the business. Upon the death of 
James Crouse, Jacob Crouse, his nephew, became 
a member of the firm. The business of their house 
increased very rapidly, extending over a wide 
territory. In 1864, Jacob Crouse withdrew from 
the firm, Mr. Crouse having previously taken into 
partnership with him his second son, Daniel Edgar. 
At the time of writing this — 1878 — both of his 
sons are engaged in business with him, the firm 
name being John Crouse & Co. 

The history of the Crouse wholesale grocery 
house during the twenty-five years it has been in 
existence in Syracuse has been one of uninterrupted 
success. Its trade steadily increased from its 
foundation, and for many years it has been con- 
ceded a standing as one of the leading wholesale 
grocery houses in the State, transacting a business 
not exceeded by that of any concern outside of the 
city of New York. 

Mr. Crouse is recognized as one of the best busi- 
ness men in the city of Syracuse and, indeed, in 
the State. Possessed ot keen discrimination and 
judgment and sound, practical common sense, 
methodical in his business relations, and governed 
19* 



by indomitable energy and integrity of purpose, 
his business career has been a course of uninter- 
rupted success. As a financier he deservedly takes 
a high rank. He has never been active in politics 
nor solicitous of political advancement. Formerly 
a member of the Whig party, upon the formatiorv 
of the Republican party Mr. Crouse became a sup- 
porter of its principles, and has continued a member 
of that party. 

While Mr. Crouse has been blessed with an 
abundance of this world's goods, he has freely 
opened his purse to the wants of the needy 
and the charities of Syracuse. He liberally con- 
nected himself with the Syracuse University, and 
has been one of its trustees since its foundation. 
The Home, the House of the Good Shepherd, and 
the hospitals have also received substantial aid from 
him. 

His charities are always exercised in an unob- 
trusive manner. He was one of the originators and 
has been a trustee of Oakwood Cemetery since its 
organization. 

On the 16th day of June, 1831, he was united in 
marriage to Miss Catherine, daughter of Ansil 
White, of Whitestown, N. Y. For nearly fifty 
years she has been his faithful and honored com- 
panion in the voyage of life. 

At the time of writing this — 1878 — both Mr. and 
Mrs. Crouse are enjoying excellent health. They 
have two sons, previously mentioned in this sketch, 
John J. and Daniel Edgar Crouse. The former 
has occupied many important positions of political 
responsibility and financial trust. 

He has served successively as Alderman, School 
Commissioner and Mayor of Syracuse. 

He is President of the State Bank of Syracuse, 
and of the Trust and Deposit Company of Onondaga, 
and Trustee of the Onondaga County Savings 
Bank. 

Daniel Edgar, the second son, is a Director of the 
First National Bank of Syracuse, and also a Trustee 
of the Trust and Deposit Company of Onondaga. 
The life of John Crouse, briefly sketched above, 
is not filled with great events in the ordinary sense 
of the term, and yet his successful career furnishes 
abundant food for the reflecting mind. It serves to 
point a moral and furnish an example that all should 
try to emulate. 

Beginning life a poor boy with but few advan- 
tages, he has, by energy, perseverance and un- 
swerving integrity of purpose, attained the topmost 
pinnacle of business success. His success has not 
been achieved by doubtful means or questionable 
methods, but has been worked out and won by early 



226 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



struggles, by frugality and industrious perseverance, 
and by the rigid and unalterable practice of honest 
and honorable rules of business. For fifty-one 
consecutive years he has been actively engaged in 
business, and is still the head of his business firm. 
With faculties unimpaired, and a mind as bright 
and clear as in his younger days, his hand still 
directs the helm that guides his house successfully 
forward. 

The city or the State of New York can furnish 
few examples of this nature. 

His experience during his extended business 
career of over half a century has been a varied one. 
Fifty years ago he commenced his journeys to the 
city of New York to purchase goods, traveling by 
the packets on the canal and by steamers on the 
Hudson River. He has seen the country during 
those years develop from a wilderness, with here 
and there a hamlet or village, into prosperity. Cities 
and villages have sprung up and the great railways 
have encircled the country with a network of iron. 

The stage coach and packet boats of his early 
life, with their snail-like locomotion, have given 
place to the palace on wheels of the lightning ex- 
press, and still to-day, with the same energy, in- 
dustry and enjoyment, he makes his routine trips to 
the metropolis to purchase goods for his house, as 
he did fifty-one years ago. 



HON. PETER BURNS. 

The subject of this sketch was born in the city 
of Dublin, Ireland, July 3r, 1814. He was the 
only child of David and Mary [Dimpscy , Burns, both 
natives of Dublin. When Mr. Burns was five 
years of age his mother died, at about the age of 26 
years. In the spring of 1820, he immigrated with 
his father to America, on board a merchant vessel 
en route irom Dublin to New York. After a voyage 
of thirteen weeks the vessel was wrecked off Sandy 
Hook, but nearly all of the passengers were saved, 
being rescued by wreckers. After arriving at New 
York, where he remained a short time, he came 
with his father to the county of Delaware, to a 
place on the east branch of the Delaware river, 
where Mr. Burns was left with relatives and his 
father returned to New York and engaged in his 
previous business of brewing and distilling. His 
father remained in New York about five years and 
removed thence to the county of Ulster, where he 
remained until his death, which occurred about the 
year 1850. 

At the time of Peter's residence in Delaware 
county, the country in that section was new and 



comparatively unsettled, and afibrded very limited 
advantages for schooling. He lived most of the 
time with a French family and learned to speak 
the French language quite fluently. At the age 
of twelve years he went to the county of Ulster 
where his father was. and spent the next five years 
in a family of Hollanders, working on a farm and 
having very limited opportunities for education from 
books ; but he was schooled in habits of industry, 
economy, frugality and morality, and disciplined 
carefully in the doctrines of the Dutch Reformed 
Church. It was in this model family that the 
turning point in his life was reached, and from those 
five years' experience he dates the beginning of his 
future career. 

At the age of seventeen he entered as an ap- 
prentice to the saddle and harness maker's trade in 
Kingston, Ulster county, and remained there and 
at Woodstock until he was twenty-one years of 
age, when he went to New York to perfect his 
mechanical skill. He remained there two years 
and came to the village of Syracuse in 1836. 
After following his business as a journeyman till 
the spring of 1840, when, on account of impaired 
health, he made a tour of the Western States, return- 
ing to Syracuse the next autumn. Feeling the 
need of additional education, and unable physically 
to pursue his trade, he spent the following two 
years at Onondaga Academy, with a view of fitting 
himself for a teacher ; but after obtaining his 
diploma, he was induced to enter upon a clerkship 
in a saddlery hardware store in Syracuse, where he 
remained for five years. By his principle of living 
within his means and saving something besides, he 
had accumulated sufficient at this time to embark 
in trade for himsell", and accordingly opened a 
saddlery hardware store which he conducted till the 
year 1853, when he sold his stock and interest and 
began the manufacture of saddlery hardware stock 
in partnership with the late Kasson Frazer. This 
business was continued with increasing success 
until the death of Mr. Frazer in the year 1876. 
After one year Mr. Burns retired from the business 
leaving his son, Willis B. Hums, in full possession 
of his interest. During his active business life as a 
manufacturer his trade, from small beginnings, 
extended over most of the States of the Union, 
and was one of the leading manufactories of the 
United States. In politics Mr. Burns started in 
the Whig party ; afterwards he was identified with 
the anti-slavery party, and upon the formation of 
the Republican party became an ardent supporter 
of its principles. He has been connected with 
various offices of trust in the city, and served his 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK. 



227 



county in the State Legislature for two terms^ 
1871-72. He was Supervisor for the Sixth Ward 
in i859-'6o, and was several years Chairman of the 
Board of Inspectors of the Onondaga County 
Penitentiary. He was one of the first Police Com- 
missioners to organize the present police system of 
the city, and as Chairman of that Board assisted in 
the organization of the present police force. He 
has been for several years a director of the Mer- 
chants National Bank of Syracuse, and of the 
Trust and Deposit Company of Onondaga, and 
Vice-President of the latter. 

At the age of twenty he became a member of 
the Dutch Reformed Church, and upon coming to 



Syracuse he united with the First Presbyterian 
Church, and was Superintendent of its Sunday 
School, He was one of nine persons to organize 
the Dutch Reformed Church on James street, and 
subsequently connected himself with the organiza- 
tion, and contributed liberally toward the erection 
of the present Plymouth Church, of whose Board 
of Trustees he has been for a number of years 
President. In the year 1850, May 9th, he 
married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joshua Bates 
and Jane Phillips, both natives of Chesterfield, 
Mass., but at the time of her marriage of Syracuse. 
They have two children, Willis B. and Flora E., 
wife of Lyman C. Smith, of Syracuse. 



SYRACUSE WHOLESALE BUSINESS. 



D. McCarthy, Sons & Co.'s wholesale house 
was established in the spring of 1862, under the 
firm name of McCarthy & Sedgwick, and the busi- 
ness opened in the upper portion of the retail 
house, corner of South Salina and Fayette streets. 
The wholesale firm of McCarthy & Sedgwick 
continued till February i, 1867, when Mr. Sedgwick 
retired and the style was changed to D. McCarthy 
& Son, Mr. David K. McCarthy being taken in as 
partner. On the first of February, 1869, Mr. 
Thomas McCarthy and Mr. Patrick Phelan were 
admitted as partners and the style of the firm be- 
came D. McCarthy, Sons & Co. February i, 
1 87 1, Mr. Thomas Emory became a partner, and 
February i, 1875, Mr. Dennis McCarthy, Jr., was 
admitted. All these are at present members of the 
firm. 

In 1876 the wholesale business had outgrown its 
accommodations in the retail building and a sepa- 
rate house for it became necessary. The firm ac- 
cordingly purchased the site on the corner of West 
Washington and Clinton streets and the present 
elegant block was completed and occupied in Jan- 
uary, 1877. This block is one of the finest busi- 
ness houses in the city. It is of brick and Onon- 
daga limestone, wrought in fine ornamental work, 
yet solid and substantial, presenting an imposing 
and beautiful front on both streets. The height is 
the same as the five story building adjoining, but 
for convenience is divided into four stories and 
basement, the latter running under the entire side- 
walk on both sides of the building. It is 70 feet 
on Washington street by 103 on Clinton street, 
with an L extension of 60 by 33 feet, heated 



throughout by steam, and has an elevator running 
from the basement to every floor. The immense 
stock of goods carried by this house is conveniently 
arranged, as follows : 

First floor — Foreign and Domestic General Dry 
Goods, counting room, fire-proof vaults, &c. 

Second floor — Hosiery and Notion Department. 

Third floor — Hat and Cap Department. 

The other floors, including basement, are used for 
packing, shipping, &c. 

The sales of this firm in the Wholesale House 
amount to one million dollars annually, and in the 
Retail to about eight hundred thousand dollars a 
year. 

Another important branch of the wholesale trade 
of this city is the house of 

Charles Chadwick & Co., situated on Clinton 
street, Nos. 16, 18 and 20. The general trade of 
this house is dry goods and notions, exclusively 
wholesale, and was established in 1871. 

Van Wagenen & Brodhead. — The establish- 
ment of a wholesale crockery house in Syracuse is 
of quite recent date, and shows how one important 
interest after another is introduced and built up as 
the city assumes more of a metropolitan character. 
The founders of this business are both young and 
energetic men, but not without experience, having 
been connected with this line of trade for the past 
twenty years in this city. In April, 1875, the house 
was opened at No. 67 South Salina street, in new 
and fresh apartments, where the variety and arrange- 
ment of the extensive stock will delight the eye of 
the visitor ; for here will be found almost everything 



228 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



of ornament or utility belonging to a first class es- 
tablishment of this kind. The business of the 
house includes both wholesale and retail, and the 
firm import largely of all the goods they handle, 
especially china, earthen, fancy wares and bronzes. 
This house is an important addition to the business 
of Syracuse. 

Kenyos, Potter & Co. are the only exclusively 
wholesale druggists in the city. There are many 
fine retail drug stores, the capacity and elegance of 
which are unsurpassed, and several that connect a 
jobbing trade with their retail business ; but none, 
we believe, except Kenyon, Potter & Co., devoting 
themselves exclusively to the wholesale drug trade. 
The origin of this house goes back to 1845. at 
which date the firm was Livingston & Mitchell. In 
1852, it changed to Mitchell & Kenyon. and in 
1854, to Kenyon, Rogers & Co. In 1859, Kenyon 
& Potter succeeded to the business, and in 1864, 
the firm style became Kenyon, Potter & Co. Since 
then there have been a few changes in the partner- 
ship, but the house has retained the same name. 
The partners are Gansevoort M. Kenyon, Oliver C. 
Potter and George H. Perry. Mr. Potter has been 
partner in the house since 1856, Mr. Kenyon since 
1871, and Mr. Perry since 1864. 

The stock of the house is very extensive, includ- 
ing all the departments of the drug tiade, and oc- 
cupying the whole of the building. No. 47 South 
Salina street, 22 by 135 feet, four floors and base- 
ment, and two floors and basement of the adjoining 
building. Several traveling salesmen are employed, 
and the whole working force of the establishment 
numbers about twenty. 

Few men are more favorably known in the busi- 
ness circles of the city than the partners in this 
firm, and it is safe to say that the future of the house 
is in good hands. 

Since the above was written, Messrs. Kenyon, 
Potter & Co. have removed to their elegant new- 
store erected in the fall and winter of 1877, Nos. 
34 and 36 South Clinton street. This building is 
five stories and basement, 132 by 45 feet, of brick, 
with Onondaga Limestone trimmings, supplied with 
a steam elevator and all modern conveniences. 

MooKE & HuBBAhD, Wholesale Druggists, 73 
South Salina street.— The business of the prede- 
cessors of this house, Messrs. Foote & Farrington, 
was established in the Malcolm Block in 1855, and 
was among the first wholesale establishments of the 
city. They were succeeded by Marsh & Farring- 
ton, and they by Farrington & Utley. In 1865, 
Mr. J. B. Moore, head of the present firm, bought 
Mr. Utley's interest and entered into business with 



Mr. Farrington, under the firm style of Farrington 
& Moore, which was continued until 1868, when, 
Mr. Farrington retiring, it became J. B. Moore & 
Co, and was so continued until 1874, when Charles 
Hubbard became a partner, since which the firm has 
been Moore & Hubbard, as at present. 

Mr. Moore came from Albany county to Syracuse 
in the spring of 1865, having spent the preceding 
nine years in California. In the spring of 1868, the 
stores on Salina street south of the First Presby- 
terian Church, having become active property, Mr. 
Moore purchased the store now occupied by the 
firm, and removed the business from the Malcolm 
Block. 

The sales of this firm ran up largely during the 
war. At present they aggregate from $350,000 to 
$400,000 a year. 

Mr. Hubbard, the junior member of the firm, is 
a native of the city of Troy, and has been fifteen 
years in the drug business in Syracuse. 

The wholesale grocery business of this city 
amounts to quite an item, there being two houses 
at least, whose sales reach two millions each per an- 
num, and quite a number of smaller houses doing a 
business ranging from one hundred thousand dollars 
to half a million annually. The oldest wholesale 
grocery house in the city is that of 

John Crouse & Co., established in 1853 by 
John and James Crouse, brothers, who came from 
Montgomery county. James Crouse died in 1858, 
and the firm was changed to John Crouse & Co., 
which it has remained ever since. (See biography 
of John Crouse. ) 

Crouse Brothers, Wholesale Grocers, corner 
of Clinton and Water streets, established under 
the firm name of Jacob Crouse & Bro's, in 1869. 
The original partners were Jacob Crouse, George 
N. Crouse and James S. Crouse, the same as now 
constitute the firm. The premises of the firm are 
those occupied from the first. The lot where their 
fine brick building stands was purchased in 1868, 
and the building erected and occupied the following 
year. It was originally 86 by T} feet, five stories 
in height, but has since been extended, making its 
present dimensions 86 by 121 feet, and also, to in- 
crease the room required for the business an L of 
40 feet has been added. The entire block is the 
property of Jacob and George N. Crouse. The 
sales of this house amount to about ;52,ooo,ooo per 
annum. 

Crouse & Walrath.— The original firm, started 
in 1 87 1, consisted of C. E. Crouse, F. W. Walrath 
and Jacob Crouse and Brothers. They did a manu- 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



229 



facturing and jobbing business in spices, coffees 
and teas, occupying two of tlie three stores used by 
the present firm. In 1872 Mr. Walrath retired 
from the firm, and Messrs. C. E. Grouse & Co., 
conducted the business till 1876, when C. E. Crouse 
bought out the interest of Jacob Crouse and 
Brothers, and formed a copartnership with Mr. 
Walrath, since which the firm has been Crouse & 
Walrath, as at present. Their sales amount an- 
nually to about half a million dollars. 

A. N. Palmer & Co. — Among the enterprising 
wholesale grocery houses of the city is that of A. 
N. Palmer & Co., composed of A. N. Palmer and 
Charles Tallman, located on West Fayette street — 
the office and main salesroom being No. 46. This 
is a portion of the block 71 by 208 feet and four 
stories, extending through to Walton street, built 
by Messrs. Tallman and Palmer. 

The entire floor area used by A. N. Palmer & 
Co., in their business is about twenty-five thousand 
square feet — embracing two floors of No. 46 West 
Fayette street and extending through the entire 
block ; also two floors of Nos. 7 and 9 Walton 
street, and four floors of No. 1 1 Walton street. In 
the rear of No. 11 Walton street they have erected 
two fire-proof smoke houses with capacity for smok- 
ing thirty tons of hams at one time. 

The firm are among the most extensive curers of 
cut meats in the State. 

Their trade in salt fish is also very large, particu- 
larly in the line of mackerel, which are purchased in 
full fares from vessels in the eastern seaports and 
repacked here to meet the requirements of their 
trade. 

Starting in the summer of 1871, the firm prose- 
cuted the provision trade alone, until within the last 
two years, during which they have gradually added 
teas, coftees, spices, canned fruits, &c., until their 
stock embraces a full assortment of general gro- 
ceries and grocers' sundries, which in connection 
with their full line of provisions renders it one of 
the most extensive in the city. 

Kennedy, Spaulding & Co. may be regarded 
as one of the representative houses of this branch 
of the jobbing trade of Syracuse. A brief history 
of their business will be given. In 1859 Bradford 
Kennedy and Horace J, Frizelle established a re- 
tail hardware business at 54 South Salina street, in 
a rented building. In 1861 Mr. Dennis Kennedy 
bought Mr. Frizelle's interest and the firm was 
changed to Kennedy Brothers. In 1863, Ross R. 
Spaulding became a partner, and the firm style as- 
sumed the form of Kennedys & Spaulding. In 
the fall of 1866, the style was changed to Kennedy, 



Spaulding & Co., Mr. Bradford Kennedy retiring 
at that time and selling his interest to Abraham 
Howe. In 1871 Mr. Bradford Kennedy bought 
Mr. Howe out, but the style of the firm remained 
unchanged. 

In 1862 the firm established the wholesale busi- 
ness which it has continued to conduct with increas- 
ing proportions from year to year. Removing 
from their rented store. No. 54 South Salina street, 
the firm purchased a five story building at 6^ 
South Salina street, into which they entered, sup- 
posing the premises here would be sufficient for 
permanent quarters. But in this they were mis- 
taken. The business outgrew the place and they 
had to seek another location. In 1872 they pur- 
chased the lot and erected the building they now 
occupy on Clinton street, at a cost of $40,000. 
The building is an elegant business structure, of 
brick, 33 by 132 feet, five stories and basement, 
and is completely filled with the stock of the house, 
including also another store since erected in the 
rear of the main building. The trade of the firm 
has increased from $20,000 retail business in 1859 
to a wholesale business which now aggregates half 
a million annually. The firm employ fourteen men 
in the store and three traveling salesmen constant- 
ly upon the road. 

The Messrs. Kennedy are natives of the town of 
Lysander in this county. Mr. Spaulding is also a 
native of the county, born in the town of Spaft'ord. 

McCarthy & Redfield, Wholesale Hardware 
Dealers, Nos. 50 and 52 West Water street. The 
firm was established as Murphy & McCarthy in 
1850, changed to McCarthy, Radigan & Co. in 
1856, and in 1859, to McCarthy, Redfield & Co., 
Mr. C. T. Redfield and Mr. William H. Pierce pur- 
chasing the interest of Mr. Radigan and becoming 
members of the firm. Mr. Pierce retired in 1869, 
and the firm has since been McCarthy & Redfield. 

The first location of the firm was on the corner 
of Warren and East Water streets. In 1875 they 
built their present stores, Nos. 50 and 52 West 
Water street. The building is 46 by 112 feet, four 
stories and basement, of Philadelphia brick and cut 
stone, fine architectural style and proportions, and 
arranged with great convenience for handling the 
goods. It is furnished with an elevator running to 
all the floors, which in the basement delivers its 
contents directly into the wagons, the teams being 
driven directly into the cellar from the yard in the 
rear of the building. The firm moved into this 
building January i, 1876. 

Messrs. McCarthy & Redfield are importers and 
jobbers of shelf and heavy hardware, tin plate, 



230 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



agricultural tools, &c., Ac, and do a business 
aggregating half a million dollars a year, their sales 
being chiefly in Northern, Southern, Central and 
Western New York. 

Mr. Robert McCarthy, the senior member of the 
firm, is a native of the First Ward of this city and 
has resided here all his life, being well-known and 
highly esteemed in business and social circles. 

Mr. Charles T. Redfield is a son of Lewis H. 
Redfield, Esq., a well-known citizen of Syracuse, 
whose biography appears in this work, and a portion 
of whose record is found in connection with the 
history of the press. 

HiER & Aldrich, Nos. 31 and 33 North Salina 
street, are extensive manufacturers and jobbers of 
tobacco and cigars. Mr. Hier established the bus- 
iness in i860, and in 1865 the present firm was 
organized, Mr. Bruce S. Aldrich being admitted as 
a partner. The building occupied by the firm is 44 
by 154 feet, of brick, four stories and basement, and 
was erected by the firm in 1872. The basement 
and front room of the third story are used for 
storage of leaf tobacco, the average stock carried 
by the firm being valued at ^125,000. The cigar 
making department is in the rear of the third story, 
a large, well-lighted room, filled with all the appli- 
ances for the manufacture of cigars, either by hand 
or by mold-presses, as may be desired. The amount 
of cigars made by this firm — and they make but 
few cheap cigars — is over two and a half miHions per 
annum, and they give employment, in the various 
branches of their business, to from 150 to 250 
hands. In the front apartment of the first floor they 
have an elegant sample and sales room, embracing 
every variety of goods belonging to the trade. 

Mr. Hier has been a resident of Syracuse since 
1 843, and for some years was foreman of his brother's 
manufacturing business. 

Mr. Bruce S. Aldrich has been many years con- 
nected with the trade of this city, and spends a 
portion of his time in traveling for the firm of which 
he is a member. 

George P. Hier & Co. — This firm is located at 
No. 25 North Salina street. Mr. George P. Hier, 
the senior member of the firm, has been a dealer in 
leaf tobacco for twenty years, and for the past 
fifteen years this has been his exclusive business. 
He was Mayor of the city in 1875, and has held 
other responsible local offices. His partner is 
George S. Hier, who became a member of the firm 
in 1876. 

Seubert & Warner, Nos. 58 and 60 West Fay- 
ette street, are another firm of heavy manufacturers 



and jobbers of tobacco and cigars. The building 
occupied is large and well adapted to the business, 
being 32 feet in width by 210 in depth, extending 
through to Walton street, afifording convenient ship- 
ping and receiving rooms, and light and airy work 
rooms in the manufacturing department. Three 
floors of the building are occupied, considerable of the 
space being devoted to the storage of the heavy stock 
carried by the firm. Their stock is especially large 
in Spanish tobacco, of which they purchase six 
months' or a year's supply at a time. 

This firm have given employment to 125 persons, 
two-thirds of whom were cigar makers, and have 
manufactured as large an amount as 85,000 cigars 
in a single week. The production at present is not 
so large, but the grade of cigars ranges higher than 
usual, the average of the entire product of the fac- 
tory being $60 per 1,000, wholesale. 

The members of the firm are Justin Seubert and 
William H. Warner. The firm was established in 
May, 1872, Mr. Seubert having been for five or six 
years previously engaged in the manufacture of 
cigars in this city. 

Carr & CusHiNG, Manufacturers of Cigars and 
Dealers in Tobacco, No. 53 West Fayette street. 
This firm was established on the first of January, 
1 87 1. Mr. John Jay Carr, the senior partner, 
started in the cigar business in this city in the 
spring of 1866, at No. 17 James street. He re- 
mained there about sixteen months, steadily build- 
ing up a business, when his operations in that 
locality were suddenly cut short by a fire which 
consumed his entire stock, about the middle oi Au- 
gust, 1867. He then opened business at No. 44 
East Water street, in company with Mr. J. H. Noll, 
and remained till January, 1 871, when the firm of 
J. J. Carr & Co., was formed, and business opened 
at No. 7 West Fayette street. Mr. Quincy F. 
Gushing, the present jjartner, became associated 
with Mr. Carr in the above firm. January i, 1873, 
the firm style was changed to Carr & Gushing. 

On the 1st of May, 1874, they removed to their 
present location, No. 53 West Fayette street, into 
the new building, (not then completely finished,) 
erected by Joseph Newell. The building is of brick, 
four stories and basement, 22^ by 80 feet, and is 
wholly occupied by the business of this house. 
They handle a large variety of popular brands, 
several of which are exclusively their own. 

Formerly they employed two traveling sales- 
men, but have recently added a third for the West- 
ern trade. They employ in their business upwards 
of fifty persons, and manufacture about a million 
and a half cigars annually. 




rl 



Photo, by W. V.;Eanger, l^yracuse. 





'^^^n^^-^f^ OW-t^?t<^^^^ L. 



The subject of this sketch was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., 
July 14, 1808. He was the only son in a family of three chil- 
dren of Giles Bronson and Mary Robinson, early settlers of this 
county. His grandfather, Elijah, was the first of the name to 
settle in this county, about 1800, and was born March 10, 
1778. His father came from the old and honorable family of 
that name among the pioneers of the New England States, his 
immediate birthplace being in Connecticut, town of Middlebury. 
His mother's ancestry were also of the New England States, she 
being a native of Massachusetts. His father, on coming to 
this county, settled on what is now called Hewlett's Hill, and 
there carried on farming, afterwards removing to the town 
of Geddes. Died May 21, 1841 ; his mother died May 15, 
1842. 

The education of the children was very limited, and confined 
to the district schools of that day. Horace remained on the 
farm with his parents until he was about eighteen years of age, 
and then struck out in business for himself. First going to 
New York, he stocked up in goods belonging to his uncle, then 
doing business there, and started out as a peddler, traveling 
through Ohio, Kentucky, and many of the other southern and 
western States. He continued in this business for many years, 
and about 1837 came to the village of Syracuse, and opened a 
dry-goods store on East Genesee street. 



By this time, by economy, he had secured a small capital to 
commence business with, but what was of far greater importance, 
had a capital stock of sound judgment, good business ability, 
and a far-seeing sagacity. In this business, which began on a 
small scale, and rapidly increased with the growth of the county 
and consequent demands of the people, he became one of the 
first merchants in the county, and continued his trade for some 
thirty years, the latter half of the time devoting his attention 
almost exclusively to the boot, shoe, and leather trade, which he 
carried on in Auburn and Watkins as well as Syracuse. 

In politics Mr. Bronson was an unswerving member of the 
Democratic party, was well read in the current news of the 
country, satisfied to follow the direction of business interests, 
not seeking political preferment, but held the office of coroner 
for several terms. In religious persuasion he was a Unitarian, 
but latterly a Universalist. 

In the year 1854 he married Miss Sarah A., daughter of 
Eliphalet Case and Rebecca Robinson. Her parents were also 
early settlers of Hewlett's Hill, Onondaga town. She was born 
June 17, 1827. Mr. Bronson, always feeling the want of the 
advantages of an education, has placed his children within the 
reach of the best educational facilities of the city. 

To Mr. and Mr.s. Bronson were born three children, — Mary 
C, Horace C, and Silas (died in infancy). 





The subject of this sketch was born iit Sheffield, Berkshire 
Co., MiiKH., .liiii. C, 1794. lie wa.x Iniirlli eliild and third mhi, 
in n family of ten children, of Isaae Ilall and X'a.shti John.son, 
the former u native of New Marlboroufih, Mass., the latter a 
native of the New Kn}:land Stale.'*. John.s)n Hall tracas his 
deneenl throu;,'h hi.s f;ri»ndfutlicr Kbenezer, who was eldest son 
of lehabod Ilall. a rexident of Knfii-ld. Conn., and who was 
nnirried to Jioi.^ KiMiie. of that town, in May, \~'M. He eanie 
to this eouiity with his father,(ii'n. Isaae Hall, in Fihruary, 17'.t7. 
when hut three y<'ars of ap-, and settled in the old lown of I'dni- 
|>ey (now I.difayelte ), where he resiclcil for about I'orty-one years. 
His father wan a wrli-lodo fanner, and not oidy taiif;ht his ehil- 
dren the value of industry and labor, but pive tlicni as liberal an 
cduuition iLs the schools of the eiiunty at that time affordefl. 
Afler coming ol' aj^e be spent some timi' as a clerk in Asahel 
Smith's store at Lafayette, and alter a few years established 
busincMS for himself, making general mcrehandi.se his principal 
tniile. He was a man of .strict inlegrily, honest and upright 
in all his business transactions, and during his life held various 
offices of trust and responsibility. He was postmaster at 
I^ifayetle from the orgiiiiization of the town until bis removal 
to Syracu.s*' ( IK.'tH), and for many years was a member of the 
hoard of supervisors. Hi> represented ibis county in the Stale 
legislature in the years l.S2!)-;t(l, and Wiis instrumental in obtain- 
ing the charter of the (dd Onondaga County Hank, in which 
institution he was a stockholder from its organization until the 
expiration of its charier, a (K-riod of twenty-five years. Also a 
director lor many yi^ars of the late Hank of Salina, and Syracuse 
Savings Hank, lie wils elected to ihi' office of shcritT in XX'M. 
The late Kingsley .S. Hingbam lallcrwanls governor of Michi- 
gan), Major William A. Ctsik, and DonLstus Lawrence (now 
dcceawd ) were his associate officers. 

Ho was on the bench ( a.ssoeiate judge) with the late Hon. 
Grove liawrence and Oliver R. Strong. Until within a few 



years of bis ileatb be took a great interest in politics, was a 
stanch Democrat, and had invariably voted and acted with that 
)>arty. He was a resident of the county for nearly .seventy- 
three years ; very few residents of the county have spent so 
many years in it, and been able to look back to its earliest days 
and count its various changes lo its pnwnt wealth and business 
interests, its schools and cburcbes. 

Upon coming to Syracu.se he formed a partnership with 
Messrs. Hboades \- .*sbernian in the hardware trade, which was 
carried on su<'ce.ssfully for some ten years, when he retired from 
the firm, and never after cngiiged in active business. His father, 
(Jen. Isjiac Hall, died in Lafayette, Sept. .i2. 1K:{0, his molher 
having died in i'ompcy, Nov. i;i. 18ia. In the year IHOG. 
I)cc. 11, be married .^Ii.ss I'olly, daughter of ,)ob Andrews and 
Comforl (irecii, formerly of Ivtston. Washington Co., N. Y., 
but settlers al liafayelte townshi[> about the year ISIKI. She 
was born in 17!IS. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Hall were Ixirn eight children, — Mary, 
wife of Harlow He Wolf, deputy postmaster. Syracuse; Cor- 
delia, wife of Hon. (Jeorge Haynor, Syracus*' ; Johnson L., a 
resident of Oswego ; Charles Carroll ( dec<'ast'<l ) ; Kdward L., 
a resident of New Vork city ; Thomas .lefTcrson (died at New 
Orleans); Helen .^l., wife of Hon. Adilison H. Laflin, a naval 
officer (pf the |>ort of New York city ; and Olivia H. Hall. 

While living al I.iafayetle be antj his wife both united with 
the Congregational church, and, u|sin coming to the city, united 
with the First I're.sbyterian church, and remainiHl consist^int 
members of the sjime until their de;itb. 

Mrs. Ilall was devoted lo her family, and instructed them in 
all that nntkes true manhood and wimninhood. She died in 
the year IS,54, aged fifty -six years. 

For his S(!eoml wife he married .^lrs. Maria Sevi'nince, of 
Huffiilo, who survived him oidy three months, dying January, 
1871. He died Oct, 27, 1870. 



PnSTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



231 



Messrs. Carr & Gushing are both natives of this 
county, the former born in the town of Clay and the 
latter in Cicero. Both are well itnown as gentlemen 
of high character in business circles. Mr. Carr has 
been connected with the manufacture of cigars 
twenty-five years. The success of this firm is the 
result of prudent management and strict attention 
to business. 

R. H. Parker, Cigar Manufacturer and Wholesale 
Tobacconist, Nos. 43 and 45 West Fayette street. 
Mr. Parker began the tobacco and cigar business in 
the Syracuse House Block, No. 1 1 South Salina 
street, on the nth of May, i86i. On the 4th of 
May, 1868, he took in P/Ir. W. B. Herrick as part- 
ner, the firm being Parker & Herrick, and on the 
1st of May, 1871, removed to No. 18 James street. 
January 31, 1874, the partnership was dissolved, 
Mr. Parker continuing the business at the old stand 
till May i, 1876, when he removed to the spacious 
store, Nos. 43 and 45 West Fayette street, built 
expressly for his business. 

Mr. Parker employs from thirty to fifty hands ; 
has three traveling salesmen, two with teams, and 
one by railroad. 

Mr. Parker is a native of this county, born at 
Onondaga Hill. He came to Syracuse in 1833, and 
lias been in the cigar business since 1861. 

Joseph Barton, Jr., & Co., Wholesale Dealers 
in Leaf Tobacco and Manufacturers of Cigars, 
Barton Opera House Block, East Genesee street. 
Mr. Joseph Barton, Sen., started in the manufac- 
ture of cigars in this city in 1848, on East Fayette 
street. No. 105. In 1851, he moved into the Fur- 
man Block, and there commenced wholesaling. In 
1852, he removed to the location now occupied 
'by the Barton Opera House, and where the business 
of the present firm is still continued. Mr. Barton 
had built on these premises a fine store extending 
through from East Genesee to East Fayette streets, 
which was destroyed by fire, without insurance, in 
1867. He then built the Barton Opera House 
Block, at a cost, including the fitting up of his 
theatre, of over ^100,000. In January, 1876, Joseph 
Barton, Jr., came into possession of the business, 
under the present firm name, and gives to it his 
personal supervision. From 40 to 50 hands are 
€mployed in the manufacture of Cigars, and two 
traveling salesmen are kept upon the road, the sales 
being chiefly in this State. 

Mr. Joseph Barton, Sen., was born in New York 
city and came here in 1844. His early life, from 
thirteen to twenty, was spent on board a man-of-war 
and in a whaling voyage around Cape Horn. He vol- 
unteered in the Mexican War, and spent his time 



during its continuance on board the United States 
frigate Columbia, Commodore Rosseau, command- 
ing ; was, at the taking of California, with Commo- 
dore Apcatesby Jones, United States frigate United 
States, in 1842, and assisted in burying Commodore 
Dallas at Callao, port of Lima, Peru, in 1843. 
Dallas had come out in the Savannah to relieve the 
frigate United States, and was taken sick and died 
at the above place. 

Joseph Barton, Jr., was born in Syracuse and has 
lived here all his life. 

R. G. Wynkoop & Co. — The extensive trade of 
this house, both at wholesale and retail, places it in 
the front rank of the book and stationery business 
in Central New York, and in point of age it out- 
ranks almost every other establishment of the kind. 
The business of this house was started in 1846 by 
Myers and J. G. Wynkoop. In 1848, Mr. R. G. 
Wynkoop became a partner, under the firm name 
of Wynkoop & Bro., which continued till 1867, 
when the firm became Wynkoops & Leonard. Mr. 
James A. Leonard was the incoming partner, and 
he remained connected with the house till 1875, 
when he retired on account of ill health, and is 
now, we believe, engaged in the book and stationery 
trade at Decorah, Iowa. In 1870, Mr. J. G. Wyn- 
koop retired from the firm, and Mr. James S. Wyn- 
koop entered it. The last named gentleman had 
been connected with the house some years, and his 
experience admirably fitted him for the duties de- 
volving upon an active partner. The firm as it 
now is consists of R. G. Wynkoop and two sons, 
Jas. S. and R. G., Jr., all of whom are gentlemen 
well known in business circles. 

The premises occupied by the house are at No. 19 
South Salina street, in the Syracuse House Block. 
The stock is large, embracing every variety of mis- 
cellaneous books, stationery, wall paper, &c., to 
supply the retail trade and jobbing business carried 
on by the house. Their wholesale trade extends 
throughout Northern, Central and Western New 
York, goods being chiefly sold by traveling agents. 
All of the partners give the business their personal 
attention. The senior member of the firm is 
an old resident of this city and for many years 
has been intimately identified with its various in- 
terests. 

Moser & Lyon, Nos. 37 and 39 South Clinton 
street, represent another and a special branch 
of the wholesale book and stationery trade, job 
printing, &c., and have a retail store. No. 62 
South Salina street. This firm was established in 

1873- 



232 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



J. & F. B. Garrett, Nos. 6 and 8 West Fay- 
ette street, are the managers and proprietors of an- 
other special department of the stationery, blank 
book and paper jobbing business. They occupy 
two stores and employ three traveling salesmen. 
They are also extensive manufacturers of blank 
books. Their house was established in i866. 

L. J. Ormsbee is one of the oldest stationery 
dealers in the city, having begun business in this 
line in 1846, and conducted it for a long time on 
East Genesee street. He has been in this business 
in the city thirty-one years. He now conducts a 
wholesale and retail establishment at No. 22 West 
Fayette street, dealing exclusively in stationery and 
goods in that line. Mr. Ormsbee gives his per- 
sonal attention to his business and also employs 
traveling salesmen, his trade including both city 
and country. 

Culver Bros. & Co., Paper Manufacturers and 
Dealers in Paper and Paper Stock, No, 73 West 
Fayette street. — This house, although not included 
under the head of books and stationery, neverthe- 
less represents a business sufficiently analogous to 
be mentioned in this connection. The house was 
founded in 1854 by Mr. E. B. Culver, who con- 
ducted the business alone till 1869, when Benjamin 
H. Culver and James L. Collin became partners. 
The business of the house is heavy, and is chiefly 
wholesale, the partners giving their personal atten- 
tion to the business and also employing traveling 
salesmen. 

Mr. E. B. Culver came to this county from 
Norwich, Conn., in 1853, remaining one year at 
Fayetteville, whence he came to Syracuse and 
established business, as above stated. 

Morris & Co.— In 1832, Mr. D. J. Morris, the 
head of the present firm, then living in Utica, 
established a branch of his merchant tailoring busi- 
ness in Syracuse, under the firm name of Morris & 
Sanford. Mr. Morris came here to reside in 
1840, and the firm was afterwards changed to D. J. 
Morris. & Son. In 1861, without any change in 
the copartnership, the firm style was changed to 
Morris & Co., as at present. 

Mr. Morris first came through Syracuse at four- 
teen years of age when they were digging for the 
canal in 1819. In 1825, became again with a view 
of locating here, but decided not to do so on ac- 
count of the bad water. He says nothing could 
exceed the change that had taken place in Syracuse 
between the time of his first visit and his second, 
in 1825. From the mere " four corners" the place 
had become an active, bustling village, where every- 



thing seemed going ahead with feverish excitement 
— streets being laid out, houses going up, and specu- 
lation rife. 

W. S. Peck & Bro. are manufacturers and 
wholesale and retail dealers in clothing, Nos. 24 
and 26 North Salina street; established in 1867, 
under the firm name of Gates & Peck. In 1869 
Mr. Gates retired, and W. S. Peck continued the 
business until January i, 1874, receiving at the 
latter date Frank A. Peck as partner, the firm be- 
coming, as now, W. S Peck & Bro. May i, 1877, 
they moved to their present location. They have 
two commodious stores, each 22 by 130 feet, and 
well adapted to their large and increasing business. 

The Peck Brothers manufacture all their own 
goods, employing in this department an average of 
about 200 hands. Their present average is 1,000 
garmentsper week, and their sales amount to $150,- 
000 a year. The members of the firm are young 
and enterprising gentlemen and have built up their 
extensive trade by strict integrity and unremitting 
attention to business. They came here from Cort- 
land county — the former in 1864, and the latter in 
1869. 

A. W. Palmer & Co., successors to M. C. 
Palmer & Co., established at Nos. 17 and 19 North 
Salina street in 1854. The members of the present 
firm are Alva W. Palmer and his brother George 
W. Palmer, and their house is one of the old and 
reliable establishments of the city. In the spring 
of 1877 they removed to their present location, 
Nos. 15 and 17 South Salina street. Here their 
facilities for manufacturing and displaying their 
goods have been enlarged, and a more complete 
stock of Men's, Boys' and Children's clothing can 
rarely be found in any city. The firm manufacture 
all of their clothing, employing experienced cutters. 
This branch of the business gives employment to 
from 1 50 to 200 hands. The extensive business of 
this house has been built up gradually from a com- 
paratively small beginning made in the infancy of 
the clothing trade in this city twenty-three years 
ago, and to the energy and enterprise of the young 
men who have managed its affairs this result is 
mainly due. 

The Messrs. Palmer have lived in this city and 
vicinity nearly all their lives, being sons of the late 
Joseph Palmer, Esq., of Centerville, an old citizen 
of that place and a Justice of the Peace there for 
some seventeen years. M. C. Palmer, formerly of 
this firm, and George W. Palmer, a member of the 
firm of A. W. Palmer & Co., are engaged in the 
manufacture of salt at Saltville, Va. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



233 



SwARTHOUT, AcKEKMAN & Co. — This firm is 
another large manufacturing, wholesale and retail 
clothing house of this city. They have also branch 
stores in Chicago and St. Louis. The firm as first 
organized in 1867, was Swarthout, Kent & Co. 
January 27, 1872, L. A. Swarthout, J. Daniel 
Ackerman, John A. Cole and T. A. Bartlett, entered 
into copartnership under the present firm style, 
and have so remained since, with the exception of 
Mr. Bartlett, who withdrew in February, 1877. 

Kent & Miller. — The partners in this house 
are George B. Kent and R. V. Miller. The pres- 
ent firm was established in 1871, and the progress 
of the business, both in the wholesale and retail 
departments, has been such as to exceed the most 
sanguine expectations of its founders. 

M. Jacobs, No. 21 North Salina street, is one of 
the oldest clothing houses in Syracuse. Mr. Jacobs 
commenced business in 1844, and erected his pres- 
ent building in 1852. The business of the house, 
like most of the others, embraces wholesale, retail 
and manufacturing — most of the goods handled 



being made at home. This house gives employ- 
ment in the manufacture of garments to about 200- 
persons, while its annual sales are about ^200,000. 
The building erected expressly by Mr. Jacobs for 
the accommodation of his business is commodious 
and conveniently arranged. 

Danziger Bros.— The firm of Danziger Bros, 
was formed in Homer, Cortland county, in 1850. 
In 1865 they removed to Syracuse in order to take 
advantage of a more central location and enlarge 
their facilities for business. In 1866, they re- 
moved to No. 23 North Salina street, where they 
are engaged exclusively in the wholesale clothing 
business. 

William A. Arnold, at Nos. 16 and 18 North 
Salina street. Mr. Arnold started the clothing 
business in December, 1869, having come from 
Sacramento, . California. His business includes 
manufacturing, wholesale and retail. 

I. H. Leyden & Bko. are at No. 22 North 
Salina street. Their clothing business was estab- 
lished July 18, 1873, by the senior partner. 



ONONDAGA COUNTY MILK ASSOCIATION. 



This is an organization formed of certain dairy- 
ing interests in the county to supply the city of 
Syracuse with good and pure milk. It was organ- 
ized under a special charter of the Legislature on 
the 9th of March, 1872, and commenced business 
on the 20th of March, of the same year. The an- 
nual reports of the Association show the progress 
that has been made. It was chartered with a capi- 
tal of ^25,000, and its capital stock paid in January 
II, 1877, was $29,900. The total receipts of milk 
in 1876 were 2,921,994^ quarts. The amount con- 
sumed was 2,694,806 quarts. The amount of 
cream sold was 3,476 quarts. The surplus milk 
and cream are manufactured into butter and 
cheese. Of butter there was made in 1876, 14,186 
pounds, and of cheese, 46,365 pounds. The Asso- 
ciation is made up of stockholders who are dairy- 
men in different towns adjacent to Syracuse, and 
owning from ten to sixty cows each. The number 
of stockholders at present is 46, and the whole 
number of cows whose milk is furnished to the As- 
sociation is 1,116. 

The principle which governs this Association is 
that of furnishing the city with the best and purest 
milk that can be produced. Hence every precau- 
30* 



tion is taken and the producers of milk are bound 
under the most stringent rules. A few of these 
will suffice to illustrate the care and pains taken by 
the Association. 

" Producers must exercise particular care that 
their cans be .opened and aired on a board, bottom 
up, during the day, thoroughly rinsed with cold 
water before use, and immediately after milking the 
can should be set in a tank of cold water, cover 
raised on one side for the air to enter, and the milk 
quietly stirred several times while cooling, to expel 
the animal odor. * * * * 

"Weekly tests are made by the receiving clerk 
of all milk delivered to the Association, and when 
found below 90 degrees a proportionate discount 
will be made from the amount credited at the end 
of the month. When the test stands much below 
90 it is conclusive evidence of ad^tlteraiion, and the 
producer is liable to a heavy fine, or the penalties 
named in the By-Laws. 

" Care should be taken with the stables that they 
be well ventilated and drained, and kept as cleanly 
as possible ; the cows bedded with clean straw or 
other materials, and have pure water to drink. 
No unwholesome food or stagnant water should be 
allowed them. The milk should be passed through 
a wire strainer, then through two thicknesses of 
strainer cloth. Especial care should be taken in 
milking to keep out of the pail all dust or dirt from 



234 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



the cow's baj;, which should be wiped or washed 
clean before milking. • • « The cans should 
not be taken into the stables, as milk very readily 
absorbs their odor. Producers are especially 
cautioned against sending the milk of any cow out 
of health, or just calved, as they render themselves 
liable for any damage arising from the sale of such 
impure milk." 

The consumer of milk in the city will breathe 
•more freely after reading these stringent rules, and 
will certainly sip his glass of milk, or pour his cream 
into his morning cup of cofTee, with much more 
complacency and satisfaction. The provision thus 
made for cleanliness and purity in the article of 
milk is certainly a step farther in civilization than 
that indicated by railroads and telegraphs. The 
milk now in use in the city is pretty good proof that 
these rules are carried into effect, and the purity, 
richness and excellence of Syracuse milk are being 
noted by strangers and travelers from other cities. 

Statistics show how rapidly the milk of this 
Association is growing into favor. In 1875, eigh- 
teen routes were peddled. Up to January i, 1876, 
thirty-seven private routes had been absorbed in 
the Association, and the whole number of private 
routes now associated is thirty-nine. The Associ- 
ation now peddles twenty routes, employing twenty- 
four horses, twenty-seven wagons, twenty sleighs, 



and a force, including peddlers, clerks, house- 
keeper, cheese maker, engineer, superintendent, 
&c., of thirty persons. 

The headquarters of the Association are at 44 
East Fayette street, in a new building expressly 
adapted to the business of the Association, erected 
in 1875 at a cost of $17,000. Since beginning in 
an old hotel in 1872, they have grown to the dimen- 
sions and requirements of these new premises, 
which include milk depot, cheese and butter factory, 
office, boarding house, &c., with barns and black- 
smith shop in the rear. The upper rooms are 
rented to nine families and a spare front room on 
the first floor occupied for a barber shop. 

The following are the officers for 1878: — B. 
Austin Avery, President ; James L. Hill, Vice- 
President ; C. D. Avery, Secretary and Treasurer ; 
George O. Gannett, Superintendent ; I. C. Reed, 
Cashier and Book-Keeper. Directors : — B. A. 
Avery, John Wells, John Raynor, W. C. Brayton, 
J. L. Hill, C. D. Avery, Henry Jerome, Sidney 
Lewis, George O. Gannett. Executive Committee: 
J. Wells, Sidney Lewis, John Raynor, Henry 
Jerome, W. C. Brayton. Examining Committee : 
George C. Gere, Charles Bailey, W. H. H. Gere. 
Committee on Manufacturing of Butter and Cheese : 
Charles Bailey. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



CAPTAIN OLIVER TEALL. 

Whoever has known much of Syracuse must 
have known something of Oliver Teall. He was a 
conspicuous man in this place from the time that the 
village first made its appearance in the cedar 
swamps, through all its stages of growth until it 
became a thriving city, spreading its skirts upon 
the surrounding hills. More than fifty years ago 
he was to be seen early and late, vigorously direct- 
ing, as general superintendent, the repairs and im- 
provements on the middle section of the Erie 
Canal. This brought him daily into contact with 
large numbers of persons, and he was extensively 
known for his activity, efficiency and exactness. 

Subsequently, the buyers and sellers of real 
estate found it convenient, if not needful, to have 
somewhat to do with Captain Teall, whose wise 
foresight of the future growth of Syracuse, led him 
to become an owner of valuable lots in many parts 
of what is now the city. 



Then, again, when the municipal project to in- 
troduce good water into the village was about to be 
abandoned to individual enterprise, he became, and 
was for a number of years, the almost sole pro- 
prietor of the aqueduct ; and the Teall water came to 
be as familiarly spoken of in Syracuse as the Cro- 
ton in New York, if we may compare so small a 
matter with so large a one. The quality of the 
water, at first so named, was very poor, but the in- 
defatigable man spared no pains until he had found 
and become the owner of a copious spring of a pure 
article, formed an able company, and introduced, by 
a well-made aqueduct, an abundant supply of water, 
which he need never be ashamed should bear his 
name. Every part of the construction of this valu- 
able improvement was superintended by him person- 
ally, so that to all the inhabitants, from the least to 
the greatest, this public servant was familiarly 
known. 

When the Onondaga County Bank, the first in- 




'■■"S'ai., 



p '; TT, <:;• -J i-^TEi;. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



235 



stitution of the kind in Syracuse, was established 
in 1829, Captain Teall was elected one of its 
Directors, and subsequently its President, in which 
position he continued till the expiration of its 
charter in 1854. At certain hours of the day, there- 
fore, he was generally seen in or near the house 
where men having money, or needing money, are 
wont to congregate, and his shrewdness, foresight 
and incorruptible integrity have served many a man 
a good turn, who was at his wit's end to get out of 
a pecuniary embarrassment, or to make a profitable 
investment of some surplus gains. 

The cause of Education in Syracuse acknowl- 
edges him to have been one of its earliest and most 
earnest promoters. Travelers who pass over the 
railroad by daylight, can hardly fail to notice an 
unduly tall brick building in the eastern portion of 
Syracuse. If benevolent, they will rejoice to learn 
that it is now an asylum for orphan children, and 
children worse off than orphans ; an institution well 
endowed, and sustained by the united, cordial coop- 
eration of all the Protestant sects in the city, giving 
a comfortable home and an excellent discipline to 
two hundred destitute little ones. But, if they in- 
quire into its history, they will be informed that it 
was not originally intended for the charitable pur- 
pose to which it is now put. It was erected ^bout 
forty years ago by Captain Teall, Aaron Burt Esq., 
Hon. Harvey Baldwin, Thomas Rose, and others, 
for an academy, and was so used for a dozen years ; 
but, being located too far from what subsequently 
became the center of the city, to be convenient as 
a day school, and yet too near to be resorted to as 
a boarding school, it languished, notwithstanding 
the exertions of its three principal patrons, and many 
years ago became the property of the Onondaga 
County Orphan Asylum. It is, however, still a 
monument to the enterprise of Captain Teall and 
his associates, and of their zeal in the cause of ed- 
ucation. 

But it has not been merely as a man of business 
and thrift that the subject of this memoir has been 
principally known to his fellow-citizens and heard 
of throughout the State. He was one of the earliest 
and most steadfast friends of the temperance re- 
form. His name will go down to posterity as the 
untiring fellow-laborer of E. C. Delevan, Gerrit 
Smith, Herman Camp, Charles A. Wheaton, Chan- 
cellor Walworth, and other pioneers in this great 
enterprise. His labors were not most conspicuous, 
however, at public meetings. Although a frequent 
attendant at them, he was always a diligent laborer 
at home and throughout his immediate neighbor- 
hood. He did not content himself with recom- 



mending to others a disagreeable and laborious duty. 
Were pledges to be obtained or memorials to the 
legislature to be circulated for signatures, Captain 
Teall was ever ready to present them to his neigh- 
bors and townsmen, and press them upon their 
favorable regards. 

His principles he carried into practice on every 
occasion, and no opportunity was suffered to pass 
without giving effect thereto. At one of the meet- 
ings of the directors of the Onondaga County Bank, 
held December, 1845, at which were present such 
men as John Wilkinson, Hiram Putnam, David S. 
Colvin, Johnson Hall, Horace White, and Hamilton 
White, he presented the following preamble and 
resolution, which were adopted unanimously : 

" Whereas, An application has been made to 
this bank for a small subscription to aid the efforts 
of persons engaged in the temperance reform, and 
as nothing in the judgment of the most sound and 
prudent men adds more to the permanency of our 
rights than the extension of this great reformation ; 
it is, therefore, 

"Resolved, That the cashier be authorized to pay 
the sum of twenty-five dollars to aid the fund to be 
raised in the county, for the purpose of distributing 
an appeal to the voters of the State of New York, 
lately published by the Executive Committee of the 
New York State Temperance Society." 

Many persons would have thought that a Board 
of Directors of a moneyed corporation was the last 
place to have presented such a document, but 
" knowing the right, he dare maintain it " under all 
hazards. 

His abstinence, however, reached farther than to 
intoxicating liquors. He would include in his pro- 
scription whatever articles of food or habits of living 
are known to be prejudicial to the health, or mental, 
or moral vigor of man. He canvassed Syracuse in 
person, and appealed to thousands of its inhab- 
itants to dissuade them from the use of tobacco. 
It may be too true that his unwearied exertions 
have made but little visible impression upon 
those who were addicted to this nauseous weed ; 
but very many, through his influence, are rejoicing 
in their exemption from the offensive habit. He 
would never concede that reason and conscience, 
health and purity should be subjugated to appetite. 
But he insisted, with a distinctness, pertinacity, and 
earnestness, which evinced his deep sincerity and 
commanded the respect of many who have not 
yielded to his appeals, that it is a sin to violate any 
of the laws of life and health, laws instituted by 
Almighty God, as plainly as those that were pro- 
claimed by Moses from Mount Sinai. This great 
doctrine he inculcated wherever he could get ears 
to hear it, and enforced it by a life eminently con- 



236 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



sistent, and by the manifestation in his own person 
of a degree of health, vigor, and power of endur- 
ance, seldom seen in a man of his years. 

Although the temperance cause received so much 
attention from Captain Teall, and made such large 
demands upon his time and his purse, he also en- 
tered with zeal into other important reforms. 

He early engaged in opposition to the law by 
which debtors might be incarcerated like felons, 
nor did he cease from his efforts until that law was 
repealed. In the height of the controversy on that 
reform he was one of a number who went to the 
Onondaga county jail, paid the jailor's demands 
against all the debtors in his custody, threw open 
the prison doors, and led them forth into the light 
and air of freedom, of which misfortune ought never 
to deprive a man. 

He was also untiring in his efforts to procure the 
passage of the homestead exemption law, and never 
relinquished his labors on that behalf, believing as 
he did, that a still larger amount of property should 
be ensured to the families of men against the con- 
tingencies of trade, as well as the rapacity of hard- 
hearted creditors. 

To mention but one more of the objects of 
benevolence to which he addressed himself, the 
law authorizing married females to hold property 
independently of their husbands, was, in its very in- 
ception, duly appreciated by Captain Teall, and 
warmly advocated. This was an important step in 
the restoration of women to that condition of 
equality in which they were originally created, and 
to which they have an unalienable right. 

Now, whoever knows anything of the origin of 
"human laws, will acknowledge that we are much 
more indebted for our social improvements to the 
wisdom, benevolence, and exertions of private citi- 
zens, than we are to the final action of legislators, 
who tardily follow where the leaders of public opin- 
ion draw them, and, at last, merely give a govern- 
mental sanction to what has already become the 
known will of the sovereign people. Captain 
Teall was, in fact, for many years, one of the law- 
makers of this Slate. Some of the best laws that 
have been put upon our statute-books, have been 
enacted by the influence that he, and men like him, 
have exerted upon the public mind. 

It will, therefore, be interesting to our readers to 
know some of the principal facts of his personal 
history. It will be particularly instructive and en- 
couraging to young men of limited means and few 
literary advantages to be informed that Captain 
Teall qualified himself for great usefulness in so- 
ciety by^thc force of good common sense, fidelity 



to every obligation and the fearless avowal of what- 
ever he believed to be true and right. 

Oliver Teall was born August 5, 1788, in the 
town of Killingworth, Conn. His great-grandfather 
came from Holland, and settled in this country a 
number of years previous to the Revolution. His 
father, with four brothers, served their country in 
the war for American independence, in all, nearly 
six years each. Eighteen months of his term his 
father spent as a prisoner, having been captured at 
Horse Neck, at the time when General Putnam 
made his almost miraculous escape. 

Soon after the close of the war his father. Dr. 
Timothy Teall, resumed his profession, and, about 
1 79 1, removed with his wife (whose maiden name 
was Phci.be Hulli and several children from Kil- 
lingworth into the town of Manlius, Onondaga 
County. He was one of the first settlers in this 
region. Being poor, he purchased a farm on credit. 
It was a tract of military land, and he was put to 
no little trouble and expense to get a good title to 
it. He pursued his medical profession until called 
into public life. He served many years as a magis- 
trate and a deputy-sheriff, and transacted a great 
deal of business for his fellow-citizens, in various 
capacities. Shortly after their removal into Man- 
lius, Mrs. Teall died, leaving her husband with six 
children, four daughters and two sons. Oliver, the 
subject of this biography, was then but about four 
years of age. The oldest child was a daughter, of 
but twelve years, and upon her devolved the princi- 
pal charge of the family, much of the time, too, in 
the absence of their father. 

Oliver, so soon as he was able, was put to work 
upon the farm, much of it then being yet unre- 
claimed from the woods. And there he continued 
to toil until he was 17 or 18 years old, when he was 
allowed to deal for himself, with the understanding 

! that he was to work on the farm when not other- 
wise employed. His facilities for acquiring literary 
information all this while were, of course, very slen- 
der. He has been heard to say that all his school- 
ing did not amount to more than one year at a com- 
mon district school. Yet, so soon as he had been 

I taught to read, he began to occupy his little leisure 
time in the perusal of such books as were within 

' his reach. Often did he pursue his studies by fire 
or torch light, until, at about the age of twenty, he 
was thought to be qualified to be teacher. Instruct- 
ing others, is the most profitable mental and moral 
discipline to one who undertakes the task with the 
determination to be faithful. While thus engaged, 
and during the winter months of several years, be- 
fore and after, Mr. Teall himself made very rapid 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



237 



improvement. About this time he read several of 
his father's medical works, thinking that he might, 
at a future day, become a physician. Afterwards 
he read Blackstone's Commentaries, not knowing 
but his preference would be for the law. Before, 
however, he was twenty years of age, he concluded 
to take his chance in the world without any particu- 
lar profession. 

He soon after engaged in various branches of busi- 
ness. For a while he conducted a limekiln, labor- 
ing at it himself very hard. Then he entered into 
partnership in the tanning, currying and shoemaking 
business. Afterwards he engaged in iron smithing, 
in its various branches. Thus he acquired a great 
deal of practical information in a variety of useful 
arts, which was of inestimable value to him in sub- 
sequent life. 

Habits of economy were commenced in him 
almost as soon as his habits of industry. When 
quite a boy he had earned twelve shillings, and that 
small sum (which was then a great one to him) he 
put out to interest at 7 per cent. This was the 
beginning of his financial operations, a suitable 
prelude to that course which led him to become the 
president of a bank, and the head of several large 
pecuniary investments. 

In the war of 1812 he commanded a company, 
which he ordered to muster in Manlius, and marched 
to Oswego, when it was threatened by the enemy. 
Hence the title by which he was so familiarly 
known. 

At an early period of life. Captain Teall com- 
menced his speculations in real estate, the buying 
of water-powers, erecting mills, carrying them on 
a while, and, when he had made them valuable, 
selling them to advantage. The experience which 
he gained in these transactions, qualified him for an 
enterprise which, in the event, greatly enhanced his 
property, and made him more than ever known and 
respected by the business-men of this part of the 
Empire State. In 18 18, he took what was then a 
large contract on the middle section of the Erie 
Canal. The whole work was an experiment. 
Many persons in the State were utterly incredulous 
of its success. The amount involved in the job he 
had taken was much larger than he had ever before 
attempted to manage. Laborers were not so easily 
obtained then as now. Difficulties sprang up 
thickly in his way. He became alarmed at the 
undertaking, and offered the canal commissioners 
|>SOO to release him from his contract. They 
utterly refused to do so. This roused all his 
energies. He addressed himself to the work with 
a determination that few could command. He ac- 



complished it some time before the day specified ; 
and disclosed those qualities, that were so appreci- 
ated by the commissioners, that, at the completion 
of the middle section of the canal, he was appointed 
superintendent of a portion of it, and served in that 
capacity for six years. Here he was called upon to 
direct important improvements and repairs, and to 
expend very large sums of money. The thorough- 
ness of the work done under his supervision, and 
the accuracy of his accounts, inspired all who were 
cognizant of his skill and fidelity with the highest 
confidence. 

It was during this period that he invented the 
machine, called " The Under-water Excavator," for 
deepening canals. It answered the purpose well 
and he obtained a patent for it. 

But it was at a still earlier date that he embraced 
a principle, which, could it be universally adopted 
by the people from Albany to Buffalo, would be an 
incomparably greater blessing to the state and 
county, than this far-famed canal has been. In 
1 8 19, Captain Teall followed the then almost 
universal custom of furnishing ardent spirits to his 
workmen and of drinking with them himself It 
so happened that when erecting a grist-mill in the 
town of Sullivan, his foreman had hired a man 
somewhat famous in that neighborhood as a hard- 
drinker. This annoyed Mr. Teall. He was willing 
to drink with decent men, but to join in his pota- 
tions with a drunkard was mortifying to his self- 
respect. Probably some words to that effect 
dropped from his lips, which were reported to the 
new-comer. For, the next day, when the Captain 
had drank himself, and, as usual, passed the bottle 
to his workmenj all partook, excepting only the man 
at whom he had taken offense. The reputed 
inebriate utterly refused the tempting draught. 
Though urged, he would not be induced to taste it. 
This unexpected occurrence awakened in the 
Captain's mind a train of reflections, which led to 
the determination that he would never again be 
instrumental in the seduction of sober men, or the 
temptation of those whom the sin of intemperance 
most easily beset. He at once renounced the use 
of distilled spirits, and shortly after intoxicating 
drinks of every description. To the resolution 
then formed he adhered without deviation to the 
end of his life. 

His early studies of the laws of life and health, 
already referred to, disposed him the more readily 
to refrain from an indulgence which the slightest 
observation is sufficient to show, is most prejudicial 
to the physical, mental, and moral welfare of man. 
For the same reason, Mr. Teall abstained from the 



238 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



use of tobacco. Subsequent observation and 
thought led him to abandon the use of tea and 
coffee, and from 1840, of flesh, fish and fowl. In 
these respects, many regarded him as abstemious 
overmuch, and were willing to believe that he rejected 
what the divine Author of all intended for the food 
of man, and what therefore cannot be rejected 
without injury. But the subject of our memoir 
was surely a witness against all the common as- 
sumptions on this point. He lived to the age of 
si.\ty-nine, in the enjoyment of perfect health, free 
from every kind of ache or pain, able to endure as 
much bodily e.xertion as any man in the city, and 
to e.vpose himself with impunity to all kinds of 
weather, seldom if ever wearing an outer garment. 
He lost not a day by sickness, nor expended a 
shilling in the purchase of medicine for many 
years. Indeed he considered sickness prima facie 
evidence of some moral obliquity. " How is your 
health .'" was said to him one morning. " Very 
good," was his reply ; "what think you I have been 
doing, that I should be sick .'" 

But with all his physical hardihood, and his in- 
domitable energy and perseverance, though he was 
never known to relinquish a purpose he had deter- 
mined to accomplish. Captain Teall always mani- 
fested a peaceable and friendly spirit. So averse to 
litigation was he that, notwithstanding the magni- 
tude of his business transactions, and the great 
number and variety of persons he dealt with, he 
never in his life had a contested lawsuit. In the 
settlement of his father's estate, he left it to be di- 
vided by his brother and sisters as they might see 
best. And in all his intercourse with men, at the 
same time that he was noted for shrewdness, he 
was uniformly fair and honorable. 

In 1809 Capt. Teall married Catherine Walter, a 
farmer's daughter, in the town of Manlius. She 
was frugal, industrious, gentle, distinguished for 
her general benevolence, and for her untiring devo- 
tion to her family. She died September 30, 1836. 
By her he had five children, two sons and three 
daughters. The eldest son was educated at West 
Point Academy, and has since died. His 
other children are Eliza, (Mrs. Amos Benedict,) 
Phoebe A. , (Mrs. Geo. J. Gardner,) and William W., 
all residents of this city, and Maria 1 Mrs. Judge 
Divine,) of San Francisco, Cal. 

Soon after his marriage, he purchased a farm in 
Manlius, and erected a commodious stone house, 
which he expected would be his dwelling-place so 
long as he should live on earth. But on his ap- 
pointment to a superintendcncy upon the Erie 
Canal, he removed to that part of Syracuse which 



was called Lodi, purchased of the State the right 
to the surjjlus waters of the west end of the Rome 
level, and erected mills, which for a number of 
years he managed in addition to his public busi- 
ness. 

Thus he became an inhabitant of this place in its 
infancy. He grew with its growth, and strength- 
ened with its strength ; and he was highly respected 
as one of the conscript fathers of Syracuse. 

In the summer of 1857, he was attacked with a 
disease of the lungs which at first assumed a serious 
and alarming appearance. By advice of physicians 
he was taken to the sea-shore in the hope that a 
change of climate might restore his wonted powers. 
In this, however, his friends were doomed to disap- 
pointment, as he rapidly became worse. They, 
therefore, started for home with him and on arriving 
at New York the most skillful medical aid was pro- 
cured, but without avail. Leaving New York for 
Catskill he was able to reach Newburgh only, when 
he was met by the unerring messenger, and on the 
15th day of August, 1857, summoned to his final 
rest at the age of 69 years and 10 days. 

His funeral was attended by a large concourse of 
people, the following named persons, all very old 
residents of the city, (not one of whom is now liv- 
ing) acting as pall-bearers, viz : Robert Furman, 
Oliver R. Strong, Johnson Hall, Hiram Putnam, 
Moses D. Burnet, David G. Colvin, Amos P. Gran- 
ger and Henry Rhoades. The Rev. Samuel J. 
May, a constant fellow-laborer in the cause of re- 
form, delivered a very eloquent discourse upon the 
life and character of the deceased, paying a hand- 
some tribute to his excellent qualities and unfeigned 
virtues, and his exalted worth as a man and a Chris- 
tian. 

Corporations and civic associations adopted reso- 
lutions of sympathy and condolence, and by repre- 
sentation or in a body, attended his funeral. The 
Common Council was specially convened by mes- 
sage from the Mayor, in the following language : 
" Death has taken from us a man venerable for his 
years and private virtue — a citizen who has been 
identified with the growth and progress of Syracuse 
from its commencement to the present time," and 
recommending that suitable action be taken there- 
upon. The Common Council, among other resolu- 
tions, adopted the following : " Resolved, That in 
the death of Oliver Teall, Syracuse is called to 
mourn. One of her gray-haired sires has gone to 
his last rest ; a familiar face, an upright man, a 
useful citizen, has been removed from among us, 
and we are truly called to sorrow." Monumental 
eulogies and obituary notices were published in the 



ii 





(Uyi^ CAyv'^^jt^^ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK. 



239 



newspapers of the day, and private letters of sym- 
pathy were tendered the friends of the deceased. 
Every mark of honor and respect which could be 
rendered to a private citizen, were given, and the 
entire community felt that a great man had fallen. 
As a true expression of the feelings of the commu- 
nity, we append the following extract from the local 
journals of the day : " Capt. Teall was a man of 
great activity and energy, and untiring industry, and 
every reform found in him a zealous, efficient and 
consistent advocate and liberal friend. * * 

He was honorable and upright in all his dealings, 
charitable and humane in his disposition, and lived 
and died without an enemy." 



GEORGE J. GARDNER, ESQ. 

George Judd Gardner was born in Boston, Mass., 
July 19, 18 18, and was one of seven children of Thos. 
Gardner and Anna Judd. When he was about eight 
years old his parents removed to New York City. 
He was at school in Public School House No. 2, 
on Henry street, where one of the public schools 
of the city is standing at this day. His father died 
when he was still a boy. In the year 1829, he 
lived for a time on a farm in Ontario county, with 
Peleg Redfield, father of Lewis H. Redfield, Esq., of 
Syracuse. Mr. Peleg Redfield's wife was sister of 
Mr. Gardner's mother. At this time Lewis H. 
Redfield had just removed from Onondaga Hollow 
(as it was then called) to Syracuse, and become 
publisher of the " Onondaga Register and Syra- 
cuse Gazette." Young Gardner then came to Syra- 
cuse, and learned in his cousin's office the business 
of a printer. Part of his duty was to deliver 
papers at " the Hollow," going thither on horseback 
once a week. In 183 1, Mr. Redfield sold out his 
paper (he had been a publisher at Onondaga Valley 
a number of years before coming to Syracuse) but 
retained his bookstore, in which Mr. Gardner be- 
came clerk. This bookstore was in a brick block 
which occupied a portion of the present site of the 
Onondaga County Savings Bank. When this 
block was burned in " the great fire" of 1834, the 
store was kept temporarily in the " Yellow Build- 
ing " which stood where is now the Bastable Ar- 
cade. Afterwards it was moved back into the 
" Davis, Redfield and Colvin Block," which was 
built where is now the east end of the Onondaga 
County Savings Bank. In 1841, Mr. Gardner 
went into business for himself, as successor to Mr. 
Redfield in the bookstore. Shortly before this, oc- 
curred the death of his beloved and widowed 
mother. 



In the year 1843, Mr. Gardner was united in mar- 
riage with Phoebe A., youngest daughter of Oliver 
Teall, Esq. They have had no children of their 
own, but have adopted and brought up three 
daughters, two of whom are married to gentlemen 
of Syracuse. After his marriage in August, 1843, 
Mr. Gardner became book-keeper in the Onondaga 
County Bank, of which his father-in-law was Presi- 
dent, previous to which he was for a time Superin- 
tendent of the Syracuse City Water-Works. In 
1848 he was appointed Notary Public, and has held 
that office for thirty years consecutively, being per- 
haps the senior Notary Public of the State, and has 
just been reappointed to that office for another 
term of two years. 

In 1846 he was appointed Teller of the Onondaga 
County Bank, and when its charter expired in 1854, 
he with others organized the Onondaga Bank, of 
which he was made Cashier. This office he held 
until i860, when he resigned. In 1861, Mr. P. H. 
Agan, having been appointed Postmaster of Syra- 
cuse by the lamented President Lincoln, made Mr. 
Gardner his Assistant. The system of the free 
delivery of the mails in cities was established in 
Syracuse, not without opposition in some quarters, 
during his tenure of office, which lasted till 1866. 
In that year he was elected Secretary of the New 
York State Life Insurance Company. In 1872 
he resigned that office, in consequence of a change 
in the organization of the company. Since then 
he has been acting as Executor and Administrator 
of several estates, and as General Accountant. 

Mr. Gardner has been active in the various duties 
and offices of civic life. When a mere lad he was 
" Signal Boy " of the old No. i Fire Engine Co. 
Was connected with that company many years, and 
received the first certificate of discharge and ex- 
emption granted by the municipal authorities under 
the (then; new law. He was Lieutenant and acting 
Captain in the old 149th Regiment, under the ill- 
fated Colonel Woodruff, who, with two other per- 
sons connected with the regiment, was executed in 
Canada, at the suppression of the Canadian Rebel- 
lion of 1836. He confesses also to have belonged 
to a secret order of " Hunters and Chasers," whose 
object was the revolutionization of the Canadas, 
and the avenging of the "patriots " who had fallen. 
He has also served the community in more peace- 
' ful ways. He has been twice Supervisor of the 
Eighth Ward— in i860 and 1S61. Three times 
Alderman— in 1853, (term of two years,) 1863, and 
1873. Member of the Board of Health in 1853. 
Twice member of the Board of Education, in 1856-7, 
and in 1862-3. He was one of the corporators in 



240 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



1865 of ^^^ Genesee and Water Street Railroad 
Co., and has been its Secretary and Treasurer, with 
the exception of one year, ever since. He was one 
of the corporators of the " Trust and Deposit Com- 
pany of Onondaga." He was a member of the 
" Syracuse Library and Reading Room Associa- 
tion," the first literary society established here ; 
was also one of the founders of the P'ranklin Insti- 
tute in 1850, which had among its members as 
Directors, Rev. Dr. Gregory, Rev. Samuel J. May, 
Alfred Cobb, Esq., Hon. Charles Andrews, Charles 
Pope, Esq., John Jay Kno.x, ( now Comptroller of the 
Currency,! and others ; was at different times Di- 
rector, Secretary, Chairman of Lecture Committee, 
and, in 1856, President, of the same. He became, 
in 1863, a life member of the Onondaga Historical 
Association. It may be added that he possesses 
one of the best private libraries in the city, contain- 
ing some rare and valuable works ; which, with his 
art collections, and curiosities of various sorts, he is 
always ready to exhibit to his friends and to visitors 
generally. 

Mr. Gardner has been an attendant of the Epis- 
copal Church in Syracuse ever since 1830. He 
was elected a Vestryman of St. James' Church in 
1852, and a Warden of the same in 1864, and has 
represented his parish in the Annual Conventions 
of the Diocese for nearly 25 years. At the organ- 
ization of the new Diocese of Central New York, 
(set off from Western New York in 1868,1 he was 
elected its Treasurer, and has been ever since an- 
nually reelected to that and other offices of trust 
in the management of Diocesan afTairs. Some 
years since he read before the Brotherhood of St. 
James' Church an interesting paper entitled " Remi- 
niscences of the Church in Syracuse," which was 
afterwards published in the " Gospel Messenger," 
then the Church periodical of all Western New 
York. As a writer, Mr. Gardner has contributed 
liberally to the newspapers and periodicals of the 
day, and has also prepared and delivered many pub- 
lic lectures and addresses upon various subjects, 
more especially on Odd Fellowship. 

Mr. Gardner has been an active member of vari- 
ous Brotherhoods and Associations. He was for a 
long time a member of Syracuse Division No. 27, 
" Sons of Temperance." Also of Justitia Tent 
No. 8, " Independent Order of Rechabites ; " hold- 
ing the highest offices in these organizations. He 
has always been a temperance man of the " strait- 
est" sort, never drinking any into.xicating liquor, 



nor tasting fermented drinks, nor using tobacco in 
any form. And his uniformly vigorous health 
seems to show that these things are at least not 
necessary to the well-being of man. He has been 
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
for 35 years, belonging to Onondaga Lodge No. 70 
of which he was a charter member, and to the 
Grand Lodge of the State ; having been Grand 
Master of the Grand Lodge in i868-'69. He has 
also been a leading member of the Masonic Frater- 
nity, having, it is believed, taken all its degrees, 
and held many of its highest offices. In 1862, he 
was instrumental in introducing here the "Ancient 
and Accepted Scottish Rite," and has for services 
rendered received the 33d and last degree, of 
" Sovereign Grand Inspector General," and is there- 
by an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, 
N.-. M.-. J.-. U. S. A. 

Mr. Gardner has seen nearly the whole growth 
of the city of Syracuse. A resident here since 
1829, he has witnessed the gradual upbuilding and 
extension of the city. He has seen its population 
increase from about 1,800 to nearly 60,000, and its 
wealth and influence enlarge in a like proportion. 
There were but twelve deaths in the first year of 
his residence here, while in the year 1877 there 
were about a thousand. From his knowledge of 
the history of business here, he is often referred to 
as authority on questions of our local past ; and 
he has been contented to grow up with the city. 

Providence has granted him the Prayer of Agur 
in the Book of Proverbs, that he should have 
" neither poverty nor riches." But Providence 
has given him a moderate competence, a pleasant 
home, a faithful wife possessed of fine literary 
talents, dutiful children, " troops of friends," and a 
contented spirit. His story illustrates the truth 
that God's blessing attends the path of uprightness, 
prudence and industry. His leading characteristics 
are great activity, strict integrity and a desire to be 
useful. He is of the better class of self-made men. 
Such men are pillars of society, and salt against 
the world's corruption. We may well desire long 
to keep them with us, and cannot easily over-esti- 
mate their worth. It is as good to show them 
regard and reverence now, as to wait till they 
have been taken from our midst, and we have only 
their memories to honor. The supreme words 
to be written over this man's life, through all its 
social, religious and business relations are slcrlitig 
fidelity. 



MAJ.-GEN. JOHN J. PECK. 



The subject of this sketch was born at Manlius, Onomlaga Co., N. Y., Jan. 4, 1821. 
His father and mother, John W. ami Phebe Peck, were among tlie earlier and active 
settlers of that town. His fatlier, in the war of 18l"i with Great Britain, served .«ome 
time in defense of the harbor of New York. His mother, while a child, witnessed 
atrocities at the hands of the English, at lier then home on the eastern shore of 
Long I.'iland, during the same war. The parents, valuing the advantages derived 
from an education, knowing the want of it thcmselveis, caused their son to be fitted 
for college at an early age. 

In July, 1839, through the influence of Hon. Wm. Taylor, uiemher of congress 
from Onondnga and Madison district, he was nominated by President Van Bnren fur 
a cadetship in the United States Military Academy. The class, nnnibi'iing over one 
hundred upon his entrance, graduated only thiity-nine, among whom were General 
U. S. Grant, Mrtjor-Geuerals W. B. Franklin. J. J. Peck, C. 0. Angnr. F. Steele, R. 
Ingails, C. S. Hamilton, J. J. Reynolds, and Brigadier-Generals Judah and Quinby. 

Buring the encampment of 1843 he served as an instructor of infantrj'; having 
been applied for in the ;irtillery also, he was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant 
in the second artillery. 

In 1843 and 1844 he was stationed at Fort Columbus; in 1844 and 1845, at Fort 
Hamilton. His cunipany was ordered to theseatuf di then 1 ties in Texas. Colonel Bank- 
head gave him the option to remain on leave nf iibsence, but he preferred to go. 
Joined his command, att;iched to Duncan's famous battery, and arrived at General 
Taylor's quarters at Corpus Chrlsti, August, 1845. To trace his liistory through the 
Mexican war, would be to give almost a complete liistory of the marches, battles, 
and sieges of the entire >var. 

General Taylor, July 27, 1846, com- 
mended him to the president for brevet 
distinction, for good conduct and gal- 
lantry in the battles of Fort Brown, 
Palo Alto, and Resaca de la Palma. 
Being the youngest in rank and years, 
this was the highest honor that could be 
conferred. He was promoted a second lieu- 
tenant, April 15, 1846. For bravery and 
services, upon the fall of Monterey, he was 
again promoted, — a second brevet, — and 
March 3, 1847, promoted a first lienteuiint. 
His company was in the advance in the 
occupation of Puebia, a city of eighty 
thousand, by four thousand troops, one of 
the rarestevents in history. He received 
from the president and senate the "bre- 
vet of captain, for gallantry and good 
conduct at Contreras and Cherubusco." 
In the battle of El Molino del Rey, for gal- 
lant and meritorious services, he was pro- 
moted to the rank of major. (See RipJeifs 
War with Mexico^ vol. ii., page 377. 
Also, Kendall's War with Mexico, and 
Jenkins^ War, etc.) Uptm the entry of 
the army into the City of Mexico, his 
company', of Colonel Smith's light bat- 
talion, curried the flag of the Sccnnd 
United States artillery, and. when the 
populace rose on the troops, led the way. 

The esteem in which Major Peck was 
held by hia illustrious commander, is 
expressed in the following letter by Gen- 
eral Worth: 

City of Mexico, Dee. 8, 1817. 
My dk.\r Sirs: 

I have desired my young and gallant 
friend, Lieutenant Peck, to hand you this, 
and I beg to commend him to your con- 
sideration and kind attention. You will 
find the name and services of this officer 
in an officialaccountof every battle, save 
one, from the commencement of this war 
to the conquest of the basin, as the associ- 
ate of Duncan or Smith. He is of our 
State, and worthy of it. 

Very truly yours, 
(Signed) W. J. WORTH. 

To Hons. Erastus Corning, John Van 
Buren, E. Croswell, and Mr. Jiis. Ste- 
venson. 

On his return to his native borne ho 
was tendered a public dinner and pre- 
sented with a beautiful sword, on which 
was tlie following inscription: "Pre- 
sented to Major J. J. Peck, by the citizens 
of Manlius, as a testimonial of respect 
for his gallant and meritorious conduct 

in the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, 
C-ontrcras. Cherubusco, Molino del Rey, Chapnltepec, Causeway, and Gate of San 
Cosme, and City of Mexico." 

In 1849 the Government, through Senator Dix, tendered Major Peck the position 
of assistant quarterma.ster, which he declined. 

In 1818, 1849, and 1850 he served in the Indian Territories, in New Mexico, and 
Aug. 30, 1849, was engaged with the Navajoes, in Upper Californiii, and in locating 
Fort DL^fiance, hia spare time being occupied in preparing a work on artillery and 
infantry tactics, which should embody the necessiiry changes in ScottV. His sub- 
sequent resignation ended those labora. In the moves for the admission of New 
Mexiro IIS a State, during the sessions of the convctitioti Major Peck was active wiih 
the committees, and stnive to engraft free and liberal institutions adverec to slavery. 

Hon. George Geddes, in 1849, offered a resolution in the senate of New Yt>rk, award- 
ing a gold medal to Major Peck, for his gallantry in (he war with Mexico, but the 
measure fiiilcd in the political excitement sweeping the Union because of the com- 
promise measures on slavery. 

In 1850 he married Miss Rhobie, the accomplished daughter of Harvey Loomis, of 
Syracuse, N. Y. In 185.S he visited his old conmumder, General Scott, on the matter 
of his resignation, as he had done in 1850. The General said, "That while he lived 
(on personal grounds) he regretted the resignation of any officer who had lioen bap- 
tized in fire with him in Mexico." 

In politics Major Peck was of the school known as Hunker, prior to the union 
with the Softs in 1856 at the Cincinnati convention, and a strict constructionist of 
the constitution. A delegate in the National Democratic convention at Cincinnati in 





1856. The same year he was nominated for congress, and tendered a renomination 
in 1858. Major Peck was a member of the National Democratic convention of 
1860, at Charleston and Baltimore, and stood among the conservatives. In 1857 
he was tendered a foreign mission by President Bucbiiuiin, and declined. In 1861 
be was one of the committee to receive Lincoln, president elect, at Buffalo, and 
escort liim to Syracuse. Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he 
offered his services, by letter, to the president in any capacity in which he could 
serve his country, and was active in calling a Union meeting at Syracuse, where he 
was received by bis fellow-citizens with distinguished regard, and urged to consent 
to efforts to secure him a general's commission, but declined engaging in any nmve- 
ment which bore a pei-aonal rather than a patriotic aspect. Major Peck's name 
headed a list of eiglity names handed the president by the New York congressional 
delegation for commissions in the army. He was appointed a brigadier-general, 
Aug. 9, 1861 ; repairetl at once to Wiishington, and, by invitation, spent his first even- 
ing with the president. By General McClellan's request to General Scoit he was 
assigned ctmimand of a large brigade in the Army of the Potonuic. In the final 
organization ho was iissigned to Buell's, and afterwards to Couch's, of the Fourth 
Corps, and afterwards to Key's. 

He rendered signal service at the siege of Yorktown, and his timely advance and 
subsequent action at Williamsburg at a critical time won for him a reputation 
greatly to be envied (extract from report of Brigadier-General Couch), in which 
engagement, besides the battery and other trophies, he captured a large and beauti- 
ful State banner from one of the Virginia regiments. One of the proudest events of 
his life was in l.'^62, when the Hon. Charles Andrews, mayor of the city of Syracuse, 

bis adopted home, presented, in an elo- 
quent speech, a rebel flag, captured by 
General Peck's brigade, to the common 
conncil,wliich body adopted unanimously 
appropriate resolutions. 

General Couch, in his report of the 
battle of Fair Oaks, says, "General Peck 
fought his brigade with skill and daring 
courage, his horse falling under him, afti-r 
being sever.ll limes wounded. His com- 
mand added new laurels to those won at 
Williamsburg." General McCIelhm also 
makes mention of his bravery on this 
occasion {Headlry's liiheUinn, page 428). 
Afterthis terrible battle he was tendered 
the Command of Casey's division, and 
accepted the same June 24. He was made 
a full major-general at Harrison's Land- 
ing, to date July 4, 1862, and Sept. 22 
assumed command of all the troops in 
Viiginia south of the James. 

In the spring of 1863 the at tent ion of the 
relu'ls was drawn to the importance of Suf- 
folk. Tliat reduced, Norfolk and Ports- 
month mustalsofatl. General Longstreet, 
with tbrty thousand men, the flower of the 
Siuithern armj', was assigned the work. 
Hi-< plans, well laid, to cut the Nanseinond 
.six miles below the city and the railrond 
on left and rear, and, at the same time, 
draw off a part of General Peck's troojis 
by a raid on Little Wasliingt<in, being 
executed. General Peck's army of ten 
thousand men and the situation would 
fall a rich prize. General Peck, by a cap- 
tured mail, conceived tiie plans of his wily 
iidveisary. I^ongstreet attempted to take 
the place by a-sanlt, but failed. Therelirl 
general attempted to cut the river, but 
the sm:ill fleet, commanded by young 
men, but of unctmquerable bravery, pre- 
vented. Yel their gun-l oats were riddled 
with balls. At length, on April 18, the 
object of the rtbels seenu-d to be accom- 
plished. An enrth-work, mounting five 
rifled enn^ was prected at Hill's Point, a 
place six miles below Suffolk, from which 
the enemy could sweep the gun-boats, but 
our mi'^siies would only bury themselves 
in the parapet. General Peck, with a 
small detachment, stormed and captured 
the place with the entire party of officers, 
cannon, etc. This was the virtual ending 
of the attjuk on Suffolk, and on the third 
of May, General Long>treet, after an in- 
vestment of the place for three weeks. 
raised the siege. For this grand and 
skillfnl defense of Suffolk, General Peek 
received llie highest encomiums from 
his superiors for his good judgment dur- 
ing the six months previous in stronglv fortifying the place, and lor his gallant 
defense of the same when atficked by a much larger force, led by some of the moi^l 
distinguished generals in the MTvice of the insurgents. 

In consequence of ill health he returned home, and July 5, 1864, was assigned o 
dntv as second in command of the department of the ea-t, consisting of New- York 
New Jersey, and the New England States, being selected by General Dix who had 
previously' desired the War Dejiaitnu-tit to relieve General Peck in the south. 
In August, lSil5, General Peck was mustered out of the .service. In the elections 
of the fall of 1865 he acted with the Union party, and approved the recon- 
struction plan of President Lincoln. At the time of the ass^-ssination <.f 1 rcMdent 
Lincoln, General Peck issued appropriate orders to thp department for observing 
the funeral obsequies, and addressed the great meeting in Mall street, and paui 
everv respect due to the memory of the late chief magistrate, trom the time 
General Peck assumed command of troops he wa.s Ih" sonice ofjnstice and of inuni- 
cipal regulations, the protector of private rights of person and property. In his 
orders he called on Christian men of the north for ministers to give instruction 
to the living, and Christian burinl to the dead heroes ot the war. On April \l, 
1865, the citizens of New York connneinorate.l at the Academy of JIusic, by appro- 
pria e exercises, the nvising of the flag of the Union over tor Sumter by GeneMl 
AnderBon. General Peck was the president of the day, and delivered the nddre.s. 
In 1867 he organized the New York State Life Insurance Company, and wa^ made 
president thereof. On March 20, 1874, he lost his wife. Of late years he resided in 
Syracuse, with health ver>- much impaired, the result of hanlships and dangers 
encountered during^is military career. He died April 21, 1878. 




ritulit li> TittxT X lluwUiiil, SyrucM-t 



^ cMc^^^^ 



Amoo Slanton, fnthcr nf the subject of tliia memoir, came from 
!,«■, Mas!^., >to|>|>iii(; in Mi'nlgiiincry county iv few jenrs, Imt in 
IT'Jl settled in .(Bm4iiville, punliasini; ^(>mo three liiindred acres of 
land, including a mill privilei;c, at tllty centii an mere. In 1805 ho 
enmc t>> what wiui then Salina, and purchased one square acre of 
i;rfiund near the present bridge over the Oswego canal, on Salina 
»lre<t. M r. Stanton cleared the land and converted it into a wlnat- 
llelil. Whiii the Oswego canal was c<instrucled, the line pa«sc>d 
ilia^Mnally throui;h Mr. "Stanton's Acre." 

Unftis Stanton wii- iMirn in Maylleld, Montgomery i-imnty, in 
17HH. He wa» the thirteenth rhild of Amos and Mercy Stanton. 
In the fourth yonr of his ag<' his parent- removed to Onondai;a 
County, whore his earlier years were passed in thu most primitive 
manner. Ho remembered his father having a " husking-bec" 
oni- fall, to which every white settlor in the county was invited. 
Thev all came, and yet a few split logs, laid smooth side up for 
tables, accommodated them. 

Amid such priniilive scenes Kufus .Stanton pns-ed the earlier 
part of his life until his sixteenth year, when his father removed 
to the village of " Corinth," now Syracuse, and Kufus was ono of 
a few men who met and changed the name of tlic place from 
" Corinth" to Syracuse. 

Kufus .Stjinton assisted in clearing away the trees and in the 
erection of the flrsl frame house in Syracuse, \K» location being 
where the Kmpire House now staiiils. 

In IH4)7 he entere<l iipnn thi' liuainess nf baking and brewing, 
with his brother-in-law, Mr. (.iiiid<>n, which be continue<l for two 
years. The salt interi'St then begiui to bH)m up into importance, 
and Mr. Stantim engaged in its nninufactore lor three years. The 
rapidly-growing fame of tho salt village called many strangers to 
study its advantages, and accommodations not being siiflicient, he, 
in 1813, openeil a tavern in Salina, whore ho entertained strangers, 
and among others Oeneral Scott and his troo|>s on their way to 
Saikcls Harbor during the war of 1812-1:1; their next meeting 
■ if recognition was on board the " Mayflower," on Lake Kric, 
many years after, when both were old men. 

Agricultural pursuits were combined with public services, and 
even as late as IHHi .Mr. Stanton raisetl a heavy crop of rye on tho 
site of the Syracuse House. In WM ho commenced farming largo 
tracts of land, one of which extended over tho ground now occu- 
pied by Iteiiwick Castle ond the Orphan Asylum. He remained 



there until 1833, when his close application to farm lBU>r some- 
what inipairi'd hi> health, anil be relimpiished tbeni for a time. 
Uemoving into the city, be was jilaced in charge of the Syracuse 
com|uiny'8 lands, the duties of which |iosilion were performed in 
the most satisfactory manner. 

At the dose of the year, his health improving, bo purchn.u'd a 
large farm situated on the eastern Imundary of the lily, known 
since as .Stanton's Hill. Where his meadow was, is now tho 
Driving I'ark. 

From this farm Mr. Slanton removed to .Syracuse, where the 
latter years of his life were pas.-ed in the retirenient of private 
life, surrounded by kind friends and loving relatives. He dii'd 
Sept. 10, 187-1. 

Tho Statulard said of him at his death : " He was the (ddest 
resident of the city and county at tho time of his death, and was 
one of tho most respected and trusted. He never sought public 
office, but always maintained the highest reputation for honesty, 
integrity, industry, and uprightness of character. His wi)rd was 
as good as his bond, and in all his multitudinous transaction" no 
one could evi-r say that Kufus Stanton wronged him of a dollar. 
He wos always pleasant and cheerful, ready to assist the mn-dy, 
and lend a helping hand to all public improvements. He was a 
relic of the sturdy, old-fashioned pioneers who arc fast passing 
away. His life extended beyond tlo- time usually allotted to man, 
and his surviving relatives look back with recolb-clions of prido 
and love to the bmg care<>r of their lamenti'd |Mirent, whose history 
presents so bright an example for them to follow." 

Mr. Stanton was llrst a Whig, latterly a Democrat; active 
during his middle life in political circb-s. He llrst married, in 
April, 1815, Miss Minerva Uelknap, by whom ho bad throe 
children. 

His wife died in 1821, and he was married, in March, 1824, to 
Minerva, sister of Dudley 1*. and R. K. Phelps by whom he bad 
seven children, of whom only three survive, — Helen M., widow 
of the late Charles Keene, once a prominent merchant with Dennis 
McCarthy; llenmn H., resides in Tii|H-ka, Kansas; ond Minerva 
K., wliii nuirrieil Henry llurwell, of Chicago. 

His seconil wife also died, and he married the widow of the late 
Judge Clark, of Chtrkston, Michigan. She still survives. Mr. 
8tant<m was a member of the First Presbyterian church from 
about the time of his second marriage until his death. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



241 



FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS. 



Complete History of the Various Masonic 
Organizations which have Existed Within 
THE Present Limits of Syracuse.* 



York Rite. 

Symbolic Lodges. — The first duly authenticated 
body of Free and Accepted Masons, organized 
within what are now the limits of the city of Syra- 
cuse, was Salina Lodge No. 327, located in the 
village of Salina, now embraced in the First and 
Second Wards of the city ; which was warranted or 
chartered on the second day of December, 1819, 
and for a time held its communications in what was 
then known as Beach's, afterwards Sanger's tavern, 
located on the corner of Salina and Wolf streets. 
Its existence must have been brief, as no papers can 
be found either at the former seat of the Lodge or 
on file in the Grand Secretary's office in the city of 
New York, touching its membership or duration. 

On the second day of January, A. L. 5826, A. 
D. 1826, a dispensation was granted for the organ- 
izing of Syracuse Lodge No. 484, and on the tenth 
day of June following, a warrant was issued by the 
Grand Lodge, empowering Henry Newton to act as 
its first Master, Joseph Slocum as its first Senior 
Warden, and William Malcolm as its first Junior 
Warden. Its meetings were held in the then new 
Syracuse House in rooms fitted up for it, (according 
to a custom which then generally prevailed among 
the Lodges, of holding their meetings in public 
houses,) until about the year 1831, when it ceased 
work, owing to the influx of the great tidal wave of 
" Anti-Masonry " which was sweeping over the 
country at that time. The original warrant, to- 
gether with the tin case containing the same, made 
over fifty years since by one of its earliest members, 
Mr. Isaac D. Lawson, still a resident among us, 
(January, 1878,) are in possession of the writer of 
this article, placed there by the late Russell Heb- 
bard, Esq., who was one of its last officers. 

On the 23d day of July, 1844, a warrant was 
granted constituting Syracuse Lodge No. 102, 
naming Luther M. Tracy for Master, Henry New- 
ton for Senior Warden, and Hiram Judson for Junior 
Warden. This lodge held its meetings in Masonic 
Hall, Empire Block, being the north wing of the 
present Empire House, until August, 1849, when it 
removed to Frazee Hall, in what is now called the 
" Courier Building," corner of East Genesee and 
Montgomery streets, where it remained until Jan- 
uary, 1850 ; it then removed to " New Masonic Hall," 

♦Compiled by George J. Gardner, Esq. 
31* 



Alvord Block, 30 and 32 South Warren street, south 
of and now occupied as a portion of the Remington 
House. Here it remained until November, 1852, 
when it removed to the Stanley Block, No. 38 South 
Warren street, adjoining on the north the present 
St. Paul's Church. Thence it moved again in 1856 
to No. 63 South Salina street. New Masonic Hall, 
leasing the rooms there in connection with Central 
City Lodge No. 305, which Lodge had expended 
several thousand dollars in fitting up, preparing and 
beautifying the same. This Lodge continued to 
work until February, i860, when, "on the request 
and complaint of the members of that Lodge," its 
warrant was demanded and surrendered, together 
with all its properties, and on the eighth day of 
June following, it was declared forfeited by the 
Grand Lodge. 

On the day last mentioned, June 8, i860, a war- 
rant was granted by the Grand Lodge, then in ses- 
sion, and issued under date of July 5, i860, to 
Syracuse Lodge No. 501, authorizing the following 
named brethren to act as its first officers, viz : 
Lewis E. Joy, Master; John Frary, Senior Warden, 
and Edward S. Dawson, Junior Warden. 

This Lodge held its communications at Masonic 
Hall, No. 63 South Salina street, for a number of 
years, and then fitted up and removed to rooms in 
the Bastable Arcade, fronting on East Genesee 
street. It subsequently removed in 1876 to its 
present location Nos. 37 and 39 South Clinton 
street, where it is now located. Its present officers 
are (January, 1878) as follows, viz : N. Latterner, 
Master ; C. J. Jeffery, S. W. ; A. E. Shaul, J. W. ; 
Joseph Waller, Treasurer and Daniel N. Lathrop, 
Secretary. 

Central City Lodge No. 305 never worked under 
dispensation, like most lodges, but commenced 
masonic labor under its warrant direct, received 
from the Grand Lodge on the 7th day of June, 
1853. Its first warranted officers were W. George 
N. Williams, Master ; Joshua G. Bigelow, Senior 
Warden ; and W. Robert M. Richardson, Junior 
Warden. Its communications were held in Masonic 
Hall, Stanley Block, South Warren street, occupy- 
ing jointly with Syracuse Lodge No. 102, and Syra- 
cuse Royal Arch Chapter No 70 until 1856, when, 
having as above stated, fitted up new and more ap- 
propriate rooms at an expense of several thousand 
dollars at No. 63 South Salina street, it removed 
thereto and occupied the same for about ten years. 
A favorable opportunity offering by the erection of 
a new building now known as Nos. 85 and Sj South 
Salina street, to secure more eligible and commodi- 



242 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



ous rooms, it again spent a large sum in appropri- 
ately decorating and furnishing them, and christen- 
ing its new quarters as " Central City Masonic 
Hall," it removed thereto in 1871, where it is still 
located. Its present elective officers (January, 
1878,) are as follows, viz: William Dickison, 
Master ; Albert Becker, Jr.. Senior Warden ; 
Thurston D. Hrcwster, Junior Warden ; Charles P. 
Clark, Treasurer, and Daniel S. DeLano, Secretary. 
Orrin Welch,* Edwin H Hrown and Charles P. 
Clark, Trustees 

Salt Springs Lodge No. 520 received its dispen- 
sation and held its first regular coninuinication by 
virtue thereof, on the 17th day of September, 1861, 
at the office of Brother Harry Gifford, in the First 
Ward of the city. On the lothday of June following 
(18621 it received a warrant from the M. W. Grand 
Lodge, authorizing it to hold its communications 
"in the First Ward of said city of Syracuse," and 
appointed John F. Sherwood the first Master, 
Henry F. Greene the first Senior Warden, and 
Peter Smith the first Junior Warden thereof At 
the annual communication of the Grand Lodge in 
1867, the restriction in regard to location in the 
First Ward of the city was withdrawn, and on the 
eleventh day of November succeeding, the Lodge 
removed to No. 27 North Salina street, where it re- 
mained until its removal to the White Memorial 
Building on the 22d day of May, 1877, where it is 
now located. Its present officers (January, 1878.) 
are as follows, viz : Daniel H. Boynton, Master; 
Frank Smith, S. W. ; H. O. Pratt. J. W. ; Fred. 
Schug, Treasurer, and John C. Kratz. Secretary. 

Ctyptic Masour)'. — Central City Council No. 13, 
Royal and Select Masters, was granted a war- 
rant by the Grand Council R. and S. M. of 
the State of New York, on the sth day of June, 
t86o. constituting the following named companions 
the first officers thereof, viz: T. I , Seymour H. 
Stone, Master; R. I., Stiles M. Rust, Deputy 
Master ; and I., Charles W. Snow, Princ. Cond. of 
the Works. This body has met as occasion has 
required in the rooms leased by the other Central 
City bodies and dispatched all necessary work. Its 
last elected officers are as follows, viz. : T. I , 
Abel G. Cook, Master ; R. I., D'Estain Reming- 
ton, Deputy Master; I., Richard H. Parker, P. C. 
W; I., Robert M. Beecher, Recorder; and I., 
Charles P. Clark, Treasurer. 

Capitular Masonry. — In the early part of the year 
1820 a dispensation was granted to organize Salina 
Chapter of Royal Arch Masons No. 70, and on the 
9th day of February, 1821, a warrant was granted 

• Died Mirch 21, 1878. 



naming William Baldwin as First High Priest ; 
Henry Case, King and Matthew Van VIcck, Scribe 
thereof 

This chapter met in the village of Salina, now in- 
corporated within the limits of the city of Syracuse, 
and worked under its dispensation and warrant reg- 
ularly, with the c.xcej)tion of an interregnum during 
the " troublous times" occurring between 1828 and 
1831, until the year 1837, when, in the general sus- 
pension of Masonic bodies which took place at that 
period, it became dormant, and remained so until 
the year 1849. 

On the tenth day of February, 1826. a warrant 
was issued to said Chapter No. 70. in place of the 
original warrant issued in 1821, which was said to 
have been lost, appointing Noah Tubbs. High Priest, 
Joel Wright, King, and Amos Foot, Scribe thereof, 
their convocations to be held in the village of Sali- 
na. This is the warrant held by Central City Chap- 
ter No. 70, under which it now works. On the 
25th day of January, 1849, the following compan- 
ions assembled for the purpose of reorganizing the 
Chapter, viz. : Lyman R. Averill, Samuel R. Mat- 
thews, Morris Kain, George W. Robinson and Jo- 
seph Jaqueth, who were members of the said Chap- 
ter, and the following Royal Arch Masons, not mem- 
bers of the Chapter but desirous of becoming suchi 
viz. : John M. Clark, A. G. Brower, Jerry Penfield, 
Archibald Perkins, Philip Sharp, Amos Story, Ben- 
jamin French, Dearborn B. Richford and Sanford 
C. Parker. An election for officers was then held 
resulting as follows : Lyman R. Averill was elected 
High Priest ; Morris Kain, King ; Joseph Jaqueth, 
Scribe ; Benjamin F. Green, C. of H. ; Samuel R. 
Matthews, P. S. ; Levi Adams, R. A. C; Josiah 
Walkins, M. of 3d V.; Zebulon Kinnc, M. of 2d 
v.; Jonathan P. Hicks, M. of istV.; Matthew Van 
Vleck, Treasurer ; George W. Robinson, Secretary ; 
Elisha Clark, Tiler ; and Morris Kain and Samuel 
R. Matthews, Stewards. 

The above proceedings were had i)reliminary to 
action by the Grand Chapter, on the 7th day of 
February, 1849, whereby Salina Royal Arch Chap- 
ter No. 70 was revived, and its title changed to Sy- 
racuse Chapter, retaining the same number, ( 70) and 
by said action, it was " authorized to hold its meet- 
ings in the city of Syracuse." The following named 
petitioners were the only members embraced in the 
revival of the said Chapter, viz.: Lyman R. Aver- 
ill, Joseph Jaqueth, Benjamin F. Green, Levi Ad- 
ams, Josiah Watkins, (.') Zebulon Kinne, Jonathan 
P. Hicks, Matthew Van Vleck, George W. Robin- 
son, Elisha Clark, Sanford C. Parker, Benjamin 
French, Abraham i.'i G. Brower, John Newell, Jerry 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



243 



Penfield, Archibald Jenkins, Dearborn B. Bickford, 
Henry Lake, Anson (Amos ?) Story and John M. 
Clark. 

Under this action of revivification the above mem- 
bers held their first meeting " February i6th, 1849, 
at 2 1-2 o'clock, p. M, at Masonic Hall, Empire 
Block, Syracuse," and at once proceeded to an elec- 
tion for officers, such step having become necessary 
by several of the officers elected under date of Jan- 
uary 2Sth, 1849 being ruled out for reasons un- 
known and not embraced in the list of petitioners. 
The result of this election was as follows, viz.: Ly- 
man R. Averill was elected High Priest ; Benjamin 
F. Green, King ; John M. Clark, Scribe ; Sanford 
C. Parker, C. of H. ; Benjamin French, P. S. ; 
Abram G. Brower, R. A. C. ; Levi Adams, Dear- 
born B. Bickford and Jerry Penfield, M. of the 
Vails ; George W. Robinson, Secretary ; Matthew 
Van Vieck, Treasurer ; Archibald Perkins, Tiler, 
and Amos Story and John Newell, Stewards. 

Its meetings were held in the Empire Block until 
August 29th, 1849, when it moved to the " Frazee 
Block," holding its first meeting there at that date ; 
thence it moved to " New Masonic Hall," Alvord 
Block, South Warren street, holding its first meet- 
ing there January 9th, 1850; thence on the 17th 
day of November, 1852, it moved and held its first 
meeting in the Stanley Block, No. 38 South War- 
ren street, first door north of St. Paul's Episcopal 
Church, and in 1856, to the Washington Block, No. 
63 South Salina street. 

On the 3d day of February, 1864, the following 
resolution was adopted by the Grand Chapter of 
the State of New York : 

Resolved, That Syracuse Chapter No. 70, be 
authorized to change the name of the said Chapter 
from " Syracuse " to " Central City," and that the 
said Chapter shall hereafter be known and dis- 
tinguished by the name of " Central City Chapter 
No. 70." 

In the year 1871, the Chapter moved with the 
other Masonic bodies from No. 63 to Nos. 85 and 
%y South Salina street, where it is now located. 
Its present officers are as follows, viz : John W. 
Sherman, H. P. ; George A. Cool, K. ; Albert 
Becker, Jr., S. ; Charles P. Clark, Treasurer ; Daniel 
S. DeLano, Secretary ; Benjamin F. Blye, C. of 
H. ; W. H. Phelps, P. S. ; Julius A. Baumgras, 
R. A. C. ; L. D. Burton, T. D. Brewster and J. 
P. Rule, M. of Vails; Charles A. Wiesmore, Tiler. 

Chivalric Orders of Masonry. — On the 17th day 
March, 1856, a dispensation was issued creating 
Central City Encampment and appointing the fol- 
lowing named Sir Knights as its first three officers, 
viz : Clinton F. Paige, Grand Commander ; Har- 



low W. Chittenden, Generalissimo ; and William L. 
Palmer, Captain General. On the 6th day of Feb- 
ruary, 1857, a warrant was issued to said officers by 
the Grand Commandery of the State of New York, 
under the name, number and style of " Central 
City Commandery, No. 25, of Knights Templar 
and Knights of Malta," in accordance with action 
previously had by the General Grand Encampment 
of the U. S. A., changing the title of "Encamp- 
ment" to " Commandery," and the title of the first 
named officer from " Grand Commander " to " Em- 
inent Commander." Under this warrant it has 
worked to the present time, first, at No. 6-^ South 
Salina street, and then at Nos. 85 and 87 South 
Salina street, in connection with the other Central 
City Bodies. Its present officers are as follows, 
viz : E , Charles P. Clark, Commander ; Edward 
H. Brown, Generalissimo ; Abel G. Cook, Captain 
General; A. Clark Baum, Prelate; George A. 
Cool, S. W. ; Richard H. Parker, J. W. ; Hiram A. 
Plumb, Treasurer ; Charles H. Lyman, Recorder ; 
William Caldwell, St. B. ; Marsh C. Pierce, Sw. B. ; 
John W. Sherman, Warder ; Charles A Wiesmore, 
Captain of G. 

Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. — The first step 
taken for the introduction of this Rite in that por- 
tion of the State lying west of Albany, was on the 
i6th day of February, 1862, when 111. Bro. Nichol- 
as Mickles 32 ° .•., of New York City, convened the 
following named brethren in a room in the Syra- 
cuse House, viz : Orrin Welch, George J. Gard- 
ner, Seymour H. Stone, Stiles M. Rust, and Chas. 
W. Snow, and by special dispensation from the Su- 
preme Head of the Rite, authorizing him to do so, 
communicated to them the ritual of the various de- 
grees embraced in the Lodge of Perfection and 
Council of the Princes of Jerusalem, being from the 
fourth to the sixteenth inclusive, of this Rite. 

On the 27th day of November, 1862, warrants 
were granted to the five above mentioned members 
also to Simon DeGrafif, George W. Harwood and 
Martin V. B. Hart, they all having in the mean- 
time duly qualified themselves by receiving the re- 
maining degrees of the Chapter of Rose Croix and 
Consistory of S. P. R. S , 32 ° . ■., to organize and 
work the several bodies of Central City Lodge of 
Perfection, Central City Council of Princes of 
Jerusalem, Central City Chapter of Rose Croix, H. 
R. D. M. ; and Central City Consistory of S. P. 
R. 5., 32 ° .•., to which warrant of the last men- 
tioned body were also added the names of Clinton 
F. Paige, of Binghamton, John L. Lewis, of Penn 
Yan,and Zenas C. Priest, of Utica. 

With the exception of bodies of this Rite, at that 



244 



HISTORY OP' ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



time dormant or working, in Albany and New York, 
these were the first and only duly constituted bodies 
of this Rite in the State. For a number of years their 
meetings were held at No. 63 South Salina street, 
and on the removal of Central City Lodge No 305 
and other bodies to Nos. 85 and 87 South Salina 
street, rooms were fitted up and prepared especially 
for these bodies at a grtat e.xpense, to which they re- 
moved and where they are now all working. The 
present elective officers are (January, 1878) as fol- 
lows, viz : 

Central City Lodge of Perfection — Abel G. Cook, 
33 o , T. P. G. M. ; George A. Cool. H. T. D. G. 
M. ; Albert Becker, Jr., V. S. G. VV. ; Charles H. 
Lyman, V. J. G. VV.; Charles P. Clark, G. O.; 
Edwin C. Tallcott, G. Secretary ; Hiram W. Plumb, 
G. Treasurer. 

Central City Council of Princes of Jerusalem — 
George A. Cool. M. E. S. P. G. M. ; Charles P. 
Clark, G. H. P. D. G. M. ; Leslie B. Cooke, M. E. 
S. G. VV. ; Albert Becker, Jr., M. E. J. G. VV. ; 
Edwin C. Tallcott, V. G. Secretary. 

Central City Chapter, Rose Croi.x, H. R. D. M. — 
Leslie B. Cooke, M. VV. and P. M. ; D'Estain 
Remington, M. E. and P. K. S. W. ; John VV. 
Sherman, M. E. and P. K. J. VV. ; William Cald- 
well, M. K. and P. K. G. O. ; Hiram W. Plumb, 
R. and P. K. Treasurer ; Edwin C. Tallcott, R. 
and P. K. Secretary. 

Central City Consistory, S. P. R. S. 32 ° .: — Abel 
G. Cook, 33 ° , Com. -in-chief ; Charles P. Clark, 

32 ° , 1st Lt. Com. ; George A. Cool, 32 ° , 2d Lt. 
Com. ; Thomas C. Chittenden, 32°, M. of S. and 
G. O. ; Ralph C. Christiance, 32 °, G. C. ; Edwin 
C. Tallcott, 32 ° , G. Secretary. 

The government of this Rite is vested in " the 
Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors 
General of the Thirty-third and last degree. Ancient 
Accepted Scottish Rite, for the Northern Masonic 
Jurisdiction of the U. S. A," whose Grand East, or 
seat of power, is at Boston, Mass. Its active mem- 
bership is limited — its honorary membership is 
based upon a pro-rata proportion of members of the 
14°.". made in the several States or jurisdictions. 
The resident members of this supreme body are as 
follows, viz : 

Active Member — Orrin Welch,* 33 '^ .., Deputy 
for the State of New York. 

Honorary Members — Seymour H. Stone, 33 ° .•. ; 
George J. Gardner, 33°.'.; Edward H. Brown, 

33 ° .-. ; and Abel G. Cook, 33 ° .-. 

This is a brief but complete history of all the 
various Masonic bodies which have been organized 

* Died M»ch lilt, 1878. 



within what are now the limits of the city of Syra- 
cuse. Probably not one of the actors or members 
of the earlier organizations is now alive, and but 
very few of those formerly connected with the 
bodies existing immediately prior to the great 
fanatical war upon Masonry in 1826. The aggre- 
gate membership of the various bodies herein 
enumerated will reach very nearly one thousand 
persons, with an apparent healthy and steady 
growth. 

ODD EELLOVVS' LODGES 

In the CiTV OF Syracuse and County of 
Onondaga. 

In the year 1842, the subject of Odd-Fellowship 
was for the first time discussed in the social circles 
of this community. What first awakened an inter- 
est in the subject, was the frequent publication in 
the Eastern papers of this State, of notices of meet- 
ings, funerals, &c , headed with those cabalistic 
characters, I. O. O. F., of which we were then in 
blissful ignorance. The spirit of womanly curiosity 
was aroused. A meeting of those interested was 
held, and it was resolved that measures be taken to 
organize a Lodge, to be called " Onondaga Lodge." 
The Laws of the Grand Lodge requiring five or 
more brethren to unite in petitioning for a charter, 
it was requisite that a number should be initiated 
in order to equal the constitutional requirement, 
and not deeming it expedient to commence opera- 
tions till a sufficient number could be obtained to 
fill all the principal chairs, the following persons 
volunteered and agreed to qualify themselves, viz : 
William VV. Willard, Geo. B. Sloat, Daniel D. Den- 
ton, Geo. J. Gardner, William S. Wood, J. Gates 
Willard, and Jonathan Baldwin. The nearest 
Lodge then in existence, was Oneida Lodge, No. 
70, Utica, of which Bro. Joseph Seymour, now of 
this city, was then Noble Grand (and who has con- 
tinued his membership with that Lodge from that 
day to the present time,) in which these names were 
all proposed and the candidates in due time in- 
itiated. The election and installation of officers 
then took place, and the following officers took their 
seats for the first term ending March 31st, or until 
their successors were installed, which took place 
April 7th, 1843, viz : 

William W. Willard. X. G. ; George B. Sloat, 
V. G. ; Daniel D. Denton, Sec. ; George J. Gard- 
ner, Treas. ; William S. Wood, S. S. ; Myer Ex- 
tein, O. G. ; Moses Hellman, I. G. ; Jonathan 
Baldwin, C. ; J. Gates Willard, Warden. 

A room was fitted up at an expense of several 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



245 



hundred dollars, in the Bank Building — the attic of 
the block used by the Onondaga County Bank, and 
Bank of Syracuse, corner of Washington and 
South Salina streets, of which a lease was taken 
for the term of ten years, and which room con- 
tinued to be occupied by Onondaga Lodge, and at 
times by the various Lodges of the city, until near 
the expiration of the lease, when a more commodi- 
ous and richly decorated hall was procured, on the 
corner of Salina and Fayette streets, in which the 
order continued to hold its meetings until its de- 
struction by fire on the morning of Sunday, Febru- 
ary 3d, 1856. Thus was established 

Onondaga Lodge, No, 79, I. O. O. F. 

At that period there were but seven Lodges in 
operation throughout the whole portion of this 
State west of Schenectady, viz : Three at Buffalo, 
two at Rochester, one at Ithaca, and one at Utica — 
a territory now represented by more than 400 
lodges of this order. During the existence of the 
lodge, there had been up to January i, 1856: 
initiations, 455 ; additions by card, 53 ; making a 
total of 508 members. 

In the year 1845, in connection with Syracuse 
Lodge, a purchase w&s made of a large lot in the 
Rose Hill Cemetery, in the present Fourth Ward 
of this city, and the same surrounded with a sub- 
stantial iron railing, decorated with the various 
emblems of the order. The first interment therein, 
and the first funeral they were called upon to attend, 
was that of Philo C. Weaver, of Oneida Lodge 
No. 70. 

From Onondaga Lodge went out several colonies 
and established Odd-Fellows Lodges' in Syracuse 
and in several towns of the county — Syracuse 
Lodge, No. 109 ; Salina, No. 97 ; and Alphadelphia, 
No. 44, in this city. These are all flourishing at 
this date, and since these have been added to the 
number, Lessing, No. 163, Lincoln and Barbarossa. 
These last two and Lessing work in the German 
language. 

Lincoln Lodge, organized in 1856, is the strong- 
est in numbers of any in Onondaga District. 

Barbarossa, the youngest child of the order, has 
great zeal, but is yet the smallest in numbers of the 
city lodges. 

In addition to the seven lodges in the city, is 
Cynosure Encampment No. 14, a flourishing insti- 
tution, which was formed by a union of Mt. Nebo, 
of Syracuse, and Uncas Encampment, of Baldwins- 
ville. This Encampment and four Lodges occupy 
Odd-Fellows' Hall, (near City Hall) ; the other 
three Lodges have each very beautiful halls — one 
in the First Ward, and two in the Fourth Ward. 



Among the country lodges, Mohegan No. 29, at 
Baldwinsville, ranks first in numbers and influence. 
There are lodges in the villages of Jordan, Elbridge, 
LaFayette, Onondaga Valley and Delphi, all in a 
flourishing condition. See history of the towns. 

Officers of the Lodges of the Independent 
Order of Odd-Fellows in Syracuse. 

Alphadelphia Lodge No. 44, — N. G., Nelson Rit- 
ter ; V. G., James R. Dorsey ; S., John Y. Terry ; 
T., Charles R. Williams ; P. S., R. E. Taylor. 

Onondaga Lodge No. 79. — N. G., S. Silverstein ; 
V. G., D. King; S., Henry A. Petrie ; T., C. F. 
Williston ; P. S., Jacob Stolz. 

Salina Lodge No. 97. — N. G., Thomas Purdy ; 
V. G., E. D. Atherton; S., Joseph Devoux ; T., 
W. E. Bainbridge ; P. S., John Eastwood. 

Syracuse Lodge A^o. 109. — N. G., H. K. Brown ; 
V. G., William Newcity ; S., L. G. Dodge; T.,S. 
B. Palmer ; P. S., Wm. Holmes. 

Lessing Lodge, No. 163. — N. G , M. Marx ; V. 
G., Meier Weisman ; S., Jacob Levi ; T., M. Thal- 
heimer ; P. S., F. Rosenbloom. 

Lincoln Lodge, No. 180. — N. G., Wm. Miihlhau- 
ser ; V. G., Louis Baierle; S., Jacob Metzher ; T., 
Peter Hart ; P. S., W. Schwarz. 

Barbarossa Lodge, No. 320.^N. G., Gustave H. 
Schulze ; V. G., Frank B. Haberle ; S., Frank 
Smith ; T., W. Steinmann. 

Cynosiire Encampment, No. 14, (formerly Mount 
Nebo No. 14. )— C. P., John A. G. Burns ; H. P., 
Edward D. Smith ; S. W., John Y. Terry; Scribe, 
T. B. McChesney ; J. W., A. S. Goodfellow ; 
Treas., A. Austin. 



INDEPENDENT ORDER OF FORESTERS. 

This order is an ofi'shoot of the Ancient Order 
of Foresters, one of the strongest secret beneficial 
societies of Great Britain, where it has existed for 
two or more centuries. In 1874, a division occurred 
among the members which resulted in the estab- 
lishment of the Independent Order of Foresters. 
At this time (1878) there are nearly 200 "Courts" 
and a membership of about 9,000 in the United 
States and Canadas. 

The order is similar in its aims and workings to 
the Odd-Fellows and Masonic bodies, but differs 
from them in the "endowment" feature. Each 
Forester in good standing pays ten cents on the 
death of a brother, and the heirs receive a sum not 
exceeding $1,000. This being a constitutional pro- 
vision, it can never fail of realization while the order 
exists. 



246 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



The Court in Syracuse— King Solomon Court, 
No. 13, State of New \'ork — was organized in 1875, 
and now numbers 65 members. The present offi- 
cers : John H. Horton, Chief Ranger ; F. D. Hor- 
ton, V. C. R. ; Louis Cohn, Secretary ; C. F. Wil- 
liston, Financial Secretary. 

There is also a Miriam Degree Court of about 40 
members, (ladies, I organized on similar principles, 
which is in active operation. Its officers are (1878) 
Jacob Levi, C. R.; Regina Thalheimer, V. C. R.; C. 
F. Williston, Secretary ; Bertha Levy, Treasurer. 

Both Courts meet in Odd-Fellows' Hall, corner of 
City Hall Place, and are growing in numbers and 
influence. 



OFFICIAL ROSTER, N. G., S. N. Y. 

HiAD<)i'A>Tt» lOTH BaicADi, N G., S. N. v., ^ 
SvnAci-ii, N. v., Feb. 1,1878. J 

General Orders, No. i. 

By virtue of the authority conferred by a com- 
mission from His Excellency, the Governor, I here- 
by assume command of the Tenth Brigade of the 
National Guard of the State of New York. 

The following officers are hereby announced as 
the Staff of the loth Brigade, N. G., S. N. Y. : 

Lieut. Col. James H. Hinman, of Syracuse, As- 
sistant Adjutant General and Chief of Staff. 

Major John J. Lctchworth, of Auburn, Inspector. 

Major Frederic B. Chapman, of Syracuse, In- 
spector of Rifle Practice. 

Major VVm. Allen Butler, of Syracuse, Engineer. 

Major Ely Van DeWarker, of Syracuse, Surgeon. 

Major Elbert O. I'arrar, of Syracuse, Judge Ad- 
vocate. 



Capt. Geo. W. Edwards, of Syracuse, Ordnance 
Officer. 

Capt. James M. Belden, of Syracuse, Quarter- 
master. 

Capt. Louis F. Powell, of Syracuse, Commissary 
of Subsistence. 

Capt. Robt. Townsend, of Syracuse, and ist Lieut. 
Frank P. Denison, of Syracuse, Aides-deCamp. 
J. DEAN HAWLEV, 

Brigadier-General. 

[official.] 

Field and Staff of 5 ist Reg't, N. G., S. N. Y. 

John W. Yale, Colonel. 

Rhesa Griffin, Lieutenant-Colonel. 

John A. Nichols, Major. 

I. F. Draime, ist Lieut, and Adjutant. 

Riley V. Miller, ist Lieut, and Quartermaster. 

Jos. Sniper, ist Lieut, and Com. of Subsistence. 

Gregory Doyle, Major and Surgeon. 

Geo. W. Cook, Capt. and Assistant Surgeon. 

Rev. Henry R. Lockwood, Chaplain. 

D. H. Bruce, Bvt. Col. and Inspr. of Rifle Practice. 

Artillery — Battery H. 

Paul Birchmeyer, Captain. 
Conrad Meyer, ist Lieutenant. 
Henry Wirges, 1st Lieutenant. 
Frank Meilich, 2d Lieutenant. 
George King, 2d Lieutenant. 

Cavalkv — Separate Troop "C." 

Michael Auer, Captain. 
Frederick Auer, ist Lieutenant. 
M. B. Nicholson, 2d Lieutenant. 




#^i^-.^-=^ 






The subject of this sketch was born in Lanesborough, Berk- 
shire Co., Mass., January 27, 180-4. His grandfather, Jared 
Smith, was a Revolutionary soldier. His father, Silas Smith, 
died at a premature age, and about the year 1824. 

Vivas W. was one of a family of five sons and two 
daughters who reached manhood and womanhood. He spent 
his minority on a farm, except the last year, which was spent 
in the law-office of George N. Briggs, at Lanesborough. After 
a short experience in a newspaper-office at Westfield, he came 
to Onondaga Hill, this county, and bought out the Onondnga 
Jovrnal, and published the same for twenty months, and, upon the 
moving of the county-seat to Syracuse, he also removed there, 
and, with John F. Wyman, established the Onondar/a Standard. 

In 1837 he dissolved his connection with the Democratic 
party, and established, in 1838, a Whig paper, entitled The 
Western State Journnl. The continuation of the same paper, 
now by the name of the Syracuse Daily and Weekly Journal, 
is carried on by Hon. Carroll E. Smith & Co. 

In 1841, Mr. Smith went to Columbus, Ohio, and spent 
three years there on the State Journal, a Whig paper. He 
returned to Syracuse, and in the fall of 1846 was elected 
county clerk, the duties of which office he discharged for one 



term of three years. In 1855 he was appointed superintendent 
of the Onondaga salt springs by Governor Clark, which posi- 
tion he held for ten years, and discharged the duties of the 
office with honor to himself and satisfaction of all interested. 
In the year 1873, Mr. Smith was appointed canal appraiser 
by Governor John A. Dix, which office he still retains. 

Nurtured in the Democratic party, he early became imbued 
with Republican principles, and, for some twenty-five years 
after the establishment of his paper in Syracuse, Mr. Smith 
wielded a controlling influence in political circles, stood fore- 
most in his party, and ardently, with pen, advocated a platform 
of purity, economy, and reform, and exercised a large influence 
not only in his own county, but in appointments for his county 
made by State authorities. 

For his first wife (February. 1832) he married Miss Caroline, 
daughter of Hon. Jonas Earll, of Onondaga Hill, by whom 
he had one son, Carroll E., now of the firm of Smith & Co., 
publishers of the Syracuse Daily Journal. His wife died 
April, 1835. For his second wife (June, 1839) he married 
Miss Theodora, daughter of David Morey, of Syracu.se, by 
whom he has three children,— Fillmore M., Seward V., and 
Florence A. 



HON. DKNNIS McCAllTMY. 



The •ubjoot of thU •kotoh wu bom in tho rillage uf SKlinft, Ooondft^ 
Co.. N. Y.. March I1>. ISI4. 

Ilii ratbor, Thotnu MoCarthjr, wa« born in the cUjr of Cork, IrcUnJ, io 
the jrrar 17HC. Came to America in 180S, and nettled at Salt Point, sub* 
MKjacntlj raited Saltna, but now the fir«l ward of (be city of Syracuie ; 
carried on mercantile bu»ino«ii, and wa* (juite cxtcniively eni^agcd in ibo 
•alt interest, at (hat timejuvt beginnin)* to be developed. Ho wa* promi- 
oently identified with public interevU, wa* a uieiuW'r of the Sintc legi«- 
lataro on*- term, was truntee of 
the %'illaf(e of Salinu for many 
yoara, and a director of the first 
bank ealablinbed in (he villai^e 
of Salina. Ho died in IH|8. 

Dcnniii, after purnuing the 
usual elementary brancheii of 
initractiou in the common 
•chooli of his native pliice, 
**fioiihcd" hie education, tech- 
nically speakinf;, at Onondnj^a 
aoatleniy and ibe Yates* Poly- 
technic inntitute. In 1^.11 be 
went into partnership in the 
mercantile buMuess with bis 
father, and after four yearn. 
hii father retiring from tluii 
interest, I>cnnis carried it <-u 
alone until IHt5, when be caiiu- 
to Syracuse, where bo opened a 
general nirrcbnndise store. Hi^ 
trade grew rapidly as the ooun 
try developcil and demand ii 
creased, until, from a snKi 
beginning, with sales of fifir* \: 
thousand dollnrs per year, li< 
is now, a^fforiatcd with bii« hohs, 
David K. Thomas and Oi-nnis, 
Jr., carrying on one of the 
largciit wholesale trades in dry 
goods of any firm between Neu 
York and Chicago, their salr.- 
per year amounting to ncarl> 
two million dollisrs. 

Since the first opening of 
the mercantile business by bis 
father, sixty years ago, two 
auooessive generations have 
only enlarged the business and 
extended its boundaries of 
trade. Mr. Mc(*nr(hy. from the 
beginning of bis business ca- 
r(H>r, displayed great industry, 
energy, and lagneiiy. and Ire- 
fore eoinitig to Syracuse was 
well known in business circles 
as a salt manufacturer, and as 
surb was very successful. 

Mr. Mef^artby was formerly a 
Free soil iK'moernt, and remained with the Democralie party until (be neces. 
sitiesiif the late rebellion appealed to (be patriotism of every friend of his 
country, when, in ISfl'.'.hebeiamean ardent support4*rof tbeprinciplesofihe 
Uepublirnn party, nnd of the administni(ion representing the I'niou cause. 

He has always taken a deep and intelligent interest in politics, and for 
many years has been recognised in political circles as one of the most 
prominent members of the party with which ho ii Idontiflod in Central 




Z?^ 



-t 




^>u^ 



;i'hoiu. by Un,ly, WashliiBtun. 



New York. He has hid a long and varied experience in publio life, 
having been honored by the pei>plr from time (o time with a number ol 
positions of honor, influence, and responsibility. He reprcsenle*! Onon- 
daga County in the State legislature in 181^, snd was chairman of the 
committee on salt, and a member on the petitions of aliens. In IS5.1 his 
fellow-citisens bestowed upon bim a signal mark of their confidence and 
respect by electing him mayor of Syracuse. In IHf.ft bo was elected to 
(he HouM* of Representatives of the Fortieth Congress uf the I'nite*! Slate*. 

and served t>n (be committers 
of ways and means, foreign af- 
fairs, roads and canals. While 
in congress, Senator Mct^arthy 
ailvocated, with bisaccustome*) 
persistency and energy, a tariff 
for the protection of American 
industry. He was elected to 
the senate of the State in the 
fall of 1875, and s«rved as 
chairman of the committee on 
privileges and elections, anil 
was a member of the finsnce. 
public expenditures, and joint 
library committees. He was 
re-clecte<l to fill the same posi- 
tion in the senate of the Stale 
in the fall of 1877. and acts as 
chairman of canal conunitlee, 
und s«^eond on finance and 
cities, in which capacity be 
serves at the lime of the writ- 
ing of this sketch. 

Mr. McCarthy is prominently 
identified with the banking in- 
terests of Syracuse, and classed 
:imniig (be sagacious anil far- 
"ceing financiers of his day. 
Cbaracteristic of him is his 
integrity of purpose, ready to 
miTt imtl strong to overcome 
(he difficulties in the way of 
<>elf-niade men. Whether in 
public or private life. Mr. Mc- 
Tnrthy's influence and value as 
li eilUen are felt and acknowl- 
rdged; and more especially in 
bis own home circle are the 
members of his family the re- 
'ipienls of much kindness at 
liis hands, and there his soci- 
able and courteous qualities 
appear in the ascendency. 

In the year 18.10 ho married 
Miss Kliubcth, daughter of 
David K. Carter, one of the 
first settlers of Rochester. 
N. Y. 

To Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy 
have been born seven children : Froncis (dio«l in infancy) : Flora (died in 
infancy); Mary R. (deceased), wife of .lames Sedgwick ; Klisabeth (died in 
infancy); Percy, wife of Thomas Emory, who was a son of den. W. H. 
Kmory : David K. Thomas, who married a daughter of Hon. Francis 
Kernan ( Kate) : and Dennis, Jr., who married Miss Frisbie. granddaughter 
of tSen. Vallejo, governor-general of California when ceded to the I'nitcd 
States. 




HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK. 



247 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



HENRY GIFFORD. 

Henry Gifford was born in the town of Harwich, 
Mass., Sept. 4, 1801. His ancestors were of Eng- 
lish and more recently of Norman extraction, his 
family records extending back to the time of the 
Conquest, when a Sire Randolphe de Gifforde, for 
services rendered at the battle of Hastings, was 
rewarded with lands in Somersetshire and Cheshire. 
In 1630, a son of a Sir Ambrose Gifford emigrated 
to Massachusetts Bay and founded the family from 
which the subject of this sketch was directly de- 
scended. 

Mr. Gifford passed his childhood and early youth 
in his native town of Harwich, but when still a lad 
he removed to South Yarmouth, where, in a promi- 
nent Quaker family, he formed friendships and 
principles which were never relinquished. It was 
also during his residence in Yarmouth that he ac- 
quired that knowledge of the manufacture of salt, 
which, in after years, proved of such advantage, and 
in consequence of which, in 1821, he was induced, 
in company with Stephen Smith, of New Bedford, 
to remove to the then village of Syracuse, in order 
to develop the salt interests of the place. An asso- 
ciation called into being by the enterprise of Judge 
Joshua Forman, was established under the name of 
the " Onondaga Salt Company," and of this com- 
pany Mr. Smith became the controlling agent, and 
Mr. Gifford superintended the construction. Dur- 
ing his long residence in Syracuse, a period of more 
than fifty years, Mr. Gifford took an active and 
successful interest in the manufacture of salt, and 
though extensively engaged in other enterprises, 
never entirely withdrew from his original invest- 
ment. 

In 1826, Mr. Gifford married Phebe Dickinson, 
daughter of Obediah Dickinson and of Mary Thomas 
Morse. Mrs. Gifford was born in Salisbury, Conn , 
Nov. 20, 1801. Becoming motherless at a tender 
age, she, in company with an only sister, was reared 
and educated by her maternal grandfather, a staunch 
and worthy representative of that old-time courtesy 
now so much lauded and regretted. It was during 
a visit made in Syracuse to her aunt, Mrs. Archi- 
bald Kasson, that Mrs. Gifford was married, the 
ceremony being performed at Mrs. Kasson's resi- 
dence, situated on the spot where the old depot 
afterward stood, at the western limit of Vanderbilt 
Square. 

Mrs. Gifford was a lady of great culture as well 



as of true refinement. At a period when so-called 
accomplishments were rare, she possessed acquire- 
ments which even in these days would be consider- 
ed of no mean order. She was a good French 
scholar and a correct artist in water colors, while her 
taste for scientific subjects was decided. After her 
marriage a rapidly increasing family so occupied her 
time that duties and pleasures beyond the home- 
circle were necessarily relinquished, though her 
influence was felt and her name made honorable by 
a system of unostentatious charity. She was a de- 
voted Christian mother in every sense of the word — 
a woman of whom it may well be said that " her 
children arise and call her blessed." 

For a period of eight years preceding her death, 
Mrs. Gifford was confined to her home by illness, 
but her disease was of so mild, yet so insidious a 
type, that though her family were conscious of the 
dread nature of her malady, they were spared the 
sight of violent or long continued suffering. She 
died April 13, 1871. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Gifford were active and con- 
sistent members of the First Presbyterian Church 
from within a very short period of its organization, 
until their death. Mr. Gifibrd was one of the 
building committee which erected the present 
church edifice, and so zealously did he discharge 
this trust that it may truly be said that largely by 
his efforts the building " fitly framed together grew 
unto a holy temple in the Lord." 

In the year 1834, Mr. Giftbrd purchased of the 
Syracuse Land Company a building lot on the Gen- 
esee Turnpike, and in the following year erected a 
homestead where most of his children were born 
and reared, and where a portion of his family still 
reside. 

In politics, Mr. Gifford was originally a Whig and 
afterwards a Republican of pronounced anti-slavery 
principles. He was never solicitous for public office, 
and whatever influence he wielded was always exer- 
cised on the part of moderation, humanity and jus- 
tice. He was thoroughly identified with the busi- 
ness interests of Syracuse and held various positions 
of responsibility and trust. At the time of his 
death he was Vice-President of the Syracuse Sav- 
ings Bank, of which mstitution he was an incorpo- 
rator, trustee of the Syracuse Water Works Com- 
pany, director in the Syracuse Gas Light Company, 
and in the Salt Springs National Bank. Gifford 
street, in the Fifth Ward, was named after him, he 



248 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



owning at one time a large tract of land in that por- 
tion of the city. 

Mr. Giftord died June 20. 1872, at Avon Springs, 
whither he had gone in search of health. 

To Mr. and Mrs. GitTord were born eleven chil- 
dren, viz : Phebc Kelly ( deceased, 1 Sylvanus Morse 
(deceased, I Mary Eliza t deceased. 1 Mary Elizabeth, 
wife of J. N. Babcock of Syracuse, Henry Hrooks, 
George Thomas (deceased,) Frances P., Martha, 
Helen, George Sylvanus, and Isabella Grahame. 

ROBERT GERE. 

In the development of the various business in- 
terests which have contributed to the growth and 
progress of Syracuse and its vicinity, none took a 
more active and efficient part than the subject of 
this brief memoir, the late Robert Gere. 

Mr. Gere was born in the town of Groton, Con- 
necticut, on the 26th of November, 1796. His 
early opportunities for education were such only as 
the common schools afforded, but he possessed a 
mind of rare vigor and unusual acuteness of obser- 
vation — faculties which, in the school of his varied 
experience, in after life, enabled him to become a 
sagacious judge of human nature and of the diver- 
sified business interests which he inaugurated and 
successfully carried out. 

His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm 
in his native town. In the 24th year of his age, on 
the 25th of October, 1820, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Sophia Stanton, and removed to 
Florida, Montgomery county, where he was a con- 
tractor on the original Erie Canal ; and as the work 
approached its completion, by means of a river boat 
on the Mohawk and the finished portion of the 
canal, he removed his family to the town of Gcddes 
in the spring of 1824, and settled on a farm pur- 
chased from the State, about one and a half miles 
west of the present village of Geddes. Two 
brothers, William S. and Charles Gere, came and 
settled on adjoining farms west— one preceding and 
the other following Robert Gere. They also pur- 
chased their lands from the State, and these three 
adjoining farms were then a dense forest, which 
were cleared by the proprietors and made as desir- 
able homsteads as any to be found in the county. 
They are still the property of the Gere families. 

Mr. Gere, well aware of the effect upon a young 
and rising community of the beneficial influence of 
education and religion, early gave the land and 
erected a school building, and maintained the same 
individually for fifteen years. He also united with 
a few others to form an Episcopal Church in the 



village of Geddes. Anxious to do more than his 
farm required at his hands, he early engaged in the 
manufacture of salt, and continued thereafter in 
that business in all its branches for fifty years. In 
1832 he embarked in the lumber business, and, in 
connection with the late Joseph Breed, got out and 
shipped to tide-water a large amount of pine lumber 
from Cicero Swamp. In 1835-6, in connection 
with Hon. Ellizur Clark, he was a very large con- 
tractor in the manufacture and delivery of the rails 
and ties for the Utica and Schenectady and the 
Auburn and Syracuse Railroads. His house was 
the depot for the latter road when it was run by 
horses to his place, before the deep cut further east 
was worked through, in 1838. 

Although Mr. Gere lost heavily by his generous 
endorsements for business men, he always managed 
by his energy and enterprise to be forehanded, and 
to keep in successful operation more than one im- 
portant and lucrative branch of business. In 1843, 
leaving his farm, he came to Syracuse (then a 
village) and entered into partnership with those two 
noted and honored founders of Syracuse, William 
H. Alexander and Columbus C. Bradley, in their 
furnace and foundry business. He survived them 
both. 

In 1848, his business ability and adaptation for the 
position made him the appointee of the Governor 
and the Senate for the office of Superintendent of 
the Onondaga Salt Springs, the duties of which he 
admirably performed till 1851, when he resigned to 
become a contractor for the building of the locks at 
Salina and doing the section work of the Liverpool 
level of the Oswego Canal. Shortly after this work 
was completed he, together with the late Horace 
and Hamilton White, founded the Geddes Coarse 
Salt Company, of which he was President, and 
engaged in the business of manufacturing coarse 
salt on lands lying west of Geddes, and was at the 
time of his death the President and a large stock- 
holder in that enterprise, as well as in the various 
iron industries now largely under the control of his 
family. In fact, Mr. Gere was the originator, 
founder and chief supporter of these and many 
other industries ; his mind conceived them and 
his enterprise and capital supported them. Although 
he was the leading mind in many of the prominent 
industries of Syracuse and Geddes, he never desired 
to appear conspicuous in any of them ; but, on the 
contrary, as a wise educator of his sons, whose suc- 
, cess and honorable standing as business men more 
than compensate for his generous care and assist- 
I ance, he chose worthily to stimulate their ambition 
I and develop their business talents by placing them 



V 



^ 




Sn^'LTAH-Bi'*^^ 




"A. 



/'- 




RtSiOLHCt or JACOB AMOS.coKorHnwLcrlU^BmocSii.SrHACUSi.NY. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



249 



at the head of the various industries which he had 
been so largely instrumental in creating and sup- 
porting. 

Mr. Gere died on the iSth day of December, 
1877, aged 81 years and 28 days. Of his family 
there remains to mourn him his widow, the faithful 
wife of more than half a century ; Hon. R. Nelson 
Gere, President of the Syracuse Iron Works and of 
the Merchants National Bank ; George C. Gere, 
Superintendent of the Geddes Coarse Salt Compa- 
ny ; Anna, wife of Hon. James ]'. Belden, Mayor 
of the city of Syracuse ; Hon. William H. H. 
Gere, Secretary of the Onondaga Iron Company 
and Supervisor for the Third Ward of Syracuse ; 
and N. Stanton Gere, late President of the Board of 
Supervisors, and representing on the Board the 
town of Geddes. These are the children of Mr. 
Gere, born in the order named. Two of his sons 
represented Onondaga County in the Legislature, 
and all of them have exercised an influence of 
great importance in the business interests of the 
city and county. 

The city of Syracuse and the county of Onon- 
daga, owe a large debt of grateful remembrance to 
their sturdy pioneers, among whom Robert Gere 
assumed a leading position. He was a man of great 
strength of will, and possessed the most positive 
traits of character. A plain, blunt man, he was 
always just what he seemed to be. His inner na- 
ture was a genial, kindly one. He was deeply at- 
tached to his family, and took the keenest pride in 
the prosperity and advancement of his sons. 

During the last year of his life when infirmities 
confined him to his residence, his family, without 
exception, were unremitting in their attentions to 
him and vied with one another in their efforts to miti- 
gate his last suffering. When, at last, death had 
set its seal upon his long, laborious and useful life, 
his four sons bore all that was mortal of him to the 
grave. 

We clip the following from a brief notice of his 
death which appeared in the Vai/y yourtialoi De- 
cember 18, 1877 : 

" Another of our oldest, most honored and es- 
teemed citizens passed to his eternal rest, when, at 
six o'clock this morning, the death messenger came 
to Robert Gere. For several days past it was ap- 
parent to those who gathered at his bedside that 
his end was near, that his lamp of life was flicker- 
ing. Months ago he was borne down by the weight 
of years, his physical strength having been almost 
expended in the faithful discharge of the duties of 
an e.xceptionally active life. As colors melt away 
into shades and tints and finally disappear, so his 
life went out at the age of eighty-one years. 

" A full and just review of the life of Mr. Gere 
32* 



cannot be prepared hastily. It was a life of unu- 
sual activity, and most thoroughly identified with 
the history and business interests of this city." 



JACOB AMOS. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Wiirtem- 
berg, Germany, April 23, 1818. He is the young- 
est of three sons of Charles Amos and Barbara 
Chaflfla, both natives of Wlirtemberg. His early 
life was spent in learning the butcher's trade, which 
he followed until he came to America. His op- 
portunities for education from books were such as 
the common schools of that country afforded. 

At the age of twenty-one years he resolved to 
seek his fortune in a foreign land, and where greater 
opportunities offered for the eff'orts of a young man, 
and consequently came to New York, thence to 
Rochester, and in February, 1840, to the village of 
Syracuse. His whole effects at that time con- 
sisted of his raiment and seventy-five cents in cash. 

His first business here was packing salt and 
chopping wood, and for some six years he was en- 
gaged in the butchering business. He had by this 
time, by strict economy, saved from his small earn- 
ings sufficient to furnish a house comfortably, and 
in the year 1847 married Miss Mary Ann Kepplan, 
a native of Alsace, Germany, who had come to this 
country in 1834 with her parents and settled in the 
town of Manlius. She was born in the year 1824 
and was one of seven children of Sebastian Kep- 
plan. For the first year after his marriage he 
rented a mill with one run of stone in Jamesville, 
and after three years he rented the whole mill with 
four run of stones. Here he continued business 
four years gradually increasing his trade and 
patronage. 

He then removed to the town of DeWitt, rented 
a mill, put in machinery and manufactured flour, 
split peas and farina. Here he continued until the 
breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when 
his mill property was accidentally burned, but with 
verv little loss to Mr. Amos. He then came to 
Syracuse, purchased three stores in the Raynor 
Block, and again commenced his milling business, 
subsequently adding to his purchase as much more 
of the block. His operations in milling have been 
carried on here until the fall of 1877. During this 
time he also invested in mill property in Baldwins- 
ville and carried on a very large business there. 
Shortly after coming to Syracuse in the year 1864 
his wife died, and for his second wife he married in 
1867 Mrs. Arminda Ring, widow of the late Wm. 
Ring of Buffalo. 



350 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



1 



At the time of the writing of this sketch his busi- 
ness in Baldwinsville and Syracuse in milling opera- 
tions is supposed to be the largest of any in Onondaga 
county. During these years of successful enter- 
prise, Mr. Amos has confined himself very closely 
to his business, and has risen in trade from an cm- 
ploy^ to one of the most successful business men of 
his county and of this part of the State. 

His strict integrity of purpose and honest deal- 
ing have gained for him the respect and esteem of 
his fellow-men. 

On first coming to this country he cast his vote 
in the Whig party, and is now an ardent supporter 
of the Republican party, although never active in 
politics or solicitous of public honors. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Amos have been born seven 
children, viz : Charles, Matilda, Jacob, Mary (died 
in infancy, I Katie, John idied in infancy,) and 
Amelia. Charles and Jacob are now associated 
with their father in business, and the firm is now 
the owner of the large and new flouring mill on 
West Water street, Syracuse. 

A portrait of Mr. Amos and view of his residence 
will be found on another page of this work. 

MRS. ANN M. TREADWELL REDFIELD. 

Her paternal grandfather, the Hon. Thomas 
Treadwell, was born in the year 1743, at Smith- 
town, Long Island. He graduated at Princeton 
College and studied law under Chancellor Living- 
stone. Thompson, in his history of Long Island, 
says, " He was one of the most useful men of his 
day, and was almost constantly engaged in public 
business, was distinguished for firmness and pru- 
dence, was a member of the Provincial Convention 
in 1775 and was elected afterwards to the Provin- 
cial Congress from Long Island (with power to es- 
tablish a new form of government 1. He was a 
member of the first Senate of this State under the 
Constitution and seems in all respects to have been 
fitted for the perilous times in which he lived." 

Gov. Seward, in his introduction to the Natural 
History of the State of New York, says, " He was 
one of the three constituting the Committee of 
Safety while the Constitution of this State was being 
formed in 1777, and was for many years the only 
surviving member of that memorable body." 

In 1772-76 he was a representative in the Con- 
tinental Congress in Philadelphia. In 1775 he 
was elected to the Provincial Congress sitting in 
the city of New York. In 1776 he was elected to 
represent Sufiblk County, L. I. In 1778 he was 
delegated to the convention at Poughkeepsie to 



deliberate on the adoption of the Constitution of 
the United States. He was also appointed during 
the same year Judge of Probate for the State of 
New York, which office he held until Surrogates 
were appointed for each county. 

In 1 77 1 he was elected to represent Sufl^olk, 
Kings and Queens counties in the Continental 
Congress then sitting in Philadelphia, Uo fill a va- 
cancy caused by the death of Dr. Townsendi. In 
'793 he was again elected to represent these coun- 
ties, which he continued to do until he removed to 
Plattsburgh. In 1804 he was elected Senator for 
the Northern District, and in 1807 he was appoint- 
ed Surrogate of Clinton connty, which office he 
continued to hold until his death at Plattsburgh, N. 
Y., December 25th, 1831. 

Her maternal grandfather. Judge Charles Piatt, 
came from " the ancient and honorable family of 
Platts, who were in great repute in Norfolk, as is con- 
firmed by a manuscript of those worthies who had 
Standards of Arms, the first of Edward the Third, 
King of England, A. D., 1327, then bore for their 
coat of Armorial party and pale, or and gule, a 
lion passant, argent, armed, azure, and Christ, 
a Chaplet of Flowers, the ancient reward of merit 
bestowed by damsels upon their favorites at 
their return from a victorious field of battle." 
• Copied from the Herald's College, London, Eng- 
land, 1761.) Judge Piatt was one of the pioneers of 
what now is called Plattsburgh, N. Y., named from 
the family, and came there with his two brothers 
from Dutchess county, N. Y. He died at Platts- 
burgh. 

Mrs. Ellet, in " The Queens of American Society," 
says : 

" The subject of this sketch is not only noted for 
. position, but known as the author of a popular 
work — Zoological Science, or Nature in Living 
Forms, — a book commended by Professor Agassiz 
as one that would ' do great credit to a majority of 
college professors in this department.' She came 
of a distinguished family. Her paternal grand- 
father devoted his entire fortune and best energies 
to the support of American Independence in the 
great struggle for nationality, and her father obtained 
distinction in the war of 1812. 

" Ann Maria Treadwell was born at St. Andrews, 
Canada, January 17, 1800, and was second daughter 
of Nathaniel Hazard Treadwell and Margaret Piatt, 
and passed the earlier part of her life on the banks 
of the beautiful Ottawa, afterwards residing at 
Plattsburgh. She was educated in the school of 
Mrs. Emma Willard, of Middlebury, Vt. Her 
intellectual culture was softened by native refine- 
ment and a sympathy that went forth spontaneously 
toward all who needed it or claimed her tenderness. 
The mother of a numerous family, she took pains 



^ 




C^to-x^ 7?7 ir, /s^^^^u^olZU^ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



251 



with the education of her children, who, like her, 
are prominent in society." 

She was married at Clinton, N. Y., February 7, 
1820, to Lewis H. Redfield, Esq., a prominent 
journalist of Onondaga county for many years. 
Mrs. Redfield is now in her 79th year, with sympa- 
thies with the present generation as with the past, 
possessing great intellectual vivacity, and, as in the 
past, she lives endeared not only to her children, 
but to her numerous acquaintances. 



MILTON H. NORTHRUP. 

Milton H. Northrup is a native of Madison 
county. Born near Peterboro, in 1841, he gradu- 
ated at Hamilton College in i860. Going South to 
engage in teaching, the breaking out of the rebel- 
lion found him at the head of the preparatory 
department of Oglethorpe University at Milledge- 
ville, the then capital of Georgia. Returning North 
he taught a private classical school at Syracuse for 
two years. He was admitted to the bar in 1863, 
but never engaged in the practice of the profession. 
In the fall of 1863 he was Clerk of the Board of i 
Supervisors of Onondaga county, and subsequently 
Clerk to the Supervisor's Bounty Committee, which 
disbursed the county bounty to volunteers. 

In the summer of 1864, he was appointed Aide- 
de-Camp on the staff of Brigadier-General John 
A. Green, Jr., who had been charged by Governor 
Seymour with the defense of the Northern frontier ' 
of the State from Wayne county to the Vermont 
line. The apprehended rebel invasion from Canada 
did not occur, and the National Guard's services 
were happily not called into requisition. The years 
1865-6, were passed by Mr. Northrup in the Penn- 1 
sylvania oil regions, whence, incidentally, he con- 
tributed to the World and other papers descriptive 
letters of life in the " Oildorado " which attracted 
wide attention. Commencing with the session of 
1867 he spent several winters at Albany as legisla- 
tive correspondent of the New York Express and 
other papers, and, in 1869, as legislative reporter 
for the New York Associated Press. He repre- 
sented the New York Express at Washington in 
the spring of 1868, during the impeachment trial 
of President Johnson, and spent the summer and 
autumn of that year in travel in Europe 

After the adjournment of the legislature in 1869, 
he accepted the position of agent at New York of 
the New York State Associated Press, which posi- 
tion he held until he became editor and one of the 
proprietors of the Courier. During the memorable 
session of the Forty-fourth Congress, Mr. Northrup 



spent most of his time in Washington as editorial 
correspondent of his paper. By request of Mr. 
Payne of Ohio, Chairman of the committee, he 
acted as Clerk to the committee on the part of the 
House which, in connection with a similar com- 
mittee on the part of the Senate, prepared and re- 
ported the bill creating the Electoral Commission 
which settled the Presidential controversy. 

The Syracuse Courier, with which Mr. North- 
rup is now connected, was founded in 1856, during 
the Presidential campaign of that year, in the 
interest of the Democratic party. H. L. Haga- 
dorn was its first proprietor. In 1858 the paper 
passed into the hands of Messrs. D. J. Halsted 
and H. S. McCuUom, under the name of Central 
City Courier. In the Presidential campaign of 
i860 the Courier ran up the Breckenridge ticket. 
Mr. Halsted, who favored Douglas' candidacy, with- 
drew and started a new paper, the Syracuse Union, 
which hoisted Douglas' name for President. Short- 
ly after election, the two papers were consolidated 
under the name of the Courier a7td Union, with Mr. 
Halsted as sole proprietor. In 1869 the last half 
of the name was dropped and the paper has since 
borne its present title. In 1870 Mr. Halsted parted 
with two-thirds interest in the establishment to 
Mr. Milton H. Northrup, who assumed editorial 
control, (which position he now fills) and S. Gurney 
Lapham. In 1873 the property passed into the 
hands of the " Courier Printing Company," a duly 
incorporated company, with the above named as the 
principal stockholders. Hon. Daniel Pratt was 
made President of the company, S. Gurney 
Lapham, Secretary, D. J. Halsted, Treasurer and 
Business Manager, and M. H. Northrup continued 
as Managing Editor. In January, 1878, Mr. 
William T. Hamilton was made Secretary of the 
company, and Mr. Wilber M. Brown, Treasurer 
and Business Manager; the other officers remain- 
ing as before. In addition to the daily, the com- 
pany publishes the Onondaga Weekly Courier, and 
and has since 1874 published the Sunday Courier, 
issued Sunday mornings. 



JOHN G. K. TRUAIR, 

Senior publisher of the Syracuse Journal, was 
born in Sherburne, Chenango County, N. Y., May 
II, 1817. He graduated at Oberlin College, Ohio, 
in 1838, and at once engaged in academic teaching 
in the State of New York. He was Principal of 
Gilbertsville Academy and Collegiate Institute, 
Otsego County, six years ; of Norwich Academy, 
Chenango County, two years ; and of the Brockport 



252 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Collegiate Institute, Monroe County, five years. In 
1861, he was also connected for one year wi'.h the 
Female College at Elmira. 

In the spring of 1855, he purchased the Syracuse 
yoiiritnl establishment which had been conducted 
the preceding year by his brother, Thomas S. Tniair, 
and devoted his time and energies for many years 
to the work of placing the yourual upon a firm and 
substantial basis. In 1862, Hon Carroll E. Smith 
became associated with him in the conduct of the 
paper, and in 1870 Col. Dwight H. Bruce was admit- 
ted to an equal partnership in the establishment. 

Although Mr. Truair had spent fifteen years in 
the duties of a teacher's profession, for which he 
developed an unusual fitness and in which he met 
with uniform and gratifying success, yet he had 
always felt a strong inclination to engage in the 
avocations and excitements of a business life. He 
entered this new sphere of activity, therefore, with 
great eagerness and courage, and gradually over- 
coming the numerous obstacles incident to news- 
paper enterprises, his efforts were crowned with 
gratifying success. He had the satisfaction of 
seeing the youtiial steadily advance from year to 
year in favor with the public, increasing rapidly its 
circulation and patronage, and widely extending its 
influence and usefulness. 

The business interests of the establishment, 
which were especially committed to the sujjcrvision 
of Mr. Truair, soon became fi.xed upon a firm and 
substantial basis, never losing their hold upon the 
confidence of the public. 

After a laborious service of nearly a quarter of a 
century, Mr. Truair and his colleagues have the sat- 
isfaction of knowing that the yoiir/iii/\s moving for- 
ward in a prosperous and useful career, and securing 
more and more the confidence and support of an 
appreciative public. 

Mr. Truair was for many years Secretary of the 
Onondaga County Bible Society and of the Pioneer 
Society of Central New York. In 1861 and 1862, 
he was appointed Treasurer of the city of Syracuse 
and held the same office again in 1864 and 1865. He 
is also a member of the Board of Councillors of the 
" Home Association," and is Vice-President of that 
body. 

GENERAL JOHN ELLIS. 

The history of Onondaga county would be signally 
incomplete without a sketch of that sturdy pioneer 
General John Ellis, whose name is most honorably 
associated with its annals, and who was also largely 
instrumental in the development of its material 
resources. A scion of the best New England 



ancestry, he was born at Hebron, Conn., 1764, the M f 
son of John Ellis and of Elizabeth Sawyer, his 
wife. While still in his boyhood, his parents 
moved to the town of Pittsfield, Berkshire county, 
Mass., where they were residing at the opening of 
the struggle for independence. In 1779, young 
Ellis, although yet of tender age, caught the fervor ' 

of the Revolution and became an.xious to join the 
army. Although too young for regular service, his ( 

father consented that his intimate friend. Captain 
Talcott, should allow the young patriot to become 
his personal attendant, and, in this capacity, he 
lived in the Captain's tent and was treated by him 
in all respects as his son. He often accompanied 
the troops in their expeditions, and exhibited those 
qualities of courage and of decision which were 
amply illustrated in his after life. He remained 
with the army until the close of the war. 

At the age of 21 he was working his father's 
farm summers, and teaching school winters, and by 
industry and strict economy was enabled to save 
enough to bring him in the year 1794 to this west- 
ern country, and to buy land for a homestead. He 
devoted the first summer to looking over the lands 
of Onondaga and some of the adjoining counties, 
in company with General Van Cortland, Judge 
Geddes and some others. He finally decided upon 
Onondaga, and located first at Manlius. In 1795 
he returned to Pittsfield, and married Submit Olds, 
also a native of Hebron, and in February of that 
year they returned to the then western wilderness, 
in company with Dr. Sturdevant and his young wife 
and a man Mr. Ellis had employed to drive the 
third team. 

Few of those now living can appreciate the hard- 
ships and perils attendant upon the journey to this 
then western country in those primitive days. It 
was literally a passage through the wilderness, a 
passage made not less formidable by nature, than 
I by the presence of the red man still retaining much 
of his olden hostility to the white man. Several 
adventures with the Indians marked the progress 
of the young New England couple to their 
new home. Mr. Ellis had, however, consider- 
able previous acquaintance with them, had thor- 
oughly studied their habits and peculiarities, 
and knew how to manage them, as an incident 
which occurred during their journey will illustrate. 
Near Oneida Castle, the sleds became mired, and 
it was necessary to call upon the Indians for help. 
Entering one of the largest huts late in the evening, 
a number of Indians were found wrapped in their 
blankets asleep. Mr. Ellis directed the women to 
show no signs of fear, and himself walked directly 





^; ,,,^. ^rS-^^ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



253 



to the fire, raked open the bed of coals and appUed 
fresh fuel. The Indians being aroused showed 
symptoms of anger, but Mr. Ellis spoke in a com- 
manding voice, and by making signs, which they 
understood, induced a number of them to give him 
the required assistance. The women remained in the 
hut, not without fear, but the authority of Mr. Ellis 
was sufficient not only then but ever afterwards, to 
command the respect and affection of the Indians. 
By the Onondagas especially he was held in high 
esteem, and they honored him with an Indian name 
which was a synonym of bravery. Mrs. Ellis also 
lost all fear of the Indians, and treated them with 
unfailing kindness, which was by them cheerfully 
reciprocated. 

The journey already alluded to took about three' 
weeks to accomplish, and was terminated at Man- 
lius, where Mr. Ellis fi.xed his temporary residence, 
having brought with him a small stock of goods for 
exchange with the Indians for their furs and for 
supplying the wants of the few settlers who had 
preceded him. 

During the following year, and while General 
Van Cortland was on a visit to them, Mr. and 
Mrs. Ellis's first child was born. General Van 
Cortland asked permission to name him, but Mr. 
Ellis replied, the " boy's name is John, but you 
may add whatever else you please." So the child 
was called "John Cortland," 

Among the many lots of 250 acres each, pur- 
chased by Mr. Ellis in different parts of the town 
of Onondaga (in which the county seat was after- 
wards located) lot 103 was chosen for the family 
residence, and clearing was began that season, the 
trees being felled to be burned the following year. 
During the spring of 1798 General Ellis removed 
with his family to Onondaga Hill, where he had 
built a one and a-half story frame house, but owing 
to the scarcity of brick the chimney could not be 
completed before October. In September, the 
second child and eldest daughter, Harriet Byron, 
was born, and as no fire could be built within 
doors, the child was dressed out of doors by a log 
fire, which served the double purpose for cooking 
and to keep off wild animals. 

In the year 1801 General Ellis built a second 
and larger house, a part of which was used as a 
store for several years. He kept supplies for the 
settlers, and for the purpose of trading with the In- 
dians. In this house were born four daughters, 
Sophia, Submit, Electa and Laura and the second 
son, James Madison Ellis. 

In 1804 General Ellis built upon the stream run- 
ning through his farm (where the reservoir of the 
33 



Syracuse Water-Works Company now is) a saw 
mill, and later the same year also built on his farm 
a small factory for carding and cloth-dressing. 

In 181 1 Mr. Ellis began the erection of a new 
and quite a large frame house, said at the time to 
be one of the finest residences in the town. The 
progress of building was slow, as General Ellis was 
compelled to send to Massachusetts for mechanics. 
The family moved into the new home during the 
autumn of 18 12, and before it was quite finished. 
Here were born the two youngest children, Mary 
Caroline and George Clinton. At this time (1878) 
this house and also the second built by General Ellis, 
are standing in a very good state of preservation. 

During the year 1802, General Ellis purchased of 
General Humphrey, of Derby, Conn., four Spanish 
Merino sheep — two bucks and two ewes — for 
which he paid ^1,500, and as at that time there was 
a premium on the first buck brought to each 
county, he left one of his with Mr. Douglas of 
Madison county, bringing the rest to his own farm. 
The following year he was offered ;$ 1,500 for his 
best buck, which he refused, as there were increased 
difficulties in the way of importing these sheep 
from Spain. This would seem to be a very high 
price, but years afterwards single sheep of the same 
breed were sold for a much larger sum. About 
this time General Ellis went to Cheshire, Mass., 
where he bought one cow and thirty calves of their 
best improved stock, and brought them to Onon- 
daga. They proved an excellent breed and were 
distributed among the farmers of the county. 

Mr. Ellis was by birth and education a Presby- 
terian, and one of the organizers of the first Pres- 
byterian society of Onondaga ; and was ever after 
one of its chief supporters. 

In April, 1799, was held the second annual town 
meeting of Onondaga, and among the officers 
chosen was Mr. John Ellis for assessor. 

Mr. Ellis was widely known as a military man. 
His first appointment was in 1797, when he was 
made Adjutant in Colonel Asa Danforth's regiment 
of General Taylor's brigade. From this time his 
advance was rapid to the rank of both Major and 
Colonel; July 10, 181 1, he received from his per- 
sonal friend, Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor of the 
State, the commission of Brigadier General of the 
county militia, and September 15, 1818, he received 
from Governor DeWitt Clinton the commission of 
Major- General, and was assigned to the i8th 
Division of Infantry of the State Militia. During 
the war of 18 12, General Ellis was in command of 
the Onondaga brigade, which was kept as a reserve 
force in case of invasion, or trouble on the frontier ; 



254 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



and May 6. 1814, when the British captured Os- 
wego, his brigade was ordered to that point. But 
upon their arrival at Oswego Falls, they learned 
that the enemy had evacuated the fort. The troops, 
however, continued on to Oswego, where they re- 
mained some time. Again, when the British fleet 
lay off Sackett's Harbor, the brigade was called out 
with all speed, the news reaching General Ellis by 
special messenger at 9 o'clock at night ; and be- 
tween this and morning he dispatched men on 
horseback all through the county to notify the offi- 
cers and men. Early the following morning, 
General Ellis in command of his brigade and the 
warriors of the Onondagas led by Colonel Ephraim 
Webster, Indian Agent, marched for Sackett's Har- 
bor. They had proceeded as far as Smith's Mills 
or Adams, when a halt was ordered, as the enemy 
had disappeared, and a victory had been won at 
Big Sandy Creek. For six weeks after this General 
Ellis's brigade was kept deploying, watching the 
movements of the British fleet. 

General Ellis was a man of marked and well- 
defined characteristics, both of mind and manners. 
As a politician, he was both active and influential. 
At first he was a Federalist, but just previous to the 
War of 1812, he, with Judge Mosely and others, 
embraced the principles of the Democratic party ; 
and although an ardent supporter of Jeflerson and 
Tompkins, he was ever the friend of DeWitt Clin- 
ton. He lived a sober, consistent, and Christian 
life, and was highly esteemed by all his friends and 
fellow-townsmen. He died of consumption in 1820, 
and was buried with military honors in the family 
lot on the farm at Onondaga Hill. 

Mrs. Ellis was well calculated to bear the hard- 
ships and trials and to meet the dangers of a life in 
the wilderness ; and she was always in every way, a 
most valuable help-meet to her husband She was 
discreet and possessed excellent judgment, as well 
as every qualification that adorns a wife and mother. 
She was a woman of great endurance, although 
slight and delicate in appearance. She was the 
mother of nine children, of whom only Mrs. Caro- 
line Hargin, of New York City, and James M. Ellis, 
of Syracuse, are now living. 

General Ellis died leaving a family of children 
whose opportunities for obtaining an education had 
been such as the schools of that day afforded. The 
depreciation in values at the close of the war in 
1815, made the large estate left by him of over i,2CO 
acres of land, of insufficient value to place the 
family in easy circumstances. James M. spent the 
nine years following his father's death, at home, as- 
sisting his mother on the farm. In 1829 his mother 



with the younger children, went to Henrietta, Mon- 
roe county, where she took a house until the follow- 
ing summer, for the purpose of giving the children 
better opportunities for obtaining an education. On 
her return James began work in earnest, and soon 
paid oft' the encumbrance on the farm. Januar)* 
6, 1833, he married Lucy Cudworth, daughter of 
Nathaniel Cudworth and Lydia Farrar, of Bristol, 
Ontario County, and who had settled there as early 
as 1798, and coming by water all the way from 
Sonet Bay, Mass, to Seneca Lake, and being 31 
days on their journey. She (Lucy Cudworth 1 was 
born Feb. 8, 1812. 

The spring following his marriage, and when 23 
years of age, Mr. Ellis bought the homestead of 250 
acres of the heirs, and settled down for life. During 
the next twenty years he carried on his farm, and was 
among the representative farmers of the county. 

He had special interest and pride in his flock of 
merino sheep, bred from the flock owned by his 
father and previously from the stock imported by 
General Humphrey, Minister to Spain, in i8or. 
By the appreciation of this flock left him by his 
father he bred with great care and success until 
1854, and was said to have had one of the best flocks 
in the State. The same stock has been propagated 
and improved by Davis Cossitt, of Onondaga, 
whose flock now can hardly be excelled. The 
sudden death of his only son and two daughters, 
caused him to give up farming, and in 1854 he 
moved to the city of Syracuse, where he has since 
resided. Soon after coming here he engaged in the 
wool trade, which, with the tanning and hide and 
leather trade, he, with E. B. Wicks, T. B. Fitch 
and J. S. Sharp, carried on in Chicago and Syra- 
cuse, until about the year 1868 in the former, and 
until 1871 in the latter place. 

Mr. Ellis has been Trustee of the Syracuse Sav- 
ings Bank since 1855, and has also been connected 
with the Mechanics Bank since its organization in 
1 85 1, having been President of the latter since the 
year 1872. For many years past he has been 
largely identified with the manufacturing interests 
of the city. 

In politics, Mr. Ellis cast his first presidential 
vote for Andrew Jackson, and continued an ardent 
supporter of the Democratic party until the Free- 
Soil movement, when he arrayed himself against the 
introduction of slavery into the Territories; and upon 
the formation of the Republican party adopted its 
principles, and has since, with little variation, stood 
unswervingly in its ranks. Although always tak- 
ing a lively interest in important public questions, 
he never desired political preferment. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



255 



In the old military organization of the State Mr. 
Ellis was Adjutant under Colonel Woodruft" in the 
147th Regiment from 1833 to 1836. In 1836 he 
received the commission of Major from Governor 
Wm. L. Marcy, and on the death of Colonel Wood- 
ruff, in 1838, he was elected Colonel, and resigned 
the same year. 

Mr. Ellis is a plain, unassuming man, possessing 
strict integrity of purpose and an unblemished 
reputation in all his business and social relations. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have been born seven 
children, viz : Clara Earll, (deceased, ) Mary Sophia, 
(died young,") James Augustus, (deceased,) Mary 
Caroline, (deceased,) Harriet Isabella, wife of the 
late William A. Beach, of Troy, N. Y. ; Lydia 
Maria, (died young,) and Lucy Cudworth, wife of 
Frank W. Balch, of Chicago, III. 



CARROLL E. SMITH, 

Printer and journalist, is a life-long resident of 
Syracuse, where he was born December 25, 1832. 
He has been a gratified witness of the growth of 
his native place from a small village to a populous 
and prosperous city. His parents were Vivus W. 
Smith and Caroline, only daughter of Jonas Earll, 
Jr., of Onondaga, whose only gliild he was. His 
ancestors were New England people, dating back to 
the early settlement of Massachusetts. 

His youth was spent in the schools of his native 
place, and he completed his academic course in the 
Syracuse Academy and the Seward Institute at 
Florida, Orange County, N. Y. At an early age he 
entered the printing office of the Syracuse yournal, 
(established by his father, V. W. Smith, in company 
with his uncle, S. F. Smith,) and he there learned 
the various branches of the printer's trade. In 
1847, he began his newspaper service in a subordi- 
nate capacity, and was subsequently, before attain- 
ing his majority, local reporter of the Daily your- 
nal, and associate editor of the Daily Clironicle of 
Syracuse. In i860, he began his regular editorial 
connection with the yournal, and in 1862 became 
Mr. J. G. K. Truair's associate in the ownership of 
that paper and its printing establishment, and since 
that time has had the editorial charge of the news- 
paper. He began his political life as a Republican, 
and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont for 
President, in 1856. He has ever since maintained 
an active interest in politics, and given his best 
efforts to elevate and purify political affairs and to 
shape the action of the party with which he is 
identified in the best practicable direction. As a 
journalist, he seeks* to promote the highest good 



of the community, by upholding the cause of re- 
ligion, morality and temperance, and by the advo- 
cacy of the best phases of political and public poli- 
cy, always holding himself independent and free to 
criticise, and, if need be, dissent from the action of 
party and leadership which tend contrawise to his 
views of the public welfare. His ideal of a public 
journal is the perfect abnegation of self in its con- 
ductors, with the highest development of news en- 
terprise and the most perfect devotion to the inter- 
ests of State and people. 

He has been handsomely recognized by his party 
and the people in the bestowment of public sta- 
tions. He was Clerk of the City of Syracuse from 
1854 to 1857, and took much interest in framing 
the charter of the city which has since been the 
basis of its municipal law. He was County Clerk 
of Onondaga County from 1865 to 1868. He was a 
Member of the Assembly of the Stateof New Yorkin 
the years 1876 and 1877, and held a prominent po- 
sition in that body. He was Chairman of the 
Committee on Public Education, the author of 
legislation in the interest of popular education, and 
framed and urged to its passage the pending 
school amendment to the Constitution. He was 
also a member of the Committees on the Affairs of 
Cities and on Apportionment, in whose action he 
took a deep interest. He refused to be a candi- 
date for reelection to the Legislature, preferring to 
devote his attention to journalism. He is for the 
present year President of the New York State 
Press Association, and for ten years has been one 
of the managers of the New York State Asso- 
ciated Press. He is connected with the manage- 
ment of several other public associations, and iden- 
fied with various business enterprises. 



CHARLES TALLMAN. 

Charles Tallman presents a splendid example of 
the success that unaided effort united with persist- 
ent purpose and honorable ambition may achieve. 
The son of a farmer, Easton Tallman, who died in 
1819, and was one of the wilderness pioneers of 
Central New York, Charles was born in Tully, 
Onondaga county, in 18 10. One of six fatherless 
children to whom and the widowed mother little 
was left but the legacy of an unsullied name and 
lives of toil, if not of hardships, the prospect be- 
fore the lad of nine was cloudy and cheerless at the 
best ; but happily the mother was a woman of 
strongly-marked character, positive, economical, in- 
dustrious and hopeful, and was thus enabled to hold 



256 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



her family together and maintain a successful 
struggle with the world. 

Unfitted alike by physical strength and mental 
disposition for the rugged labors of farm-life in a 
new country, Charles presented himself empty 
handed, but stout-hearted, as a pupil at the Homer 
Academy, one of the oldest and best institutions in 
the State, where he remained two years, devoting 
himself assiduously to the acquisition of a capital 
that no financial disaster could ever diminish. In 
the accomplishment of this he incurred a debt for 
board and tuition to his uncle, the late Jedediah 
Barber of Homer, a sacred obligation which it was 
the first business of his life to satisfy. To effect 
this he became the teacher of a district school, 
having passed a triumphant examination, in the 
course of which he filled the slate with figures and 
the School Commissioners with astonishment, in 
beclouding a problem that neither examiners nor 
candidate could possibly solve. 

Then, as now. the West had a siren song that 
charmed many a youth to sling up the knapsack 
and be pilgrim towards the setting sun. The West 
of that day was a weary distance by canal and 
steamer and saddle, but now accomplished by the 
swift engine between sun and sun. Charmed by 
the hidden possibilities of the far-off land, and 
eager to find ami win a wider field of exertion, he 
struck out in 1833 for " The Ohio " as it was called, 
which meant the whole sweep of the continent to 
the Mississippi River. After varied fortunes, none 
of which were signal successes, and an absence of 
three months, he returned to TuUy. determined to 
work out the problem of his life amid the scenes of 
his boyhood. And yet the experiences of his pilgrim- 
age were not valueless. Setting forth with un- 
limited faith in the honor and honesty of all man- 
kind, he confided in a stranger's word, trusted to a 
stranger's judgment, set aside the promptings of 
his own good sense, and exchanged an excellent 
horse he rode for an equine fiction that Don 
Quixote in his maddest moments would have de- 
spised. The tuition for a term of thirty minutes 
cost him a horse and unspeakable disgust, but it 
was well worth the price he paid for it. He learned 
the value of self-reliance which is better than 
" Daboll," of calm judgment which is wiser than 
Grammar, of prudence which is more helpful than 
Geography — all gifts and qualities that have char- 
acterized his life and won for him distinguished 
success. 

Forty-five years ago, the fields of enterprise out of 
the great cities of the sea-board were few and narrow, 
and so upon his return from the West, the young 



man saw nothing for it but to betake himself to the 
plow, the hoe and the cradle. Always ready to do 
what his hand found to do with his might, he took 
up the last named implement one day and swung 
out into the harvest field with a will that was 
stronger than his sinews, but those stalwart broth- 
ers of his cradled round him and out of sight. 
The sun was hot, the grain was rank, and he flung 
down the cradle with the emphatic declaration that 
if he could not eat without doing the drudgery of a 
farm he would make a desperate effort to break up 
the habit. 

Bidding adieu to swath and furrow, and after 
wearying disappointments and delays, we find him 
in Vesper, in his native town, partner in a country 
store, where, amid ox-yokes and ax-helves, needles 
and crow-bars, groceries wet and dry, cottons, flan- 
nels, woolens, ribbons and rat-traps, everything 
anybody wanted in the new country but beauty and 
content, he passed nine busy years, and laid with 
energy, self-denial and business skill the sure foun- 
dations of his subsequent ample fortune. 

In 1846, the great salt lick of New York, Syra- 
cuse, a straggling village of 11.000, began to fore- 
shadow its coming greatness, and thither Mr. Tall- 
man removed with his family, for he was already 
the head of a hous(^old, and became senior partner 
in the " City Drug Store," on Salina street, with 
William H. Williams. But, never content to travel 
in a groove. Mr. Tallman's energies were directed 
to many important interests and enterprises, among 
which may be named extensive farming in the 
West, the raising of cattle, the growing of wool, 
the mining of coal, the traffic in real estate, the 
trade in provisions, and today he is the senior 
partner in the extensive wholesale firms of A. N. 
Palmer & Co., and W. L. Ross & Co., of the city 
of-Syracuse. And in all these multifarious pursuits 
and enterprises, involving so much skill, care and 
capital, he has established and maintained the char- 
acter of an able, upright merchant, and in all the 
relations of life a true and generous friend. 

Almost as thoroughly conversant with one sec- 
tion of this country as another, he has traveled from 
the Atlantic to the Pacific, is deeply interested in 
all that conduces to the true prosperity of the coun- 
try, but in these broader views he has never lost 
sight of the city of his adoption, but has been iden- 
tified in all directions with its material growth. Its 
home industries, its business blocks, its ware-houses, 
the railways that traverse its streets, bear evidence 
of his helping hand and his judicious management. 
The village of eleven thousand has grown around 
him to a city sixty thousand strong, of which he 




Photo, by Bonta & Curtiss, Syracuse. 



HORATIO N. WHITE. 



Horatio N. White, an architect by profession, has been 
closely identified with the growth of the city of Syracuse for 
the past thirty-five years. 

Many of the public and private buildings in this and the 
surroundinir counties have been erected under Mr. White's 



supervision, prominent among which are the Onondaga County 
court-house, the Syracuse university, the Onondaga County 
savings bank, the Auburn savings bank, the Oswego city hall, 
and numerous court-houses, State armories, and not less than 
a hundred churches. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



257 



can most truly say, " all of which I saw and a part 
of which I am." 

Possessed of an ample fortune, of which he him- 
self was architect, dwelling in a beautiful home, un- 
blemished in reputation, happy in children and chil- 
dren's children, ever ready with judicious counsel 
and helpful deed, never an aspirant for any political 
office, commanding the respect of the public and 
the affection of his friends, yet he has not grown 
idle. With leisure awaiting his enjoyment, foreign 
lands conspiring to lure him across the sea, time 
and fortune at instant command, he has never laid 
off the harness of a busy life. And he is wise, for 
no rust is so corrosive as the rust that comes from 
premature rest after a life packed full with interests 
and energies. 

Long may he live, mingling as ever, with men in 
the busy thoroughfares, always a warm side for his 
friends and a cheerful word for everybody — an admi- 
rable illustration of the splendid possibilities a pio- 
neer farmer's boy with hands, heart and head that 
he knows how to use, may achieve in America. It 
has grown into a proverb, " nothing succeeds like 
success." 



DWIGHT H. BRUCE. 



Dwight Hall Bruce was born at Lenox, Madison 
county, N. Y., June 21, .1834. He received an 
academic education preparatory to a college course, 
which, however, he never entered upon. He at 
the same time devoted considerable time to the 
study of music, and offered several compositions to 
the public which attracted the notice of musicians 
of note. In 1857, he became connected with the 
Commercial Times newspaper at Oswego, as associate 
editor. In January, 1861, he removed to Syracuse, 
to act as assistant to Canal Commissioner Bruce, 
his father. He continued to fill positions of 
responsibility, in connection with the canals, till late 
in the year 1869, when he resigned. During this 
period of service, he originated several valuable 
improvements in the manner of operating the 
canals, and wrote a series of articles relating to their 
usefulness and capacity, which attracted wide atten- 
tion. During those years, in which the Rebellion 
34* 



had its rise and fall, he was active in politics, and 
as Secretary of the Republican County Com- 
mittee, mainly conducted two Presidential cam- 
paigns. In 1866, and again in 1867, he was Super- 
visor of the Seventh Ward of Syracuse. In October, 
1869, he was appointed by the Secretary of the 
Treasury assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue, 
and was designated to make assessments in any 
part of the Twenty-third Congressional District, for 
all taxes imposed on the manufacture and sale of 
tobacco, snuff and cigars. He resigned this posi- 
tion in January following, to become one of the 
proprietors and editors of the Syracuse Journal. 
March 25, 1871, he was appointed by President 
Grant, and confirmed by the United States Senate, 
postmaster at Syracuse. During his adminis- 
tration, important changes were made in the 
management of the office, greatly increasing its 
efficiency and popularity. The number of daily 
mails was nearly doubled ; a night clerk and 
the present system of night service were intro- 
duced ; new systems for securing efficiency in every 
department were adopted and put in force, and the 
office itself enlarged and improved both in respect 
to convenience and appearance. When he was su- 
perceded, January 1, 1875 — his term having expired 
nine months previously — his official standing on the 
records of the post-office department at Washing- 
ton, was as creditable as that of any other postmas- 
ter in the United States. Though his accounts 
covered several million dollars, there was not the 
slightest variation between his statements and those 
of the department when the final settlement was 
made. He has filled many and various offices of 
honor and trust, public and private, and has also 
spent many years in the military service of the 
State, filling all Regimental positions, except those 
of field officers. He was Major and Paymaster, 
afterwards Colonel and Engineer on the staff of 
Major-General William C. Brown, commanding the 
Sixth Division, and is now Captain and Brevet-Col- 
onel and Inspector of Rifle Practice of the Fifty-first 
Regiment. He is still a proprietor and editor of 
the Syracuse yournal, holding an equal interest 
with Messrs. J. G. K. Truair and Carroll E. Smith, 
under the firm name of Truair, Smith & Bruce. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWNS. 



SALINA. 



The earliest place settled on the Salt Springs 

Reservation was the Village of Salina, sometimes 

designated in its early history " Salt Point." The 

prospective value of the salt springs in this locality 

attracted the attention of travelers and settlers at 

an early day, and drew hither, with their families, 

an enterprising class of men, who engaged in the 

manufacture of salt before the beginning of the 

present century. The first settlement appears to 

have been begun at Salina in 1788, in which year 

and in 1789, Deacon Loomis, Nathaniel Loomis, 

Hczckiah Olcott, John Danforth, Asa Danforth, Jr., 

and Thomas Gaston, with their families, settled at 

the place. In August, 1790, Colonel Jeremiah 

Gould and family, consisting of his wife and three 

sons, Jeremiah, James and Phares, and an only 

daughter, the oldest of his children, moved here from 

Westmoreland, Oneida county, and Mr. Gould built 

the first arch in which a kettle was placed for boiling 

salt. (See History of Salt Springs.) In 1791, Sam'l 

Jerome, came to Onondaga to examine the land in 

this section. He visited the springs at Salt Point, 

and taking with him a sample of the salt, traveled 

through Pompey, Fabius. Homer and Manlius, and 

on his return to Saratoga, his place of residence, 

he reported that he had discovered " the land of 

promise," and induced several of his friends to come 

out here and settle. 

At this early period a number of persons made 
salt at Salina who lived at Onondaga, in what was 
then a more healthy location. The great difficulty 
which the early settlers had to encounter at Salt 
Point was sickness, induced by the stagnant marshes 
of the lake. Fevers began to appear early in July, 
and cases followed each other in rapid succession, 
so that frequently there were not well people 
enough in the settlement to take care of the sick. 
Many died during the sickly season, and many, not- 
withstanding the attractions of the salt interest and 
the prospective value of property, were deterred on 
account of the reputed unhealthincss of the locality, 
from attempting to make permanent homes there. 



In 1791, two families named Woodworth and 
Sturges settled near the marsh. On the 2d of 
March, 1792, Mr. Isaac VanVleck and family came 
to Salina, and the following, year Thomas Orman 
and Simon Phares. 

Salt Point Frame and Mi;d Houses. 

The peculiarity of some of the earliest frame build- 
ings at Salt Point is deserving a passing notice. They 
were constructed somewhat as follows : Sills were 
laid and posts set up at proper distances ; the 
beams and plates were put into their places ; grooves 
were cut in the posts, on the inside, two inches in 
width, so as to receive the ends of the sticks or 
poles, which being placed in horizontally, one above 
another, constituted the " siding " of the buildings. 
When this was done the whole was plastered over 
with a kind of mud mortar tempered with straw. 
Buildings constructed in this way are said to have 
made very comfortable dwellings. The chimneys 
were made of sticks and clay, and the fire places 
had no jambs, only a plain stone wall at the back. 
Mr. Jeremiah Gould erected a house of this descrip- 
tion in 1792, which was noted as the first frame 
house erected at Salt Point and in the county of 
Onondaga. The second was built by John Dan- 
forth in 1793. Mr. VanVleck and Asa Danforth, 
Jr., built frame houses about the same time of 
superior construction. 

Scarcitv of Provisions. 

At this time the settlers obtained most of their 
provisions in exchange for salt, from Tioga, Whites- 
town and Herkimer. In 1792-3, provisions became 
very scarce and great suffering ensued. On several 
occasions boats were sent from Salt Point to Kings- 
ton ( Canadai by way of Oswego, to procure sup- 
plies. The old settlers say that in this manner at 
different times they obtained bread, biscuit, salted 
meat and fish which had been made and cured in 
England, and although it was of an inferior quality, 
it was eaten with a relish which hunger never fails 
to give. 






John Paddock. 



Mrs. John Paddock, 



C PHOTOS syWV RAKniK.SrTrACU&i: ) 




Residence or JOHN PADDOCK , Liverpool, New York 




HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK. 



259 



Captain Canute. 
Captain Canute, of a trading boat from Salt 
Point to Albany, often brought provisions and gro- 
ceries and received his pay in young bears, wolves, 
raccoons, foxes, deer and fawns, all of which were at 
that time very plenty. Deer were so abundant and 
tame that they frequently herded with the cows, 
entering the yards with them at night with as much 
unconcern as if they had been fully domesticated. 
The young bears were furnished to the white people 
by the Indians for the merest trifle. Numbers of 
these animals have been known to be kept confined 
in chains awaiting the arrival of Captain Canute, 
who always found a ready market for them at Al- 
bany. So common were wolves and bears at this 
time that it was no unusual thing to see them pass- 
ing along the paths leading from Cicero to Onon- 
daga, and from the frequency of this occurrence, 
some of the paths took names from these animals. 
Thus two of the streets running north from the 
main street in the First Ward of Syracuse, are now 
called Wolf and Bear streets. 

Salt Point in 1793. 

In 1793 there were but thirty persons at Salt 
Point, all told. Sickness had thinned the number. 
Nearly every one was sick at the same time, except 
a man named Patrick Riley, a generous hearted son 
of Erin, who carried on Mr. Van Vleck's salt works. 
He drew all his own wood for a salt block, boiled 
salt every day and half the nights, and every alter- 
nate night watched with the sick, for a period of 
two months without a single night's intermission. 

Dr. Holbrook, who had settled near Jamesville, 
and who was the first physician in the county, came 
over every day to visit the sick. He was a skillful 
and successful physician. Dr. Burnet, in 1797, was 
the first resident physician in Salina. 

During the sickly season the Indians were ex- 
ceedingly kind to the settlers. They furnished 
liberally to each family a supply of venison and fish, 
which added greatly to their comfort. 

It was a noticeable peculiarity of the Indians in 
those days that, whenever they had resolved upon a 
carousal, they almost invariably divested themselves 
of all dangerous weapons, and deposited them with 
some trusty person in a place of safe keeping. And 
not unfrequently one of their own number would be 
set apart expressly to keep sober and see that no 
harm was done while the rest indulged themselves 
in their drunken spree. 

Abraham VanVleck and the Rattlesnake. 

Abraham Van Vleck, son of Isaac Van Vleck, is 
believed to have been the first white child born 



within the present limits of Syracuse, and also the 
first male child born in the county. He was born 
at Salt Point in 1792. At that period rattlesnakes 
were very numerous in the vicinity of Salina. They 
were considered harmless, if suffered to pursue their 
own way unmolested, but extremely dangerous 
when interfered with. On a time, little Abraham 
Van Vleck was out at play. His mother became 
alarmed at the violent cackling of the fowls, and 
hurrying round the house to learn the cause of their 
disturbance, " she there found her little son folding 
in his hands and arms an enormous rattlesnake, 
which twined and writhed around the tender limbs 
of the child in the fondest manner, looking defiance 
at the fowls which had gathered around in a circle, 
and were expressing by their noise and bustle the 
utmost fear and agitation. The frightened mother 
ran to her nearest neighbors, who soon gathered at 
the scene. The snake seemed to increase its fond- 
ness for the child, and no one seemed disposed to 
meddle with it for fear of increasing the child's 
peril. At length the mother seized a favorable op- 
portunity, snatched the child and ran away with 
him. The snake seemed angry with the removal of 
his Httle friend, and at once coiled himself in a hos- 
tile attitude, when he was instantly dispatched by 
those present."* 

About the time of the birth of Abraham Van 
Vleck, an Indian had been drowned by the upset- 
ting of his canoe in the Falls of the Oswego, 
and the event bore so heavily upon the friends of 
the deceased, that the son of Mrs. Van Vleck was 
named by the Indians " Ne-un-hoo-tah," which, in 
their language, signifies "sorrow for the departed." 
By this name he was known among the Indians, 
who always entertained for him a remarkable friend- 
ship, and gave his father in trust for him a mile 
square of land at the outlet of Onondaga Lake. 
The title, however, was not recognized by the State. 
The Indians, according to their custom, gave many 
other Indian names to white people. Mr. Van 
Vleck they called " Ka-hunk-a-ta-wah," meaning 
"one spry enough to skip over water." Mrs. Van 
Vleck was " Con-o-roo-quah," " one of pleasant dis- 
position," and Mrs. O'Blennis, her daughter, was 
named " Jo-an-te-no." Thus the Indians named 
people according to some prominent peculiarities 
which they discovered in them. 

The Old Block-House. 
In 1794, a block-house was erected at Salina for 
defence from an anticipated attack of the Indians. 
The circumstances which led to it were these : 



*2 Clark's Onondaga, p. 14Z. 



26o 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



The Western Indians were at war with the settlers 
in Ohio and Indiana, and many of the Indians of 
Western and Northern New York manifested a 
belligerent spirit. It was apprehended that this 
feeling might be general among all the Indian tribes 
and that even the settlements in this county were 
in imminent danger of becoming a prey to the 
tomahawk and scalping knife of the savages. So 
great was the alarm that many persons buried their 
most valuable effects, and not a few were on the 
point of leaving the country. The people of Onon- 
daga assembled at Morehouse's tavern to consult 
upon measures of safety. Mr. Jonathan Russell 
was dispatched to Albany to lay the situation before 
the Governor, who, about the middle of May, 1794, 
sent General William North, General Stephen Van 
Rensselaer, and Adjutant General David \'an Home, 
to call on Haron Steuben, then at his residence in 
Oneida county, and with him to repair to Onondaga. 
These gentlemen,with others, had then recently been 
appointed, by the Legislature, Commissioners for the 
purpose of erecting such fortifications as in their 
judgment should be deemed necessary for the 
security of the northern and western frontiers of 
the State, and twelve thousand pounds had been 
appropriated to defray any e.xpenses thus incurred. 
The military force of the county was assembled at 
Morehouse's and reviewed by Haron Steuben and 
his associates. They then proceeded to Salt Point, 
and upon examining the position recommended the 
erection of a block-house. A Committee of Public 
Safety was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Moses 
De Witt, Isaac Van Vleck, Thomas Orman, Simon 
Phares. and John Danforth, and, together with 
Baron Steuben and the other officers, proceeded to 
stake out the ground near the principal Salt Spring. 
Major Asa Danforth and Major Moses De Witt 
were commissioned to superintend the construction 
of the block house, which was soon completed under 
the direction of Cornelius Higgins, the master- 
builder. It was built of hewed oak timber with 
high cedar posts or pickets around it. This block- 
house was afterwards used by the State as a store- 
house for salt. 

Before the erection of this block-house, so great 
had been the alarm that the people fled from their 
houses and took refuge in what was then known as 
Thompson's Sugar Bush, where they remained three 
days and nights. 

The block-house was manned by a volunteer in- 
dependent company called the " Grenadiers," raised 
by Jonathan Russell, of Pompey, who was Captain. 
Anson Jackson was Lieutenant and Jonathan Bond, 
Ensign. The garrison was furnished with a field- 



piece (a six-pounder\ small arms, ammunition, ra- 
tions, &c., from the Commissary Department of the 
State, by order of Governor Clinton. A depot was 
established at Jeremiah Jackson's mills, near James- 
ville, and warlike implements and stores deposited 
there, and all male persons over fourteen years of 
age were required to hold themselves in readiness 
for any emergency. " Minute men " were also or- 
ganized by drafting three men from each militia 
company on the Military Tract, and armed from the 
depot at Jackson's Mills. In case of any sudden 
assault or attack they were to proceed without a 
moment's delay to the place of danger. 

On the 14th of June, 1794, the general alarm was 
greatly increased by the roar of cannon at F"ort On- 
tario, I Oswego,) which was then in the hands of the 
British, and they were that day celebrating the 
birth-day of King George III. The firing of the 
cannon was distinctly heard throughout the eastern 
part of the county. Many were almost distracted 
with fear and went running to and fro enquiring of 
every person they met whether the enemy were in 
sight. Soon news arrived of the true cause of the 
firing and the agonies of fear were succeeded by 
demonstrations of joy. 

One thing which acted as the immediate cause of 
this great alarm was, that early in the spring of 
1794, Sir John Johnson had been passing from Al- 
bany to Oswego with a boat load of supplies for his 
Mohawk settlement then recently made on Grand 
River, and had been waylaid and plundered near 
Three River Point by a party of some thirty 
or forty men. Johnson, highly incensed, proceeded 
to Oswego, where the British garrison was still kept, 
and there related the story of his wrongs. This at 
once aroused the ire of the British oflficers, and it 
was forthwith determined that Johnson and Brant 
should at once raise a body of soldiers and Indians 
in Canada ^and make a sudden descent upon the 
Onondaga settlements, where it was presumed most 
of the aggressors resided. Indians soon gathered 
in considerable numbers in the vicinity of Niagara 
and Oswego, and it was reported that five hundred 
Messasagues were on their way to destroy the set- 
tlements in this county. At this time, too, a num- 
ber of disaffected Onondagas had joined the West- 
ern Indians against General Wayne, expecting, as 
a matter of course, that Wayne would be defeated, 
as had been his predecessors. Generals Harmar and 
St. Clair, and in which case they were all to return 
and with the remaining Onondagas assist the com- 
mon enemy in the destruction of the Onondaga set- 
tlements. 

The action of the British garrison at Oswego in 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



261 



assuming the right to levy and collect duties on all 
American boats passing the fort, was the exciting 
cause which led the party of Americans to commit 
the aggressive act complained of upon the boat. 
The British had employed persons as spies to give 
notice of any boats which designed to " run" the 
fort, and through their agency several boats had 
been seized and confiscated ; two of these spies had 
also been seized and publicly whipped at Salt Point. 
This state of things produced much angry excite- 
ment throughout the county. However, after con- 
siderable tumultuous contention, satisfaction as far 
as possible was rendered, which had the effect of 
restoring a better state of feeling. The aggressors 
were severely reprehended by a large majority of the 
inhabitants, and kept concealed for a long time fear- 
ing the vengeance of the law. The successful 
campaign of General Wayne in Ohio fully restored 
confidence throughout the country ; the differences 
between the United States and Great Britain were 
happily settled by Mr. Jay's treaty the following 
year ; and the final removal of the British garrison 
from Oswego put an end to all further disturbance 
in this quarter. 

Incident of the War of 1812. 

During the War of 1812 the people at Salina felt 
themselves quite insecure, owing to the easy com- 
munication between them and Lake Ontario, and 
the possibility that the fort at Oswego might be 
taken by the British. The fact also that soldiers 
were sent this way for the defence of that garrison 
tended to excite their apprehensions and enlist their 
interest in the security of the fort. An incident is 
told illustrating the dispatch and patriotism of the 
women of those times. An officer of the Ameri- 
can army sent word to Mrs. Ball, whose husband 
kept a public house on Salina street near Wolf, that 
he wished dinner for himself and men within three 
hours from that time. She immediately set about 
preparing for the meal, and when the men arrived 
placed before them three enormous chicken pies, 
with an eagle of pastry on the top of each, having 
a cranberry in its mouth and surmounted by thir- 
teen stars. 

Town and Village of Salina Laid Out. 

In 1797, the State took formal charge of the Salt 
Springs. In that year a law was passed author- 
izing the Surveyor-General to lay out a portion of 
the Reservation for the purpose of making provision 
for the manufacture of salt. A portion of the marsh 
and upland was laid out on a map and named Salina. 
In 1798, a village was laid out and called Salina ; 
and when the town was set off and organized by 
35 



act of March 27, 1809, that was also named Salina. 
At the organization of the county, in 1794, the ter- 
ritory embraced in the town of Salina was compre- 
hended in the original townships of Manlius and 
Marcellus ; and after the town of Onondaga was set 
off, in 1798, and the township of Marcellus was or- 
ganized as a town, that portion of the Reservation 
not included in Onondaga, on the west side of the 
lake and creek, was attached to Camillus. At the 
organization of the town of Salina, in 1809, a tri- 
angular piece of ground, containing nine and a half 
lots, was taken from the northwest corner of Man- 
lius, which, with the Salt Springs Reservation, con- 
stituted the town of Salina. Geddes and Syracuse 
were taken from Salina March 18, 1848, reducing 
the town to its present dimensions. 

VILLAGE OF SALINA. 

In 1798, the Superintendent of the Salt Springs 
was directed by law to lay out the village of Salina 
conformably to the map made by the Surveyor- 
General. The act was in the following words, viz : 

" Be it enacted, that the Superintendent shall, on 
the ground adjoining the south side of Free street, 
so named on the map of the Salt Springs made by 
the Surveyor-General, lay out a square for a village, 
consisting of sixteen blocks, each six chains square, 
with intermediate streets, conforming to the streets 
laid down on the said map made by the Surveyor- 
General, and divide each lot into four house-lots and 
deliver a map and description thereof to the Sur- 
veyor-General, who, having approved thereof, shall 
thereupon proceed to advertise and sell, not exceed- 
ing thirty of the said lots, in the manner prescribed 
by law for the sale of the lots laid out in Oswego. 

" Provided, that none of the said lots shall be sold 
for a less sum than forty dollars, and provided also 
that no lot on which there is a building of the value 
of fifty dollars shall be liable to be sold, if the owner 
or occupant thereof shall agree to secure a deed 
therefor and pay for the same at the average price 
of other lots sold as aforesaid." 

The village was laid out, and lots sold on credit 
in 1799. Those who had not paid up in 1801, had 
the time of their payment extended by law. The 
earliest and most considerable merchants were John 
Carpenter, Elisha and Dioclesian Alvord, Fisher 
Curtis, Richard Goslin, Richard C. Johnson, and 
Davenport Morey. Timothy Gilchrist, Adam 
Trask, and Cornelius Schouton, kept the first 
taverns. In 18 1 2, there were three public houses 
and twelve stores in the place. These latter, in addi- 
tion to names mentioned, were kept by Dennis 
Mayo, Thomas McCarthy, Thomas Wheeler, Horace 
Brace, Jonathan and William Baldwin, and others. 
Isham West early established himself here as a 
hatter. Samuel P. Smith was a prominent cabinet 



262 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



maker. Mr. David Brace came in 1794- When a 
boy, he carried the mail on horseback from Onon- 
daga Hollow to Oswego, finding his way through 
the wilderness by marked trees. 

Salina may not have been the belter or the worse 
for having been the home of Dean Richmond, but 
it is a fact that he once lived here. Captain Wil- 
liam Stewart, Dean Richmond, and Russell Buck- 
ley, carried the first boat load of salt from this place 
to Utica by the Eric Canal. 

After the Oswego Canal passed through,( 1827,1 
Exchange street became the important street and 
center of business. The store of Dioclcsian Alvord 
stood upon the northwest corner of Salina and Free 
streets, and was built of brick ; that of F^isher 
Curtis was on the southwest corner, opposite. The 
stores of Richard C. Johnson, Davenport Morey, 
and Thomas McCarthy, stood near the old reservoir. 
The store of B. Byington stood upon the opposite 
side of the street, fronting the lake. H. Brace, D. 
Brace, D. Mayo, and J. Baldwin, were on Salina 
street. 

Ali.MINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 

Salina at an early day, in common with all im- 
perfectly organized frontier settlements, had its in- 
cidents of the administration of law which were at 
once amusing and salutary. The first Justice of 
the Peace was Ryal liingham, Esq., who moved 
to Salina from Three River Point in 1797. A good 
anecdote is told of him, to this effect : A man had 
been brought before him charged with stealing, 
whom he proceeded to try, and upon evidence found 
him guilty. F"logging occurred to him as the most 
summary and expeditious method of punishment, 
and perhaps the example of the whipping of the 
British spies was still fresh in his mind. At all events, 
he sentenced the man to receive a certain number 
of stripes on the bare back. But no one was found 
to execute the sentence The resolute justice, 
however, determined not to be defeated, and, assum- 
ing the role of executioner as well as judge, he in- 
flicted the prescribed number of stripes with his 
own hands, to the great discomfiture of the thief. 

Andrew Pharcs, who came to Salina in 1796, was 
Justice of the Peace from 1808 to 182 1. In 1805 
he was commissioned Ensign of a militia regiment. 
He died May 16, 1843, aged 82 years. His wife, 
wtvKuih Biles, whom he brought to Salina in 1797, 
with their daughter, Lois Nancy, then one year old^ 
made a trip to New Brunswick, N. J ,on horseback 
about the year 1812, when there was scarcely a 
wagon road in the whole distance. 

David W. HoUister, who married Ruth Phares, 
daughter of the above, in 181 5, came to Salina in 



1808. He built the first saw mill at Geddes, and 
was a soldier in Captain Thomas Wheeler's 
company at Oswego in 1814. His son, James W. 
Hollister, born at Geddes in 1822, and who has 
resided within the present city of Syracuse since 
1828, was Deputy Sherift" from 1865 to 1877. 

Salina Incorporated. 

The village of Salina was incorporated March 
12, 1824. At the first charter election Fisher 
Curtis, Henry C. Rossiter, James Shankland and 
Jonathan R Beach, were elected Trustees. Fisher 
Curtis was appointed President ; Ashbel Kellogg, 
Clerk ; S R. Mathews, Collector ; Horace Bruce, 
Treasurer, and J. G. Forbes, Attorney Among 
the first acts of the Trustees was to procure a fire 
engine, hooks, ladders, and a general apparatus for 
extinguishing fires. The laying out and improving 
the streets was also early attended to by the Board. 
By the bcok of records it appears that the first 
Board of Trustees were not unmindful of their duty, 
but went zealously into the work assigned them, 
and made many improvements which laid the^foun- 
dation of the future prosperity of the village. 

In 1825, Thomas McCarthy, William Beach, B. 
F". Williams, Sylvester F. Peck, and E. M. Knapp, 
were elected Trustees. In 1826, the following: 
Thomas McCarthy, E. M. Knapp, B. F. Williams, 
S. F'. Peck, William H. Beach. Trustees ; Thomas 
McCarthy, President. 

The village of Salina continued an independent 
corporation till 1847, when it was incorporated in 
Syracuse, becoming the First Ward of the city. 
The institutions which had their origin in this vil- 
lage and still continue as parts of Syracuse are 
considered in the history of that city. 

LIVERPOOL. 

The early settlement at this place was called 
" Little Ireland," and was early a point of consid- 
erable notoriety as a salt manufacturing locality. 
The village was laid out by the Surveyor-General 
and named Liverpool by the Commissioners of the 
Land Office. 

John Danforth was the first settler in 1794, and 
commenced the manufacture of salt. He was soon 
followed by Patrick Riley, Joseph Gordon, James 
Armstrong and Charles Morgan. John O'Blennis 
made salt at Green Point in 1794. There were 
many salt springs which issued all along the bank 
of the lake above the point, at which works have 
at different times been erected. 

The first school kept at Liverpool was by a man 
named Conner, in his salt works, and the school 
was taught while he carried on the business of mak- 




Photo, by Knapp & Marble, Syracuse. 



^ <Kly^^^^^^^y 



The subject of this sketch was born at Onondaga Hill, Onon- 
daga County, April 23, 1804. He was the only son, in a family 
of four children, of Stephen Burton and Olive Burton, both natives 
of Vermont. His father was aTlinan of liberal education, and a 
graduate of Dartmouth college. Came to Onondaga County, and 
was among the early and active settlers of Onondaga township. 
His father died when he was quite young, but his mother survived 
her husband several years, dying about the year 1833. 

Burr spent his early life at home with his mother, and about 
four years with his uncle, at Darien, N. Y., and at the age of six- 
teen resolved to strike out for himself. Came to the village of 
Salina (now first ward of Syracuse), and became an apprentice to 
the hatter's trade. "When his time was completed for learning 
this business, he went to Utica, N. Y., and followed that business 
for a few years. Returned to Salina, he built a salt block, and 
manufactured salt, which business he continued, enlarging from 
time to time his interests, until his death. 

In the salt interest he was very successful, and at one time owned 
several salt blocks, with interest in many others, and also a salt 
mill. His interest was .so closely identified with that of the man- 
ufacture of salt in Salina, that, upon the first organization of a 
salt company, he became its first president, and was one of its 
officials during the remainder of his life. 

He was one of the directors of the First National bank for a 
few years previous to his decease. He erected the foundry, and 
carried on successful operations for some twenty years, now owned 
by G. A. Porter & Co. 

In his early life he had neglected the opportunities aftbrded him 
for obtaining an education, and desired in after-years to try and 



give to others what he himself felt the want of. Hence he was 
very liberal in his views of education, and did very much to sup- 
port public school interests. 

He was warmly attached to the First Ward Presbyterian church 
of his city, was trustee of the same for many years, and a member, 
together with his wife. 

Mr. Burton was very considerate in his opinions, self-reliant, 
first determined upon the right course, and then pursued that path 
with unswerving fidelity. From the time he first came to Salina 
until his decease, he stood high in the esteem of his fellow-towns- 
men, and was intrusted by them with places of trust and responsi 
bllity. Was alderman of his ward, in which capacity he served 
to the satisfaction of his constituents. 

In an unexpected hour, at three o'clock a.m., he met his death 
in his own house by the hands of an assassin. He died, at the age 
of sixty-one years, on May 4, 186.5. 

On Oct. 29, 1829, he married Miss Laura M., daughter of James 
S. Brown and Fanny Parkhurst, both natives of Vermont. She 
was next to the eldest in a family of five children, and was born 
in New Hampshire, Nov. 1, 1813. Her parents were among the 
early settlers of Salina, she being only some thirteen years of age 
when they left Hanover, N. H. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Burton have been born ten children,— Henry 
Delos (died young) ; Olive Maria (died at the age of four years 
and eleven months) ; Olive Louisa (deceased), wife of Prof. T. H. 
Hinton, of Syracuse ; Avis Amelia (died in infancy); Wilinot 
Earll, of Syracuse ; Frances Amelia, wife of J. H. Childs, of 
Syracuse ; Lebbeus D., of Syracuse ; Helen Augusta, wife of B. C. 
Frost, of Oswego ; and Alfred Myres, residing at home. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



263 



ing salt. His school was then considered the best 
in the county, and was denominated " the high 
school!' It was patronized by the inhabitants of 
Salina and Onondaga Hollow, 

Liverpool was incorporated as a village in 1830. 
At the first charter election the following Board of 
Trustees was elected : Joseph Jaqueth, Harvey 
Kimball, William Wintworth, Sherman Morehouse, 
John Paddock, Samuel C. Upson, and Caleb Hub- 
bard. Joseph Jaqueth was chosen President, and 
Caleb Hubbard, Clerk. 

The following have since officiated as Presidents 
of the village : Samuel C. Upson, 1831 ; James 
Johnson, 1832; John Paddock 1833 and 1834; 
Joseph Hasbrook, 1835; John Paddock, 1836; J. 
P. Hicks, 1837 ; John Pinney, 1838 ; E. Ladanis, 
1839; Jared Bassett, 1840 ; John Mathews, 1841 
and 1842 ; Jared Bassett, 1843 i Charles S. Ster- 
ling, 1844; James Johnson, 1845 and 1846; John 
Mathews, 1847 ^rid 1848; Jared Bassett, 1849; 
Isaac Sharp, 1850; Edward T. Chany, 185 1; 
Henry Clark, 1852 ; S. Jaqueth, 1853 ; P. Barnes, 
1854; Stephen Van Alstine, 1855; Charles W. 
Cornue, 1856 ; A. S. Tracy, 1857 ; C. W. Cornue, 
1858; C. S. Sterling, 1859; T. B. Anderson, 
i860; J. Bassett, 1861 and 1862 ; T. B. Anderson, 
1863; Joseph Jaqueth, 1864; C. W. Cornue, 
1865 -, J. T. Crawford, 1866 ; A. P. Burtch, 1867 ; 
David A. Brown, 1868 and 1869; J. J. Moscrip, 
1870 ; O. C. Gleason, 1871 ; Tenant Hinckley, 
1872 ; S. Jaqueth, 1873 ; R. R. Claxton, 1874; D. 
F. Gillis, 1875 and 1876; William Gleason, 1877. 

Mrs. Kissiah Lee, the oldest person now living in 
the town of Salina, was born in Pompey in 1803, 
and settled at Liverpool in 1804. 
Churches. 

Ascension Church, Liverpool, was organized in 
1840, and the church edifice erected in 1841. The 
first officiating clergymen were, Rev. George D. 
Gillespie, Rev. S. G. Appleton and Rev. Samuel 
Goodale. Services by the Episcopalians were discon- 
tinued in this church after 1842. 

St Paul's German Lutheran Church was organ- 
ized in 1852, and in the fall of 1853, bought the 
Ascension Church property of the Episcopalians. 
The first pastor was Rev. T. W. Reichenberg, who 
was succeeded by Rev. P. Satsmidt from 185410 
1857. Present pastor, Rev. T. Snider. 

The church originally consisted of nine members, 
prominent among whom were Peter Smidt, de- 
ceased ; John Bahn, deceased ; and Martin Weimar. 
The present number is 48, with an average attend- 
ance of 80 in the Sunday School. St. Paul's is 
located on the corner of Vine and Third streets. 



Salem Clairch of the Evangelical Association of 
North America, wzs, organized in 1844; the same 
year a church edifice was erected costing about 
$1,000. Services had previously been held in the 
house of Mr. George Miller. The original members 
of the church were 24, among whom were George 
Miller, Charles Werner, Jacob Eberling, John 
Backer, L. Traester, P. Wilbert, Henry Wilbert, 
Mr. Petelon and others. The pastors have been 

Revs. Jacob Riegel, Margyuart, L. Jacobi, 

D. Fischer, Th. Schneider, William Munz and A. 
Klein. The members number 65, with 70 in the 
Sunday School. 

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Liver- 
pool. — In 1820 or 182 1, the first services were held 
in a district school house. In 1820 the church was 
organized at Liverpool, consisting of William B. 
Harris, Calvin Turner, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Hinck- 
ley, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. Hogan, Mrs. Keith, Seth 
A. Cary, Peter M. Cameron, Jesse Pease and M. 
R. Judd. 

The first church edifice was built in 1826, and 
cost about $1,500. 

Names of Pastors — Revs. Wright and McCoon, 
2 years ; Wright and Barnes, 2 years ; Ailsworth, 

2 years ; Seth and John Youngs, 2 years ; Tilton, 

3 years ; Sutton and Lyon, 2 years ; Lamb, 2 
years ; Coop, I year ; Lyon, i year ; Downing, i 
year ; L. L. Adkins, 2 years ; Austin, 2 years ; E. 
W. R. Allen, 2 years ; Fuller, i year ; Giles, i 
year ; Reuben Reynolds, 2 years ; M. Thrasher, i 
year ; D. D. Parker, i year ; Joseph H. Lamb, 2 
years ; R. Beadhead, 2 years ; P. H. Wiles, 2 years; 
P. H. Graves, 2 years ; Silas Ball, 2 years ; L. L. 
Palmer, 2 years ; F. H. Stanton, 3 years ; T. J. 
Bissell, 21-2 years ; D. W. Rooney, 3 years ; J. F. 
Andrews, present Pastor since October, 1S76. 

Number of members, 112. Attendance at Sab- 
bath School, about 130. 

Presbyterian Church. — Rev. H. C. Hazen, of 
Manlius, under date of Dec. 17, 1877, furnishes the 
following data with regard to this Church : The 
first services were held in the second story of the 
building now used as a meat market and grocery by 
W. F. Lee. School was held during the week in 
the two rooms on the first floor. The building then 
stood in about the center of Washington Park. In 
this building Rev. Phineas Camp preached two 
years, beginning in the winter of 1828-9. The 
Presbyterian Church was organized November 9, 
1829, and consisted of nine persons, viz : John Dick- 
son, Martha Dickson, Martha O. Dickson, Nancy 
Paddock, Nancy Hicks, Eaton E. Griffin, Lucinda 
Summington, Rebecca Morehouse and Martha 



264 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Moschelle. Mrs. Nancy Hicks is the only surviv- 
ing member. The two men were immediately 
chosen elders. Mr. Griffin was a very pious young 
man, not yet twenty-one years of age. " Deacon 
Dickson," as he was familiarly called, was a stern 
man, very tenacious of his opinions, and not the 
best judge of human nature, but withal a man of 
such integrity and piety that he was reelected to the 
same responsible office five times, and served the 
Church in that capacity 35 years. In 1830 a pre- 
cious revival added 21 members to the Church. In 
1832 the noted evangelist Merrick (or Myrick,) 
who made such a stir in Onondaga County, held a 
protracted meeting at Liverpool, and 16 more were 
added to the Church. 

The first house of worship was built in 1 841, at 
a cost of §3,000. It was a frame house, built by 
James Johnson. Its dimensions were 44 by 64 
feet, with a porch of 10 feet projection in front. 
The principal financier in the erection of the church, 
and its most useful and efficient member, about that 
time and for years afterwards, was Jonathan P. 
Hicks. Kind hearted, noble and generous, the 
church owes him a great debt of gratitude. 

During the ministry of Rev. C. W. Hawley, the 
present church edifice was erected. It cost $1 1,500 
and was completed and dedicated March 4, 1863. 
It is a fine brick edifice. 

The present membership is 74. Total member- 
ship from the beginning, 378. Number of revivals 
in the history of the church, 1 1. Number of min- 
isters who have served the church, 18, viz : 

Rev. Phineas Camp, Dec. 31st, 1828 ; Mr. Fair- 
childs, 1831 ; Ezckiel J. Chapman. 1833 ; Mr. Hyde, 
1837; Mr. VVordcn, a few weeks; A. C. Tuttle, 
Sept., 1841 ; Luther Conklin, Dec, 1844; Elisha 
B. Sherwood, July, 1846; S. S. Harmon, April. 
1851; Joseph Myers, June, 25th, 1853; Royal A. 
Avery, Aug. 12th, 1855 ; Chester \V. Hawley, 
Jan. 6, 1861 ; T. E. Davis, Sept., 1S64 ; J. V. Hil- 
ton. June 1st. 18O5 ; R. T. Searle, Oct. ist, 1866 ; 
F. VV. Spencer, Jan., 1869; H. C. Hazen, March 
13th, 1870; James S. Root, April, 1S77, present 
pastor. 

PuDLic Schools. 

District No. 19, of the town of Salina, was laid 
out in 1839, and a wooden school hou.se erected in 
1840. First Trustees: Peter Myer, Andrew F. 
Gowdy, and John S. Forger. 

District No. 2, of the town of Salina, now Dis- 
trict No. I, laid out in 1846, and present brick 
school house built the same year, to which an addi- 
tion was made in 1863. 

In 1874, the District was changed to the Union 



Free School of Liverpool, according to Chapter 
555, of the Laws of 1864, and has six departments, 
with an attendance of 250 pupils. M. C. Sharp, 
Principal. 

Manufacturers. 

The largest industry, next to the salt business, is 
the manufacture of Willow Clothes-Baskets, which 
are made by the German families of the village. 
The annual product is 50,000 dozen, and they are 
sold in all parts of the United States. 

I. G. Gleasox & Co. are manufacturers of Burial 
Caskets and Coffins. Capacity. 2,000 per annum ; 
seven hands employed ; established August i, 1877. 

G. H. DiF.TZ, Saw and Stave Mill and Barrel 
Factory ; established. 1854 ; employ 12 hands in 
mill, 20 in cooper shops ; capacity, 60,000 salt bar- 
rels per annum. 

Chaki.es G. Alvord, Manufacturer of Cigars. 
Business established in 1874. Employs 5 hands. 

George Bassett, Cigar Manufacturer. Em- 
ploys 6 hands. Established in 1872. 

Masonic. 

Charter members of Liverpool Lodge No. 525 
F. and A. M. Instituted August 26, 1862. 

Names of Charter Members. — R. J. Chilling- 
worth, W. W. Parker, C. S. Wells, A. B. Wells, 
T. B. Anderson, James O'Neil, R. Piatt, Thomas 
Drum, R. B. Claxton. 

First Officers of the Lodge — R. J Chilling- 
worth. W. M. ; W. W. Parker, Senior W. ; C. S. 
Wells, Junior W. ; O. C. Gleason, Treasurer ; T. 
B. Anderson, Secretary ; James O'Neil, Senior D. ; 
T. Drum, Junior D. ; M. Sommers, Tiler. 

Past Masters of this Lodge— R.J. Chillingworth, 
W. W. Parker. O. C. Gleason, George Baxter, C. 
A. Fargo. 

Present Officers of the Lodge — O. C. Gleason, 
W. M. ; W. H. Beebe, Senior W. ; A. W. Aiken, 
Junior W. ; M. Latimore. Treasurer ; C. A. P'argo. 
Secretary ; A. Lyke, Senior D. ; J. Chillingworth. 
Junior D. ; J. Bordcs, Tiler ; Frank Benscher, 
Senior M. of C. ; Charles Pease. Junior M. of C. 

Present Trustees — Thomas Hand. C. S. Sterling, 
R. B. Claxton. 



BioG[(APHic/L Sketches. 

MILES ADAMS. 

Miles Adams was born at Nine Partners, Dutchess 
county. N. Y., November 9, 1798, and was the 
youngest in the family of fourteen children of John 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



265 




(MILES ADAMS.) 

and Hannah Adams, who were early settlers in 
Dutchess county. His parents moved to Washing- 
ton county when he was five years old. Owing to 
their indigent circumstances he was thrown on his 
own resources at the age often years. In 1822, he 
went to Saratoga, where he was employed on the 
canal. In 1824, he came to Onondaga county with 
his family and settled in the town of Onondaga, 
where he purchased forty acres of wild land. At 
the end of six years he sold out and bought a farm 
in Otisco, upon which he remained nine years, 
when he again sold out and bought the farm upon 
which he now resides. In September, 1821, he 
married Isabella, daughter of Nathan and Sally 
Tefift, of Washington county. They had two 




(MRS. MILES ADAMS.) 

children born to them, viz : Willard L. and Sarah 
L, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Adams has 
been Supervisor of the town of Salina and has held 
many other town offices, which he filled to the satis- 
faction of his constituents. For many years he has 
been a leading member of the Baptist Church, and 
has the reputation of being exceedingly liberal in 
its support. He has passed through life thus far 
without a syllable of reproach or calumny. In all 
his business transactions it has been his aim to 
follow the Golden Rule, and " do to others as he 
would have others do to him." Temperate, generous 
and conscientious, his last years are passing away 
in the sweet consciousness of having led an upright 
life. 



JOHN PADDOCK. 

John Paddock was born in Herkimer county, N. 
Y., in February, 1805, and was the second child in 
the family of five children of John and Nancy 
[Richardson] Paddock. 

His father, who was a prominent merchant of 
Herkimer county, moved to Watertown, Jefferson 
county, when his son John was one year old. After 
having followed the mercantile business for several 
years, he went to Brownville, where he died in 
1816, having been Sheriff of the county, and one 
of its most respected citizens. 

The subject of this sketch passed his boyhood 
days in Brownville until eleven years old, when he 
went to Watertown, where he remained till twenty- 
36* 



one years of age, obtaining in the meantime a good 
practical business education. 

In 1826, he came to Liverpool, town of Salina, 
and at once commenced the manufacture of salt in 
connection with farming. After a few years he be- 
came engaged in the mercantile business, which he 
followed successfully for many years. In the year 
1 83 1 he married Martha O. Dickson, who died in 
the year 1832. For his second wife he married 
Emeline, daughter of John and Mary Hasbrouck, 
who settled in Marcellus in 1809. The fruit of this 
union was five children, all of whom are deceased. 

Upon the incorporation of the village of Liver- 
pool in 1830, he was one of the Trustees and was 
elected President in 1833, and was reelected in 1834 



266 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



and 1836. In 1859, he was elected Supervisor of 
the town of Salina, being the only Republican 
Supervisor elected from that town for fifteen years. 
As a merchant he was strictly conscientious and 
honorable in his transactions. Possessing a natural 
talent for trade, he was enabled at the close of a 
term of 18 years, by judicious management, to retire 



with a sufficient competence to meet all the legit- 
imate wants of his declining years. 

Mr. I'addock has been identified with Liverpool 
for more than half a century, and has been steadily 
and earnestly devoted to the welfare of the place. 
His whole life has been characterized by remarkable 
energy and prudence. 



GEDDES. 



This town and village derive their name from 
Hon. James Geddes, who first visited Onondaga in 
1792. He returned and formed a company in 
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of manu- 
facturing salt, and in the year 1793 came on from 
that place by way of Seneca Lake and River to 
fix upon a location for his works. He selected a 
site at the head of the lake where a portion of the 
village of Geddes now stands, and took possession 
of it in April, 1794. The other members of the 
company came on in the month of June following. 
(Sec History of the Salt Interest.) 

At the time Mr. Geddes settled here the Salt 
Works at Salina were accessible only by a road 
from Onondaga Hollow, passing through a swamp 
which is now Syracuse. It became necessary for 
the company at Geddes to connect with this road, 
and by the aid of moneys from a road fund in the 
hands and under the control of three County Com- 
missioners, and by large contributions, Mr. Geddes 
made the road from his village to the road from 
Onondaga Hollow to Salt Point, cutting a part of 
the timber with his own hands. The owners of the 
Salt Works at Salt Point were not at all friendly to 
their new neighbors, whom they considered in the 
light of rivals, and carried their resentment so far 
as to withhold assistance in raising a bridge over 
Onondaga Creek, and to throw out hints that it 
could not be raised without them, l^ut necessity 
became the mother of invention, and made the re- 
sources of the directors more fruitful than their 
most sanguine friends had anticipated. The first 
bent was put together and shoved off the bank of 
the creek, the mud-sills being placed at the foot of 
the bank, and by levers was so managed that one 
man could e.vercise the power of many applied in 
the ordinary manner. The bent was set upright, 
the stringers from the top of the bank to the bent 
placed, and so much planked over, affording a foun- 



dation from which the next bent was raised, and so 
on till the bridge was finished and the road com- 
pleted. 

Mr. Geddes continued at his first landing place 
only about four years, when he located on the farm 
now occupied by his son, Hon. George Geddes, 
Fairmount. (See Biography of Hon. James 
Geddes.; 

In 1799, Mr. Freeman Hughs, from Westfield, 
Massachusetts, located at Geddes. He was then 
only eighteen years of age. The only buildings 
then in the place were the Salt Works, which had 
been abandoned. Here Mr. Hughs took up his 
abode three days and three nights, all alone, and 
not an individual nearer than Salt Point— a lonely 
time indeed, considering the state of the country, 
the dark and dreary swamps, the wolves, bears and 
wild-cats, by which he was surrounded. Hut Mr. 
Hughs, young as he was, had an eye to business. 
During his residence at Geddes he filled almost 
every station connected with the salt business. He 
bored for salt, pumjjed the brine, constructed 
pumps, made and laid aqueducts, tubed wells, boiled 
salt, made barrels, packed salt, inspected it for six 
years, was a receiver of duties for two years, boated 
salt, and as a Justice of the Peace, tried those 
who had evaded the payment of duties The bal- 
ance of his useful life was spent in Geddes, where 
he died some ten years since highly esteemed and 
respected as a citizen and a man. 

One of the earliest and greatest improvements 
about the village of Geddes was the construction of 
a road from that place to Salina, across a piece of 
ground which was a perfect quagmire, filled with 
thick cedar timber and low brush-wood. It was so 
miry, so thick with underbrush, and so much cov- 
ered with water, that it was completely impassable, 
and could not be surveyed by the ordinary methods. 
The plan adopted by the surveyor was to set his 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



267 



compass at the house of Samuel R. Mathews, at 
Salina, and take the bearing of Mr. Hugh's chim- 
ney above the trees on the Geddes side. From this 
observation the route of the road was commenced, 
by cutting brush and laying them crosswise on the 
line of the road, and covering them with earth. The 
process was slow, but time and perseverance result- 
ed at last in an excellent road, perfectly straight, 
between the two villages. The clearing of the 
swamp lands ordinarily cost about one hundred dol- 
lars an acre, the surface being covered with logs 
mixed with peat to the depth of six feet, and stumps 
sometimes far below that. 

James Lamb built the first frame house in Ged- 
des in 1803 and kept a tavern. 

At the time of the first settlement an old military 
road was traceable across the Onondaga valley at 
Geddes. It was cut through by a party of about 
two hundred men sent from Fort Schuyler to aid 
General Sullivan in his Indian campaign of 1779. 
The road extended to the Seneca River below Mon- 
tezuma, along which traces of the march of these 
Revolutionary soldiers were plain to be seen, young 
trees having been cut close to the ground and 
bushes in many places filled into the path. Mr. 
Clark refers to several Revolutionary soldiers in at- 
testation of this fact, •' and particularly a Mr. Ho- 
bart, late of Salina, who was one of the expedition." 

Harbor Brook in this town is also associated with 
Revolutionary reminiscences. Sir John Johnson, 
in 1779, with his Tories and Indian allies, made an 
incursion into the Mohawk Valley. The party 
forming the expedition proceeded from Niagara 
along the Ontario Lake shore to Oswego and up 
the river to Onondaga Lake. For fear of discov- 
ery, if their boats were left on the lake shore, they 
ran them up this small stream among the thick 
bushes and brakes. A party was sent from Fort 
Schuyler to destroy them, but did not succeed in 
ascertaining where they were concealed ; during the 
search they were surprised and taken prisoners to 
Canada. On the first night of their departure, they 
encamped at Three River Point, where the prison- 
ers were bound and tied to trees till morning. Capt. 
Patrick McGee was one of the prisoners, and was 
so much pleased with the beauty of the place at 
this time at the junction of the rivers, that at the 
close of the war he selected it for his residence, 
spent the residue of his life there, and was buried 
on the spot he had selected under such very pecu- 
liar circumstances. 

Organization of the Town. 
In 1848, Geddes was erected into a town by 



itself, including all that part of the town of Salina 
west of the lake not embraced in the city of Syra- 
cuse. The first election was held at the house of 
Stephen W. Smith, on the fourth Tuesday in March, 
1848. Elijah W. Curtis was elected Supervisor; 
Edgar Vrooman, Town Clerk ; George E. Teftt, 
Henry G. Stiles, and James H. Luther, Justices of 
the Peace. (Charles Carpenter, Justice for the 
village, had been previously elected.) Horace Ellis 
and George E. Tefft were elected Assessors ; 
Christopher Kitts, Collector ; Edwin R, Smith and 
Albina Woolson, Overseers of the Poor ; Ogden H. 
Osborn and Ervin Hammond, Superintendents of 
Schools ; Thomas Owen, Horace Bailey, Guy Terry, 
and Richard Barrett, Constables: William W. 
Tripp, Matthew Van Vleck, and Harvey Stewart, 
Inspectors of Election. 

In 1849, Henry G. Stiles was elected Supervisor ; 
William Punderson, Town Clerk. Justices — George 
E. Tefft, (to fill a vacancy,) Simeon Spaulding, (reg- 
ular term,) and Horace Ellis. Superintendent of 
Schools — Thomas S. Truair. Overseers of the 
Poor — Edwin R. Smith and Albina Woolson. For 
the complete official list of the town since 1849, 
the reader is referred to the town records in the 
hands of the present Town Clerk, Mr. E. R. Smith, 
of the village of Geddes. These records being 
kept in a separate place, escaped the fire which 
consumed the village records in 1850. 

VILLAGE OF GEDDES. 

The village of Geddes appears to have been par- 
tially laid out as early as 1807. In the Survej'or- 
General's office at Albany is a map, No. 407, en- 
titled a " Map of the village laid out at the settle- 
ment commonly called Geddes Works, Onondaga 
county, with the pasture and marsh lot belonging 
to the manufacturers at said village. Surveyed for 
William Kirkpatrick, Esq., Superintendent, by 
James Geddes, December 31, 1807." Mr. Kirk- 
patrick was then Superintendent of the Salt Springs, 
and the " manufacturers " referred to were those 
making salt at that time at Geddes. The lands 
then belonged to the State and were laid out into 
village lots, pasture lots, marsh lots, &c., for the 
convenience of the salt makers. 

The first plot of Geddes laid out and mapped in 
1807, contained some twenty lots along both sides 
of Genesee street. The village was resurveyed 
and mapped by Mr. Geddes in 1812, and enlarged 
in 1 82 1. (Map No. 248, Secretary of State's 
Office, Albany.) In 1822, Mr. John Randel,* Jr., 
Deputy Surveyor- General, laid out the village of 

* So spelled on the original maps in the Salt Office at Syracuse 



268 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Geddes substantially as it is at present. The 
streets were laid out loo feet wide. Genesee 
street has since been straightened, and some other 
trifling changes made. 

John Randel, Jr.. surveyed the whole Salt 
Springs Reservation, except the " Walton Tract." 
and made the first map of it. He began his sur- 
vey in 1821 and finished it in 1824. 

The village was incorporated by act of the 
Legislature passed April 20. 1832. (Chapter 185. 1 
The first election of officers took place on the first 
Tuesday in June following, or such at least was the 
time appointed by the act of incorporation. Un- 
fortunately the village records were destroyed by 
fire on the night of the 8th of February. 1850, and 
it is now impossible to ascertain who the first vil- 
lage officers were. None of the old citizens now 
living in the village, nor any one of whom we can 
hear, has any definite or reliable recollection on the 
subject, and after diligent inquiry, we have been 
obliged to abandon the hope of rescuing them from 
oblivion. 

Elijah W. Curtis, Esq., a prominent citizen, and 
the first lawyer in Geddes, was member of Assembly 
in 1832, and drew up the village charter. Other 
prominent names were John Dodge and Joel Dick- 
inson, merchants. Probably some of these, if not 
all. officiated at an early time as Trustees of the 
village. From 1850 the records arc complete and 
furnish the following list of village officers : 
Trustees. 

Simeon Sp.iulding, Stephen W. Smith, Isaac R. Pha- 
ris, .■Mbina Woolson. — 1850. 

Daniel I). Smith, R. Nelson Gere. Edgar Vrooman, 
Daniel C'oykendall, .Mbina Woolson. — 1851. 

Thomas Sammons, Joel F. Paige, Hiram Slade, Sul- 
livan H. Morse, John Whiting.— 1852. 

Joel F. Paige, .-Mbina Woolson, Joseph Sheppard,Jr. 
Thomas Robinson, William W. Tripp. — 1853. 

Klijah W. Curtis, Daniel Coykendall, Edgar Vroo- 
man, Wm. J. Sammons, John Y. Phares. — 1854. 

Elijah W. Curtis, Daniel Coykendall, Wm. J. Sam- 
mons, .Mills P. Pharis, Wm. Boulian.— 1855. 

Thomas Sammons, R. Nelson Gere, Isaac R. Pharis, 
Henry Duncan, Elijah W. Curtis. — 1856. 

James W. Patten, A. Cadwell Belden, Henry Case. 
John D. Stanard, Henry Duncan. — 1857. 

B. F. Willey, E. R. Smith, Wm. J. Sammons, Nor- 
man Vrooman, Wm. W. Tripp.— 1858. 

Wm. H. Farrar, Burlingame Harris, R. Nelson Gere, 
Francis H. Nye, Ferris Hubbell.— 1859. 

Francis H. Nye, R. Nelson Gere, Gardner Woolson, 
Harvey Stewart, Joel F. Paige.— 1860. 

Joel F. Paige, R. Nelson Gere, Francis H. Nye, 
Gardner Woolson, Harvey Stewart. — 1861. 

Joel F. Paige, Harvey Stewart, P'rancis H. Nye, R. 
Nelson Gere, Isaac R. Pharis.— 1862. 

Joel F. Paige, Harvey Stewart, Stephen W. Smith, 
Perry C. Rude, Hiram Slade.— 1863. 

Thomas Robinson, Mills P. Pharis, Richard G. Joy, 
Wm. H. H. Gere, Wm. D. Coykendall.— 1864. 



Thomas Robinson, Mills P. Pharis, Richard G. Joy, 
Wm. H. H. Gere, W. D. Coykendall.— 1865. 

Samuel E. Barker, Harvey Stewart, Charles F. Gere, 
Gilbert Sweet, John V. Phares.— 1866. 

1867 — New Charter. 

R. Nelson Gere, Mead Belden, Samuel E. Barker. 

— 1S67. 

Samuel E Barker, Mead Belden, Charles E. Pharis. 

— 1S68. 

Samuel E. Barker, Charles E. Pharis, Mead Belden. 
—1869. 

Charles E. Pharis, Mead Belden, Reuben C. Holmes- 

— 1870. 

Mead Belden, Reuben C Holmes, Charles E. Pharis. 

— 1S71. 

Reuben C. Holmes, Charles E. Pharis, Mead Belden. 
-1872. 

Charles E. Pharis, Mead Belden, Reuben C. Holmes. 

— '873- 

Mead Belden, Reuben C. Holmes, Terrence E. Ho- 
gan.— 1874. 

Reuben C. Holmes, Terrence E. Hogan, Richard 
Tremain. — 1875. 

Terrence E. Hogan, Richard Tremain, George C. 
Gere.— 1876. 

Richard Tremain, George C. Gere, George A. Cool. 
-1877. 

Clerks. 

J.*W. Woodard, 1850; James H. Luther, 1851; 
Ferris Hubbell, 1852 ; Edgar Vrooman, 1853 j Charles 
E. Pharis, 1854; Ferris Hubbell, 1855 ; N. Stanton 
Gere, 1856; Stephen Duncan, 1858; E. R. Smith, 
1859, to the present time, except 1863, when B. G. 
Lewis was Clerk. 

Postmasters. 

The following persons, in the order named, have held 
the office of Postmaster in the village of Geddes : Da- 
vid W. Hollister : Elijah W. Curtis ; Joel Dickinson ; 
Simeon Spaulding ; Thomas Sammons ; Simeon Spauld- 
ing ; Fwris Hubbell; Simeon Spaulding; Hubbard 
Manzer, present incumbent, (1877.) 

JiJSTicES OF the Peace. 

The first Justice of the Peace was Henry Lake, 
Esq. Since him the following named gentlemen 
have filled that office in the town and village : 
Thomas Sammons, Simeon Spaulding, four years; 
William W. Tripp, four years ; Charles Carpenter, 
four years ; James H. Luther, four years ; Simeon 
Spaulding, thirty-one years in succession to January 
I, 1878. 

The present Justices in the town of Geddes are 
James T. Hamilton, Henry Jerome and William D. 
Coykendall. 

Simeon Spaulding, Esq., and William W. Tripp, 
Esq., are the oldest citizens now residing in the vil- 
lage. Both came to Geddes in 1825. John Y. 
Phares, still living here, is an old and prominent 
resident. Ferris Hubbell came here from 1825 to 
1830, and is still a resident of the village. John G. 
Dodge, Charles L. Skinner and Joel Dickinson 
were early merchants — the last named acting as 
agent for James Mann. 




The subject of this sketch was born in Paj'ston, Washington 
Co., Vt., July 24, 1826. 

He was next to the youngest child, in a family of eight children, 
of Elliot Porter and Sidney Ward, the former a native of Hart- 
ford, the latter a native of Poultney, Vt., and a daughter of 
Judge William Ward, an official in the oflSce of judge of Rut- 
land Co., Vt., for some twenty-two years. 

His father was limited pecuniarily, and was unable to give his 
children anything more than the advantages of the district school. 
Wilfred spent his time until he was seventeen years of age on the 
farm, and attending school winters; at which time he commenced 
studying falls and springs, and teaching winters, attending the 
academies at Montpelier and Bakersfleld, and working on the farm 
during the summer months until he was twenty-two years of age. 

As early as fifteen he had set his mind upon the medical pro- 
fession for life, and therefore bent all his energies in that 
direction. Having studied medicine some time previously, he, at the 
age of twenty-two, entered the office of Dr. G. M. Brigham, of 
Waitsileld, Vt., and began the study of medicine, which he con- 
tinued summers, teaching school falls and winters for one year 
and a half, when he entered the medical college at Woodstock, 
where he remained one term, and afterwards at Castleton, Vt., 
for two terms, graduating from that college in the fall of 18")1. 

During the same year he came to S3'racuse and entered the 
office of Dr. Hiram Hoyt, where he remained temporarily for a 
short time, and on May 10, 1852, entered the school at Geddes as 
principal teacher, which position he held for one year, and May 
16, 1853, opened an office in that place to prosecute the practice of 
his profession, which he has continued until tlie time of the writing 
of this brief sketch. 

At the beginning of his practice in Geddes, as is common with 
young practitioners, his anxiety was great to be well established 
in the minds of the people as to his ability and skill in medi- 
cine, which was overcome to a large extent during the first year. 

Dr. Porter resolved to win his way fairly, although often met 
by older and more experienced medical men. At the close of his 
first year, the resident doctor of Geddes died, leaving him in full 
possession of the field. Dr. Porter rose rapidly in the confidence 



of the people, and by integrity of purpose and honest dealing 
grew into a very large and lucrative practice, which he carried on 
lor fifteen years, as it were, alone, after which he had partners in 
the practice of medicine. 

His practice gradually extended to the city of Syracuse, when, 
in 1875, the demand upon him for medical treatment from that city 
became so great that he opened an office there, which he alter- 
nately attends upon, with his home office in Geddes. He has been 
for twenty-five years a member of the Onondaga County medical 
society, and for one term its president, and a permanent member 
of the New York State medical society ; also a member of the 
American medical association. 

Upon the organization of the College of Medicine of Syracuse 
University, in 1872, he was appointed clinical professor of obstet- 
rics and gynaacology. Having filled the chair of professor during 
the first year, at the end of that time Dr. Porter was appointed 
professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, which position he still 
retains. 

His skill in the treatment of diseases has won for him a posi- 
tion in the esteem of the people to be envied by young practi- 
tioners, and his indomitable perseverance and endurance of body 
has enabled him to gratify, in a great measure, the laudable am- 
bition of his earlier years — to be among the first in his profession. 

Dr. Porter was one of the first movers in the organization and 
establishment of a university at Syracuse, and since its beginning 
has been a trustee and closely identified with all its interests. 

He has been largely identified with the public schools of his 
town since his first residence there, being superintendent of the 
schools of the town for some two years, and trustee of the village 
school for some twenty-five years, also being president of the board 
of education. 

Dr. Porter and his wife are warmly attached to the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and are not only liberal supporters of the same, 
but of any enterprise looking to the building up of good society. 

In the year 1853, Nov. lo, he married Miss Jane, daughter of 
Simeon Draper and Clarissa Stone, of Geddes. 

By this union he had five children, Clara A., George D. (de- 
ceased), Wilfred W., Jr., Jane, and Louie. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



269 



Dr. Salmon Thayer was the first regular phy- 
sician, and came here from Onondaga. Dr. David 
M. Benson came afterwards, and practiced here till 
his death. He died in 1854. 

Population. 

The growth of the village of Geddes has been 
remarkable. In 1868 it contained less than one 
thousand inhabitants. Now it is the largest incor- 
porated village in the county, and contains a popu- 
lation of 5,408. 

Manufactures. 

Some of the heaviest manufacturing establish- 
ments in this section are located in Geddes. They 
are the following : 

Onondaga Iron Company, north of the canal, 
near Quince street. J. J. Belden, President ; 
R. Nelson Gere, Vice-President ; W. H. H. Gere, 
Secretary and Treasurer. 

Onondaga Pottery Company, Furnace corner of 
School street. N. Stanton Gere, President ; Chas. 

E. Hubbell, Vice-President ; George Oliver, Gen- 
eral Manager. 

Sanderson Bro's Steel Company, south of Mag- 
nolia street. Capital ^450,000. Robert B. Camp- 
bell, New York, President ; Samuel Wm. Johnson, 
New York, Secretary ; Wm. A. Sweet, Syracuse, 
General Manager. 

Syracuse Iron Works, Furnace, north of Mag- 
nolia street, Gedtles. R. Nelson Gere, President ; 
Charles E. Hubbell, Secretary and Treasurer. 

Sterling Iron Ore Company, north of the canal 
near Quince street. J. J. Belden, President ; A. 
J. Belden, Vice-President. 

The above works will be found written up fully 
under the head of Syracuse Manufactures. 

Geddes has also the following Salt Companies : 
Western Coarse Salt Company, Turk's Island 
Coarse Salt Company, Geddes Coarse Salt Com- 
pany, Union Coarse Salt Company, Cape Cod 
Coarse Salt Company ; W. & D. Kirkpatrick, No, 
7 Wieting Block ; James M. Gere and others ; 
Draper & Porter, W. B. Boyd ; Mrs. S. O. Ely, J. 

F, Paige. 

Public Schools. 

The founders of the village of Geddes showed 
their appreciation of education by reserving a lot for 
a public school house east of the park or public 
square, on which a log school house was first built 
among the cabins of the primitive settlers. This 
was superceded by a brick school house at an early 
day, but only of sufficient dimensions to answer a 
temporary purpose. The narrow street or lane 
running from the public square east close to the 
37 



residence of William W. Tripp, Esq., was opened 
as a means of access to the school. Simeon Spauld- 
ing, Esq., taught school in this house in 1825, and 
again in 1833 and in 1836. In 1846, it was torn 
down and the school temporarily kept in the base- 
ment of the Episcopal Church on the square, 
while the new school house which stood on the site 
of the present elegant Union Free School building 
was being got ready. This house was finished and 
occupied and was the principal school building of 
the village till the completion of the present build- 
ing in 1870. 

Up to 1862, the schools of the village had been 
conducted under the old rate bill system, the dis- 
advantages of which were so painfully felt that Dr. 
W. W. Porter, then President of the Board of 
Trustees, resolved, with the concurrence of the 
Board and the District, to effect a reorganization 
under the law providing for the establishment of 
Union Free Schools, passed in 1853. A meeting 
for that purpose was accordingly called, and Dr. 
Porter personally distributed the notices to all the 
electors of the district. At the meeting it was 
found that one more vote was wanted to constitute 
the majority required by the law. Dr. Porter went 
out and brought in another elector from one oi 
the stores, whose vote in the affirmative carried the 
day in favor of the Union Free School. 

This district is now known as the Union Free 
School District No. 3, town of Geddes. The law 
under which it has been established is a recognition 
of the free school principle involved in the old law 
of March 26, 1849, ^^^ which after having been 
twice ratified by the people of the State, was re- 
pealed, and the old rate bill system reestablished, 
in April, 1851. 

Ebenezer Butler, now of Whitehall, Washington 
county, this State, was Principal in 1864, and was 
succeeded by J. W. Hooper in 1865, who continued 
to act as the efficient Principal of the schools till 
January i, 1871, when he resigned to take the 
office of School Commissioner, to which he had 
been previously elected. He was reelected, and is 
now serving on his second term. Mr. Hooper 
took the school in 1865 with 210 pupils and 4 
teachers, and left it at the close of 1870 with 960 
pupils and 19 teachers. 

In 1870, the present school building was erected. 
It is of brick, three stories and basement, heated 
throughout by steam, and cost $26,000. It has 
two large seating rooms on each floor, with two 
recitation rooms adjoining each, and will accommo- 
date about 1,000 pupils. 

The schools are graded in three departments— 



270 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



I'rimary, Junior and Senior— occupying respectively 
the lower, middle and upper floors. A Winter De- 
partment has been organized in the basement of 
the building for the accommodation of about lOO 
boys who cannot attend school during summer. 
This department opens December i. In addition 
to this main building, there arc two branch primary 
schools — one situated on Magnolia street, with ac- 
commodations for 200 pupils, and the other on 
J'razer street, with accommodations for i8o pupils. 

The corps of teachers now number 25, including 
male principals of the General and Winter Depart- 
ments, the rest being lady teachers, 23 in number. 
The whole number of persons of school age in the 
village, (between 5 and 21 years,) is 1,641 ; number 
attending school, 1.200; average daily attendance, 
836 ; amount of money raised and expended during 
the year ending Oct. i, 1877, $13.1 10. 

N. D Hidwell is the efficient Principal and is as- 
sisted by an accomplished corps of teachers. 

Those holding State Certificates are the follow- 
ing: N. D. Kidwell, J. W. Hooper, Miss A. M. 
Coit, Miss Nellie Annable, Mrs. Sarah Phelps. 

BoAKD OF Education. 

Formid Under the General Law in 1865. 

Wilfred W. Porter. President ; William B. No- 
ble. Clerk ; Calvin Picrson, G. J. Griffith, A. C. 
Ueldcn. 

The following have been members since : J. R. 
Pharis, R. Nelson Gere, J. Henry Clark, E B. Van 
Duscn. G. W. Fernold. Mead Beldcn. Mills P. Pha- 
ris, IC. Laass. W. R. Chamberlain, E. M. Klock, 
J. Coady, Samuel Dempsey. 

Present Poard — Rev. J. P. Magcc, President ; E. 
M. Klock. Clerk; J. Coady, A. Whedon, M. D., 
Samuel Dempsey. 

Dr. W. W. Porter has been connected with the 
schools of Geddes for the past twenty-five years^ 
and has been an efficient and indefatigable worker 
in their behalf In 1852 he was Principal, and was 
elected Superintendent of Schools for the town of 
Geddes in 1853. and held the office till it was abol- 
ished by law in 1856. He was most efficient in 
forming the Free School organization, and has been 
most of the time since, till 1877, President of the 
Board of Education. 

Chukches of Geddes. 

The town of Geddes contains but two churches 
and these are located in the village, viz : The First 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and St. Patrick's, 
Roman Catholic. 

A Protestant Episcopal Church once e.\isted here 
under the name and style of " Apostolic Church of 



Geddes" — organized in 1832. The same year a 
church edifice was erected on the public square. 
For a while the church enjoyed some prospect of 
permanency, under the labors of several able and 
devoted ministers, among whom were Rev. Richard 
Salmon and Rev. M. Whiting. But the Episco- 
pal element not being sufficiently strong in the vil- 
lage and vicinity to maintain a permanent organiza- 
tion, the effort declined and was finally discontinued. 
After the Episcopalians gave up using the church, 
it was occupied for a time by the Methodists and 
the public school was at one time kept in the base- 
ment. It was torn down about the year 1855. 

FiKST Methodist Episcopal Chu'kch. — Rev. 
Manly Tooker and Rev. Nathaniel Salisbury 
preached in the village of Geddes as early as 1822. 
In 1840, Rev. Ebcnczer Arnold began the organi- 
zation of a pastoral charge here, in connection with 
his charge at Salina, but not being able to attend to 
it, requested the I'residing Elder, Rev. George 
Gary, to employ the services of Rev. Aaron Cross, 
a local preacher to complete the organization. Mr. 
Cross labored for a while, and perhaps some others, 
but with very little success till 1852, when Rev. 
Charles E. Bragdon, of Auburn, effected a re- 
organization and also established a Sunday School, 
of which Dr. Wilfred W. Porter, then recently 
arrived in the village, was elected Superintendent 
on the 9th of May. 1852. Dr. J. Arnold, then a 
druggist in Syracuse, was called to the pastorate 
and remained in charge about one year, when he 
was succeeded by Rev. Reuben Reynolds, who 
was followed by Rev. A. S. Wightman in 1854 

The church attained its legal existence, being in- 
corporated with a Board of Trustees, under the 
name and style of the "First Methodist Episcopal 
Church of Geddes," February 6, 1854. Services 
were at first held in the school house. In 1856,3 
plain wooden church was built, costing about <}2,- 
0CX3. which is still standing, though removed from 
its original site and disused as a place of worship. 

Mr. Wightman was followed in the pastorate by 
Rev. J. C. Vandercook. for two years, since whose 
ministry the succession of pastors has been as fol- 
lows : Rev. J. D. Adams, two years ; Rev. L L. 
Adkins. two years ; Rev. M. D. Kinney, two 
years; Rev. W. S. Titus, one year; Rev. J. C. 
Vandercook, one year ; Rev. W. D. Chase, one 
year ; Rev. G. M. Pierce, three years ; Rev. W. 
H. Anable. two years and a half; Rev. O. A. 
Houghton, three years ; Rev. D. W. Beadle, one 
year ; Rev. Loren Eastwood, the i)resent pastor, 
since October, 1876, now serving on his second 
year. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



271 



The new church edifice, a fine brick structure, 
was begun in 1871 and finished in 1872 — cost J827,- 
000. The present membership of the church is 
17s, of the Sunday School, 180. The Sunday 
School is educating two orphans in India at the 
Orphanage at Bariley and Shah Jehanpoor. 

St. Patrick's Church, Geddes. — About the 
year 1S70, Rev, James S. M. Lynch opened a mis- 
sion in a hall in the village of Geddes, and soon 
after commenced the erection of St. Patrick's 
Church. Before its completion it was given in 



charge to Rev. P. F. Smith, who finished it in the 
year 1873. In 1875, it was transferred to Rev. 
James P. Magee, the present pastor. The congre- 
gation has very much increased under his charge, 
and now numbers about three thousand. The 
church is a very fine brick structure, and cost about 
$45,000. Rev. Mr. Magee is a licentiate of the 
Provincial Seminary at Troy, N. Y. ; was formerly 
assistant at the Cathedral in Albany, and pastor at 
Fort Edward, Washington county, N. Y., where 
he established a church. 



ONONDAGA. 



The town of Onondaga was formed from Marcel- 
lus, Pompey and Manlius, March 9, 1798. A por- 
tion of Salina was taken off in 1809, and a part of 
Camillus in 1834. About half of the Onondaga 
Indian Reservation lies in the southeast part of the 
town. 

The surface is mostly a rolling and hilly upland, 
separated into two ridges by the valley of the Onon- 
daga Creek. The east ridge is rocky and broken, 
and the west is generally smooth and rolling. A 
fine wide intervale extends along the creek, and is 
bordered by steep hillsides, the summits of which 
are from 200 to 400 feet high. A valley, forming a 
natural pass between Onondaga and Nine Mile 
Creeks, extends northwesterly through the town. 
Along the north line the highlands west of the val- 
ley descend abruptly to the north, presenting in 
some places the face of a nearly perpendicular 
precipice from 100 to 150 feet high. This declivity 
is known as Split Rock. Upon these clifts is an 
outcrop of Onondaga limestone, which is extensively 
quarried for building purposes. In an irregular 
crack or seam which extends downwards in this 
ledge to the depth of 100 feet, ice remains during 
a greater part of the summer. The Split Rock 
stone quarry is near the northwest corner of the 
town. The stone was obtained here for building 
the locks upon the Erie Canal, and the aqueduct 
across the Genesee River at Rochester, The soil 
in the valley is a sandy and gravelly loam, and on 
the uplands a gravelly and clayey loam. It is rich 
and productive throughout the town, which is set- 
tled by an enterprising and independent class of 
farmers. 

ONONDAGA PIONEERS. 

The first settlements were made in what is now 



the town of Onondaga, at a time when it was in- 
cluded in the town of Manlius and Marcellus. Here 
the first settlements were made within the present 
limits of the County, and from here Salina and Syra- 
cuse got their first enterprising business men, who 
started them in that career of progress which has 
since marked their history. Some of the men who 
at once took prominent places in local and even in 
State and National affairs, at the beginning of the 
present century, had their homes, or at least made 
their first settlements in the town of Onondaga. 
Here lived Gen. Asa Danforth, Col. Comfort Tyler, 
Gen. Thaddeus M. Wood, Judge Joshua Forman, 
Judge Nehemiah Earll, William H. Sabin, Jasper 
Hopper and others, whose names became famous in 
our early history. 

It may be said of the pioneers of this county in 
general, that no country in the early stages of its 
settlement was ever more fortunate in a class of men 
eminently fitted to lead the van of civilization into 
the wilderness, to furnish an example of hardy en- 
durance, intelligence and self-sacrifice, and to lay 
the foundations of society and civil institutions on 
a firm and lasting basis, than the early settlers of 
Onondaga County. This is true of the pioneers as 
a class, while there are many distinguished names 
among them whose talents and character fitted them 
to adorn any calling or station in life. The pioneers 
planned wisely and well, not alone for the material 
welfare of the country they had adopted as their 
future home, but they were, almost without excep- 
tion, men capable of appreciating and providing for 
the moral and intellectual wants of society as well ; 
men of high moral character and of a large degree 
of culture and experience. 

Most of the early pioneers were either Revolu- 



272 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



tionary patriots or men who had seen service, 
either military or civil, in older portions of the 
country. 

ErnR.\iM Weiister. — The first white man who 
made a permanent residence in Onondaga County 
was Ephraim Webster. He had been a soldier in 
the Revolution, ser\Mng until the close of the war. 
Webster first settled at Oriskany in the character of 
a trader, and afterwards in 1786, accompanied by 
another trader by the name of Nukerk, he opened 
his store on the west bank of Onondaga Creek, 
near its mouth, and there e.xposed for sale the little 
stock he had brought by water from Schenectady. 
Nukerk died the first summer and was buried near 
the place. In the spring of 1787, two traders, 
Campbell and Maibee, followed Webster, and took 
up their residence at Onondaga Hollow. Ephraim 
Webster was a man of adventure, and was pos- 
sessed of a courage that never faltered An in- 
stance illustrative of this is related by Clark, as 
follows : 

" For some real or fancied wrong, he was judged 
worthy of death. He gave up all for lost, and fully 
made up his mind that his time had come. His 
grave was dug and he was told to prepare for imme- 
diate death. A large ring was formed around him ; 
his executioners, four in number, were appointed, 
and theirpositions taken ; four glittering tomahawks 
gleamed in the sunlight. A sturdy brave firmly 
held each of his hands, stretching his arms to their 
utmost extent. It was askeil of him (as is the cus- 
tom) if he had any request to make before he ex- 
pired. He said he only desired a cooling draught 
of water. ' None, none, none,' was the reply ; he 
appealed to them in affecting tones, not to deny a 
friend this simple request. The venerable war 
chief, Oudi-ya-ka, stood forth, while the ready weap- 
ons were poised over his head. ' Hold I' said he ; 
' stay your hands, offend not the Great Spirit ; let 
him drink one cup of water for the last time.' The 
cup was presented, while one hand was released by 
the Indian who held it. Webster took the cup, 
gracefully bowed his head, and most cordially drank 
the health of the chiefs, braves and warriors of the 
Onondaga nation. This maneuver was so unex- 
pected, so appropriate, and done with so much 
grace and aboriginal naivete, so respectfully and 
with so much coolness and gravity of demeanor, 
that with one voice they shouted, ' He is free ! let 
him go, he is one of us I' He was free, and hence- 
forth safe among them. He was too brave a man 
to be a traitor, and having once fully gained the 
Indians' confidence, by conduct like this, nothing 
could shake it. " 

Webster married an Indian woman, and from him, 
by right of the female side, descended one of the 
Ato-tar-hos, or principal civil officers of the confed- 
eracy. It is said by some of the best informed 
early settlers that Webster's Indian wife became 



enamored of "fire- water." and was in the habit of 
getting intoxicated. Webster complained to the 
chiefs, who were trying to restrain the Indians from 
the use of intoxicating liquors, and they in council 
decided that if she got drunk again that act should 
exonerate Webster in dissolving the marriage re- 
lation between them. This, however, did not re- 
strain or reform her ; she soon became again intoxi- 
cated, and knowing the penalty she had incurred, 
quietly left his house the next day and never re- 
turned. Webster afterwards married a white woman 
and raised a considerable family, who inherited the 
lands given by the Indians to their father. Many 
years ago an interesting suit was tried in this county, 
brought by the half-Indian son for these lands, but 
he failed to recover them. 

Webster was employed by our government from 
1788 to 1794 in gaining information as to the con- 
duct and purposes of the Western Indians, and 
gave full satisfaction to his employers A grant of 
land a mile square was given him by the Indians 
and confirmed by the government. He lived to 
the age of seventy-two, retaining the confidence of 
the Indians and the whites, and having filled the 
offices of Supervisor and Justice of the I'eace of 
the town of Onondaga. 

Col. C0.MF0KT Tyler. — This pioneer settler of 
Onondaga county was born in the town of Ashford, 
Connecticut, on the 22d of February, 1764. At 
the age of fourteen he entered the army, and per- 
formed a short period of service mostly on duty in 
and about the fortress at West Point. In 17S3 he 
became a surveyor and school teacher at Caugh- 
nawaga. on the Mohawk River. While here he ac- 
companied the expedition of General James Clinton 
for the establishment of the boundary line between 
New York and Pennsylvania, and on his return be- 
came a member of the famous " Lessee Company" 
which had for its object the purchase under a form 
of lease for nine hundred and ninety-nine years of 
the Indian lands comprising a large portion of the 
State of New York. " In the spring of 1788. at 
the age of twenty-three years, in company with 
Major Asa Danforth, he pushed into the wilder- 
ness, fifty miles beyond any white inhabitant, and 
commenced the permanent settlement of Onondaga 
county." He enjoyed the distinction of having 
felled the first tree, and of constructing the first 
piece of turnpike in the State, west of Fort Stan- 
wix, and of assisting in the first manufacture of 
salt. 

Colonel Tyler was a favorite with the Indians 
who named him "To-whau-ta-qua," meaning one 
that is double, or one that is a laboring man and a 





Photo, by W. V. liungei-, Syracuse. 



Hon. Abner Chapman was bom Sept. 30, 1798, in the town 
of Ashford, Windham Co., Conn. His father's family moved 
in February, 1799, into the town of Marcellus, Onondaga 
Co., N. Y., and thence into the town of Onondaga in 1803, 
where he spent the seventy remaining years of his life. At 
the age of eighteen he commenced teaching school ; taught six 
winters in succession in South Onondaga, — ten winters in all. At 
the age of twenty-three he married Eliza Merrick, with whom he 
lived forty-nine years, having several children, but they all died 
at an early age. On the first day of January, 1873, he married 
Miss Mary Everringham, of South Onondaga, who survives him. 

During his long life he was repeatedly honored by minor but 
important official positions. He was at an early age elected in- 
spector, and then commissioner, of common schools. In 1826 
he was commissioned by Gov. Throop captain of a company 
of riflemen, and served in that important position several years. 
In 1828 he was elected justice of the peace, which responsible 
office he held about thirty years in various terms, and was acting 
in that capacity at the time of his death. He was twice elected 
supervisor of the town of Onondaga, and once elected and once 
appointed associate justice of the county court. 

In the fall of 1860 he was elected a member of the legisla- 
ture of the State, and served through the session of 1861 with 
eminent fidelity to the interests of his constituents, and with 
devotion to the welfare and honor of the country, then confront- 
ing the grave problem of rebellion. 

In 1824 and 1828 he voted for John Quincy Adams; after 
that he became a National Republican ; was then for twenty- 
five years a member of the Whig party ; in 1856 he helped to 
organize the Republican party, and was ever afterwards a zeal- 
ous working member of that organization. Brought up in a 
community where the daily use of whisky was almost universal. 



he freely u.sed it from his father's distillery; but the agitation 
of the temperance cause turned his thoughts and habits in a 
better direction. 

In 1836, when he was thirty-eight years old, he joined the 
temperance society at South Onondaga, which has been con- 
tinuously in existence from that day to this. He was an active, 
zealous temperance man during the remainder of his life. He 
was many years president of the temperance society already 
mentioned, and was vice-president of the New York State Tem- 
perance Alliance. To his zeal and labors is mainly attributable 
the fact that no intoxicating drinks are even attempted to be 
sold in this part of the town of Onondaga. 

In his religious sentiments he was a Universalist, and for 
several years attended the services of that denomination in 
localities remote from his home where they were held. Latterly 
he had been a regular attendant and supporter of the only re- 
maining religious organization in South Onondaga, — the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church. As justice he discountenanced litigation ; 
was frequently a visitor at the bedside of the sick and the homes 
of the needy. He gave much of his time and labor to beautify 
the village and cemetery, and was zealous and efficient in every 
good word and work. 

Like the long, glorious summer day on which he died, June 
18, 1873, we have in Abner Chapman's life a bright and benefi- 
cent example of honorable usefulness, whose memory is bl&ssed 
and glorious. 

Mr. Chapman left in his will a number of bequests to worthy 
objects, including a sum for the formation of a temperance 
library in South Onondaga, and donations to the National Tem- 
perance Publication Society, the St. Lawrence University at 
Canton, N. Y., and a sum for beautifying the village cemetery 
in South Onondaga. 





■■Ii<>ua. I.y W. V. Itani;i!r, jtjrraeoM. 



^ (7nAi_ w /yfa^i. ^^^4Wl2«c fi^ ^^^cv£ 



Joliii F. (,'l;irk i.s of Kii;;lisli ori;;iii, and w;ts born in 
AdaiuH, BcrlcHhire Co., MnMs., July 26, 1708. He wa.s the 
noil of John, who was the son of Sup])ly, who was the son of 
Aaron, who was the win of John, wlio wa« the son of .lolin, 
who wu« the win of William, who came from Kn<;]!in(l, and 
Hcttlcd at Dorehiwter, Maiw., and thence removed to Nortliamp- 
lon, MasH. The wtihject of thi« .sketch emij;^it«d to Ononda^ 
County March 0, IHOl, and nettled at South Ilill, in company 
with hJM parentH and family. lie wa.s reared on the farm, and 
early learned those principlcM of success, namely, xnihit,try and 
economy, which are always to he found in every successful 
man's life. Mr. ("lark Iijlh Ixvii one of the most substantial 
rarmcrs of his town. He was married to Miss Minerva Reed, 
dau(;htor of .lonathan Keed, of Marccllns, October 25, 
1827. They have had five children, namely, — June A., 
(iconic |{., Aupi.stus II., Franklin H., who dii-d May 22, l.^.'il, 
and KImer J., who an- amon;; the very besit eitizen.s in thi- 
county. 

As a family they arc thoroujrhly temperance, not one of the 
male meuibcrs ever having used, in any form, tobacco, npirttuoiu 
or malt liqitort. As a family they joined the First Universuli.st 



church of Synicu.sc upon its orpin iz;it ion, and are to-day 
worthy and efficient members of the same. In the year 1851, 
Mr. Clark removed to Onondaga Valley, and purchased hia 
present beautiful place, and has ever since rcsidi>d there, sur- 
roundtnl with all the comforts of a happy home. 

In politics he wa.>< formerly a Jefferson Democrat, but upon 
the orgniiizalion of the Republican |>arty he joined it, and has 
ever since adhered to it with unswerving fidelity. He him held 
all the important offices of his town, having bei'n commissioner 
of schools, inspector of schools, justice of the peace, and super- 
visor. He was electeil a member of the board of tru8t«cs of 
Onondaga academy in 1 S52 ; he succeeded Deacon Joseph 
Swan as president of the boanl, which office he filled in a very 
able and efficient manner until the school was reorganized in 1SG7. 
In the fall of 1850 he was elected to the State legislature, and 
si'rve<l one year to the gencrnl satisfaction of all. His has In-en 
a long and u.scful life. At the early age of fift<>cn he made up his 
mind that he would not indulge in anything which would injure 
his health or impair his usefulness, and he has kept his vow, 
ond has reared a family having the same principles. Would 
that we had many such. 




Photo, by W. V. Ranger, Syracuse. 



LEONARD P. FIELD. 



Lennnrd P. Field, son of Silas and Hannah Field, was born 
May 31, 1817, on the home where he now lives in South 
Onondaga. Mr. Silas Field came from Cranston, R. I. ; Mrs. 
Hannah Field from Connecticut. Both were of English 
origin. Mr. Silas Field immigrated to this county in 1808, 
and worked by the month for Captain Fenner, and purchased of 
him the farm occupied by the family to this day. Mrs. S. 
Field came in 1810. They had one son, the subject of this 
sketch. Silas died January 1, 1840. His wife died Novem- 
ber 7, 1821, aged 30 years. Their remains now lie in South 
Onondaga cemetery. Mr. S. Field was for many years a 
bright Freemason. In politics he was a Whig. 

Mr. Leonard P. Field had simply a common-school education. 
He married Miss Chloe Ann Ammidon, of this town, June 13, 
1838. She was born January 14, 1819. By this union 
twelve children were born, six of whom- are living. She was 
a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She 
was a faithful wife and affectionate mother. She died March 3, 
] 863. Mr. Field married, for his second wife, Mi.ss Sarah Fen- 
ner, of this town, February 17, 1865. By this union two chil- 



dren were born, both of whom are living. She died December 
10, 1875, having been for ten years a devoted wife and mother. 
Mr. Field married, for his third wife, December 2, 1877, Mrs. 
Almeda Williams, widow of Mr. James Williams, with whom 
he is still living. 

Mr. Field, being the only son, continued to live with his 
parents till their death. He inherited sixty-three acres of 
land, which, by frugality and industry, he has increased to 
nearly two hundred acres. In politics he was at first a 
Whig, and afterwards a Republican. Has held some town 
offices. 

In religion, though not a member of any church, he is an ad- 
vocate of Christianity. Has always been interested in having 
good schools. 

One son, Charles Henry, was a soldier of the rebellion, and 
served faithfully three years. Mr. Field has one of the best 
fiirms in South Onondaga, covered with fine buildings of his 
own erection. He is now in his sixty-first year, hale and 
hearty, and has before him probably many years of vigorous 
health and comfort. 




MK.^. 



IMillA.M. 



MILS. ((. KVKUKIMIIIAM. 



Jorciuinh Evemtif;hani, wii of Joliii ami Nancy Kvcrriiif,'- 
linni, was born in Cnzvnovia, N. Y., Aujj. 2, 1797. His parenta 
WLTc nalivf.s i.f Ni>w .Icrscy. Tlwy rraml U-n cliildn-n, five m>ns 
nnil live ilaii'.'lil.Ts. all of wln.in liv.'d ti> adult ap>, and t-ach one 
the head of u family. John Kv<Trinj:liain built the first grist- 
mill at Cnxcnovia; lie settled in Lafayette, this eoiinty, in May, 
1801. Jea-iniah eanie with his parenls, and after he hee^iiue 
of line worked by the month for fifUen dollars per month in 

HUiumer, and twenty dollars per ii th fiir self and team in the 

winter, and eontinued t4> do so for seven years. Jeremiah jiur- 
chasrd the " Old Home" of fifty aeres of one of his brothers 
for .-(i-x hundred dollars, and paid for it by working out by the 
month. In 1S50 he settled in this town, buyiiij; some one 
hundreil and ihirly-lwo aeres. having previously tnuled his land 
ill Lifayelte Inr a farm of one hundred aeres in Fabius, paying 
a difference to his first pun>hiLio in this town ; he has kept add- 
ing until he owns .some three liiindred aere.s of exeelleiit land. 
He took care of his aged jmrents until their death ; hi.s father 
died in his eighty-eighth year, and his mother at tho age of 
Hi.\ty-thri-e. Ili.s house was also the home of his five sisters 
till thiy were niarrii'd. 

Mr. Kverringhams advantagi-s for an education wea- very 
limited, indeed, but by reading and reflection he hiLS ae<|uirt!d a 
good practical ImsiiK'ss eduuition. He is a man of strong will, 
great energy of body and mind, bics-sed with a keen perception 
and good judgment, and has been able to aecompli.sh what few 



lucn ever do under similar cireumstjinces. lie Iiilk Imvii one of 
the most succcsisful men of the county as a farmer, having 
given to each of his .si.x children more than four thou.-uind 
dollars, and having suflicieut Ictl to make comfortable his de- 
clining years. 

He married Mi.-ts i^ophia French, of Vernon, Oneida Co., 
N. Y., Feb. 1."), 1.S21. Hit parents were of New Kiiglaiid origin. 
Mrs. Evcrringham had seven children, six of whoui arc now 
living. She was a worthy incniber of the .Methodist Kpiscopal 
church. She [iius.sed away in Noveinher, 1^05, and her remains 
Test in the cemetery at l^fayettc ; she was a faithful wife and 
a kind, affectionate mother, and to-day her memory is cherished 
by all who knew her. 

Mr. Kverringham marriinl Miss Olive Ncy, of Vernon, 
Oneida Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 18(irt, a cousin to his first 
wife. Iler parents were from New Kngland. Mrs. Kverringham 
is a Univcrsalist, and Mr. KverringhaHi. while he does not 
belong to any church, ehcrishos the faith of the I'liiverHalist. 

In politii's, Mr. Kverringham was a Jacks4in Denioernt until 
the orgiiiiizalion of the Kcpublican party, when he joined it. 
He is now an old gentleman of eighty years, hale and hearty, 
with all his faculties still unimpaired. His widowed daughter, 
Mrs. .'Miner Chapman, is now living with him and his prc-nnit 
intelligent wife. This simple story of a sui-ce,s.sful life will be 
road many a time long af\cr ho has jKLssed to his reward. 
Would that wc had vwrc tuch nteti. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



273' 



gentleman at the same time, or can do two things 
at once. When the Military Tract was surveyed, 
he was selected to render assistance, and surveyed 
one of the townships. He subsequently surveyed 
the Cayuga Reservation. 

In all the important improvements of the country 
he bore a conspicuous part, freely devoting his time 
and means for the promotion of these objects. He 
was early selected on account of his sterling worth 
to fill the highest offices of trust. He was appointed 
a Justice of the Peace for the town of Manlius in 
1794; the same year he was appointed Coroner of 
the County, with Gilbert Tracy. In 1797, he was 
appointed Sheriff of the County of Onondaga, and 
after Cayuga was set oiT, in 1799, he was appointed 
Clerk of Onondaga, and held the office till 1802. 
He was the first Supervisor of the town of Manlius 
in 1794, and represented Onondaga County in the 
Legislature in 1798 and 1799. Mr. Tyler was 
always active and ardent for opening roads, improv- 
ing streams, establishing schools and erecting 
churches. 

The connection of Mr. Tyler with the so-called 
conspiracy of Aaron Burr, greatly impaired his 
private fortune, and such was the popular prejudice 
against the participants in that unfortunate and un- 
successful enterprise, that it forever destroyed his 
prospects as a public man. 

In 181 1, Colonel Tyler removed with his family 
to Montezuma, where he took a deep interest in 
the Cayuga Manufacturing Company, which had 
been formed for the purpose of making salt. 

During the war of 1812 he served in the capacity 
of Assistant Commissary-General, with the rank of 
Colonel, to the close of the war. After the war the 
canal policy engaged his most earnest attention. 
From the beginning he was among the foremost of 
the advocates of the work. 

He died at his residence in Montezuma, on the 
5th of August, 1827, sincerely lamented by a large 
circle of personal friends and deeply mourned by 
numerous relatives.* 

Gen. Asa Danforth, who came to the county 
at the same time as Col. Tyler, and was among its 
most prominent early citizens, was born in Wor- 
cester, Massachusetts, July 6, 1746. At the com- 
mencement of the Revolution he joined the regi- 
ment of Col. Danforth Keys, and was engaged in 
the battle of Lexington. He entered the service 
at the instance of General Putnam, and served 
through the war with the rank and commission of 
Major. He located in the town of Mayfield, Mont- 
gomery county, where he spent a few years, and 

* Clark's Onondaga. 
38* 



where he had his first interview with Mr. Webster. 
The account of his meeting with Mr. Webster and 
of his settlement in Onondaga is as follows : 

In the month of February, 1788, Mr. Webster, 
in company with two Indians, proceeded on a hunt- 
ing excursion into the lower part of Montgomery 
county. Late one afternoon they came to a small 
clearing in the town of Mayfield, where they met a 
man whose residence was convenient, of whom they 
asked a night's lodging in his barn. He refused, 
but insisted that they should spend the night with 
him in his own house by the fire. During the 
evening conversation, Webster remarked that he 
lived at Onondaga, a much more fruitful and invit- 
ing country than the one his host was then occupy- 
ing, and finally, so much was said in favor of On- 
ondaga, that it was agreed that Webster should so- 
licit permission from the Indians to let him settle 
there,andifsuccessful,wasto return or send an Indian 
to inform him of the fact. The host was Major Asa 
Danforth, who became the pioneer of Onondaga 
County. 

Mr. Danforth settled a little south of Onondaga 
Hollow, May 22, 1788 ; and in December, Mrs. 
Danforth proposed to visit her friends east. Ac- 
cordingly, Mr. and Mrs. Danforth, with their baby, 
set out on a sled, with an ax-man before them to 
clear the way. The first night they slept " on 
board," at Chittenango ; the next with Sken-an-do-a, 
at Oneida Castle ; the third with Judge White, 
their nearest white neighbor, at Sadaquate (Whites- 
boro). After a short delay, they proceeded to 
Brookfield, the home of their early days, in Massa- 
chusetts. In the middle of March they returned, 
after an absence of about three months. 

Early in 1789, Tyler and Danforth, Jr., thought 
they would follow the example of Mr. and Mrs. 
Danforth, and visit the home of their childhood, not 
only to see their old playmates, but to find for 
themselves wives, and as Mr. Clark remarks, after 
the wording of the Declaration of Independence, 
" in the course of human events," Mr. and Mrs. 
Asa Danforth, Jr., became the father and mother 
of the first white child born in Onondaga county — 
the late Mrs. Amanda Phillips, wife of the late 
Colonel Phillips, of Syracuse, and mother of Mrs. 
Outwater. She was born on the 14th of October, 

1789. 

In 1791, Mr. Danforth had become possessor of 
lot No. 81, township of Manlius, (now DeWitt,) 
and had moved there temporarily. In the spring 
of 1792, he erected the first saw mill in the county, 
on Butternut Creek, about a mile north of James- 
ville— (now Dunlop's Mills). The mill was first 



274 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



covered with bark. No boards were used in the 
county until they were sawed in this inili, and 
Major Danforth carried the saxv on his shoulder all 
the way from old Fort Schuyler yx\Q\\ Romei. In 
1793, he erected his grist mill near his sawmill. 
In the erection of these mills Mr. Danforth was 
assisted by all the able bodied men in the settle- 
ment for twenty miles around, so anxious were the 
people to have the means of grinding their corn, 
and the advantages of converting their timber into 
boards. It was at the raising of these mills, in the 
absence of sugar or articles used for sweetening, 
that the first drink mixed with Indian corn was 
introduced." 

For a number of years he was Judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas ; was one term Senator 
for the Western District ; Superintendent of the 
Onondaga Salt Springs ; and held numerous other 
offices of less importance, in all of which hee.xhibit- 
ed a high degree of capacity and manly bearing. 
For many years, from the first organization of the 
militia, he was the highest military officer of the 
county, ascending through all the several grades 
from Major to Major General, at a period, too, when 
a military commission implied worth and conferred 
distinction. He died at his residence in Onondaga 
Hollow, September 2, 1818, in the 73d year of his 
age. 

General Tiiaddeus M. Wood.— The Bar of 
Onondaga County is honorably headed with General 
Thaddeus M. Wood, the first attorney who settled 
and practiced in the county. Horn at Lenox, Mass., 
in 1772, he graduated at Dartmouth in the class of 
1790, finished his law studies with Joseph Kirkland, 
Esq., of Utica, and opened a law office in Onondaga 
Hollow in 1794. He soon became distinguished 
for his legal capacity and during his life exercised 
a prominent influence throughout the county. 

As a military man he became widely known, was 
Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant in 1809, in which 
capacity he was extremely active and useful during 
the war of 1812 ; was elevated to the rank of 
Brigadier-General in 1818, and to the rank of 
Major-General in 1820. 

General Wood was celebrated throughout the 
State for the pungency of his wit and the quick- 
ness and severity of his retort. He was never at 
a loss for a reply, either at the bar or in private con- 
versation. 

General Wood died at his residence at Onondaga 
Hollow, January 10, 1836, aged 64 years. 

Other Pioneers — Samuel, John and William 
Tyler came to Onondaga between the years 1790 

*Cliik'i Onondjgi. 



and 1795. Samuel and William settled in' Mar- 
cellus, and died in 1825, within one week of each 
other. Job Tyler first settled in the town of 
Bridgewater, Oneida county, in 1794, and removed 
to Onondaga county in 1804. He resided in the 
county of Onondaga, except four or five years, dur- 
ing the latter part of his life, which were spent at 
Montezuma. He died at Onondaga in March, 
1836. They were all active, industrious men, and 
it may, without ostentation, be claimed for them 
that they deserved and left behind them the reputa- 
tion of valuable citizens and upright, honorable 

men. 

Early Settlers. 

Following General Danforth and Comfort Tyler, 
the next settlers in Onondaga were the Brown 
family, the Pattisons, Job Tyler, Peter Tenbroeck, 
General Lewis, Cornelius Longstrect, Peter Young, 
Joseph Forman, John Adams, George Kibbie, Drs. 
William and Gordon Needham, Nicholas Mickles, 
William H. Sabin, Jasper Hopper, Aaron Bel- 
lows, George Hall, Joseph Swan, and others, who 
settled in the Hollow, or what is now known as 
Onondaga Valley. 

George Hall, Esq., opened a law office at Onon- 
daga Hollow in 1802. Hon. Joshua Forman and 
William H. Sabin commenced the practice of law 
in partnership in 1803. Medad Curtis was a law 
student with Thaddeus M. Wood and Daniel 
Mosely with Forman & Sabin. Dr. William Need- 
ham located at the Hollow as a physician, in 1793, 
and his brother, Gurdon Needham, in 1795. He 
kept the first school at the Hollow in 1796. 

Rev. Samuel Kirkland is believed to have been 
the first Protestant minister who ever preached in 
the county of Onondaga. He frequently officiated 
at Onondaga Hollow, to the white people and to the 
Indians. F"or more than twelve years Mrs. Asa 
Danforth was the only communicant in the county. 
She was afterwards joined by the wife of General 
Lewis and others. Rev. Daniel Nash and Rev. 
Davenport Phelps, (Episcopalians, I were the next 
ministers who officiated here. Others, of the 
Presbyterian denomination soon succeeded. Rev. 
Messrs. Wallace and Woodruft' were missionaries 
who preached occasionally. 

Among the early settlers of the town were the 
following : 

MosesFowler, (from Conn.,) 1797, died i868;John 
P. Robinson, (Mass..) 1800. died 1870 ; J. Hunt. 
(Conn..) 1801 ; John Henderson, 1802 ; Chester 
Fellows, (Pa.,) 1804, died 1865 ; George Hull, 1805; 
Volney King. 1805; Lewis Amidon. 1805. died 
1876 ; John \'. Clark (Mass.), 1804 : Ralph Chafee, 





PboloH. by W, V. Riiiiger, Syracuse. 



^. liDi/(>iuLd^^ 



^AriA^^ eJ/ ^'^^^^^^y^ 



Among the earliest settlers in the south part of the town of 
Onondaga were John Hitchings and wife, who cleared and cul- 
tivated one of our best hill farms, and there reared and educated 
a large family of healthy and very intelligent children. Of 
these, Horace was the most studious and scholarly. Teaching 
in winter, farming in summer, and loving the old home, he 
ultimately assumed the care of his parents, and became the 
owner of the homestead. Here he worked and studied many 
years. The mysteries of nature, as unfolded by chemistry, 
geology, and other natural sciences, were his delight, and to 
become proficient in these he needed no other teachers than 
books. The deeper, the more abstruse the mystery, the more 
he detormincd to master it, UTitil rock and soil and vegetable 
growth, and the subtler workings of electricity, magnetism, and 
mind itself, were familiar subjects of thought, and when he 
could find an intelligent listener he was always ready with his 
theories and proofs. 

But this same student could also excel in practical affairs. 
He framed some of his buildings, planted hedges, laid over ten 
miles of underdrains, and led his neighbors in the amount of 
his crops. He married Miss Elvira M. Rich, Jan. 1, 1855. 
She was born June 1, 1829. When he found his home cheered 
and blessed with four lovely children, and himself placed at the 
remotest point of a sparsely-settled school district, he resolved, 
for their sakes, to leave the old homestead and give his children 
better educational privileges. Buying in another district nearer 
school, probably the best farm in this part of the county, he 
gave a bonus, besides his taxes, to have the new school-house built 
nearer his home. His barns were remodeled and enlarged, and 
this season his venerable Seeley mansion was modernized; 
enlarged, and changed to a beautiful and convenient home. 
Christmas the whole family went to visit grandparents and 



relatives, and their own house was nearly ready for a reunion 
of neighbors and friends, when death stepped in to mar, for this 
world, this picture of prosperity and happiness. A cold, that 
was thought by himself and his physician to be easily under con- 
trol, suddenly seated itself upon that active brain, and in a few 
hours consciousness and then life itself had gone. Those stately 
rooms, where the family reasonably anticipated years of unbroken 
social enjoyment, were occupied for the first time by the inani- 
mate body of husband and father. His widow and orphans 
and the whole community felt that they had suffered an ir- 
reparable loss. From neighboring towns and the city loving 
friends came to his funeral. He died Jan. 8, 1870. 

As supervisor of the town, president of the agricultural 
society, foreman of several grand juries, referee in settling claims, 
speaker of several town fiiirs, he more than met the responsi- 
bilities of such trusts. But love of home and the cares of 
business compelled him to decline many offices of honor offered 
by his fellow-citizens. His equanimity of temper was remark- 
able. No amount of care or loss could disturb him. Said one 
of his employees, " I have lived in his family a year, and have 
never heard an unkind word to his wife or children, or hired 
help." His parents and the nearest neighbors of his youth 
were well-read Universalists, and, while he assisted in support- 
ing other churches, the love of God and the paternal character 
of our Heavenly Father had more charms for him than the 
sterner attributes of Deity. He was a very obliging neighbor, 
liberal to the poor, public-spirited, sociable, beloved by his 
nearest friends, and respected by all. He was an Onondaga 
farmer whose worth and abilities we must admire, whose memory 
we will lovingly cherish, whose history is a bright example of 
useful success. His good name and worthy life are better 
leKacies to his children than all his worldly estate. 





MOSEd n>WLF.U. 



ELIZABETU FOWLGU. 



MUSICS i'0\vj.i:u. 



Aiiiiiii;; the jiioiifcr ruiiiilk'S of Oiioiidiif,'a County amy be 
imiitioiuMl tin- Kiiwler family. Mases Fowler, 8on of Tlioraas 
uiiJ Thankful Fowler, wiwborn in DuU-hcss Co., N. Y., July 29, 
nttll ; he W1L1 one of u family of nix. The Fowler family is 
of Sfcitoh ori};in, havinjr cmij^atcd to Ameriea during it« early 
hiHtory, and dettled in the New Kn-rland State.-*. Moses came 
into thin town and eouiity with hi.s parents when hut four years 
of n}^ ( 1797). Hi.s father died in this town when nhout forty 
ycara of a;;e, ami mother when she was about eighty years of | 
ago. Moses wiw reared on the farm, and eontinued to follow it 
through life, ownin;; about eighty acres when he died, lie 
Diarried Miss Klir^ibeth Pierce, daughter of HIisha and .\melia 
I'ieroo, of Brattloborough, Vt., about 1H:»1. Mrs. Fowler wa« 
bom March :{, IWOl, in BnittlelMtrough, Vl. They rearetl 
to maturity four children, namely: Maxwell T, Samantha ('., 
Uideon 1)., and Moses, and .\nn Fowler, an adopted daughter. 
The subject of this sketch was a s<ildier in the War of 1 SI 2, 
and was statiom-d at Sackot's llarbnr, N. Y.. for which he 
drew a land-wamint for one bundrt-d and sixty acres. In 
polities he was first a ^Vhig and then a llepubliean. 

Mrs. Fowler was a member of the Methodi.st Episcopal 
chureh, and wiu< an earnest and consLstenl Chri.Htian. They 



had ouc son, Gideon D., who was a wildier of the War of the 
Rebellion, enlisting Nov. 29, IHtJl, in the T.'ith Regiment of 
New York Volunteers, lie w;ts a non-commissioned officer, 
and was in sevt^ral hard-fought battles; but, though he stood 
the battle, he fell a victim to the strong hand of fell disease, 
at Baton Rouge, July 30, 1863. Fiis remains were brought 
home, and now lie by the side of those of his parents, in the 
cemetery at South Unoiidagit, where a fine marble monument 
marks their re.sting-placo, erected by a brother and son. Max- 
well T., in memory of those he holds most dear. Maxwell T. 
and Moses, feeling a deep interest in the welfare of their country 
during the rebellion, jmid out more than sixteen hundred dollars, 
besides their regular tax. They were ever found willing to 
respond to all the calls of their town and county. 

Moses di.-d Jan. 10, 1S6S, and his wife <lied Dec. 7, 1«72. 
The above i>orlniit« are inserted by Maxwell T., with whom 
Mr. and Mrs. Moses Fowler lived after 1843. Maxwell T. 
and his sister, Samantha C, are uimiarried, and are living on 
the same place where their parents died. 

Moiies, Jr., has three children, namely : Gideon M., Maxwell 
T., and Kitty. Maxwell T. was named after his uncle Maxwell 
T., and (ii<liiiii w;is named after his uncle Gidetm. 







THEOPHILUS HALL. 




Photos, by W. V. Ranger, Syracuse. 



HELEN HALL. 



THEOPHILUS HALL. 



Theophilus Hall, son of Oren and Betsey Hall, was born at 
Navarino, Onondaga County, New York, July 31, 1825. His 
father and grandfather were natives of Ashford, Windham 
county, Connecticut. His father was born September 14, 
1786, and married Miss Betsey Briggs, of this town and county, 
January 6, 1808. She was born February 18, 1787, iu Sara- 
toga county. New York. 

Azariah Hall, father of Oren and grandfather of Theophilus, 
was of English origin, his forefathers being among the early 
settlers of New England. Azariah emigrated to Onondaga 
County and settled at Navarino, formerly known as Hall's 
Corners, in 1799. He brought with him his wife and a large 
family, and among them was Oren. He was a farmer, and reared 
nearly all of his children to be farmers also. He died about 
1832, and his wife, Hannah, outlived him several years, being 
in her eighty-ninth year when she died. 

Oren was a farmer. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, 
and was commissioned captain. He reared a family of ten 
children, all of whom lived to be grown men and women. In 
politics he was a life-long Democrat. He was postmaster several 
years under General Jackson and other Democratic administra- 
tions. He taught school several years. 

His wife was a Baptist, and he was of the Universalist faith. 
He died AprU 25, 1869, and his wife died August 23, 1874, 
and were buried in the " Pine Grove Cemetery." 



Theophilus was reared on the farm, and received only a com- 
mon-school education. He married Miss Helen Lyman, of 
this town, November 21, 1850. She was born in Otisco, Feb- 
ruary 11, 1827, and settled in this town in 1837. Her father, 
Thomas Lyman, was born at Southampton, Massachusetts, in 
August, 1786. His father, John, was of Iri.sh descent and an 
early settler in New England. He lived to be about ninety 
years old. 

Thomas Lyman married Miss Betsey Clapp, a native of 
Southampton, Massachusetts, December 1, 1813, by whom 
twelve children were born ; they all lived to be married, and 
nine are still living. Mrs. Thomas Lyman was born March 2, 
1793, and died January 12, 1876. 

Thomas Lyman settled in Otisco, Onondaga County, about 
1822. Was a farmer, a Whig and Republican in politics, and 
both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. 
He died October 24, 1850. 

Theophilus Hall has always followed the occupation of farm- 
ing, and now owns a fine farm at Hall's Corners, or Navarino. 
In politics he is a Democrat. He has served as postmaster at 
Navarino. 

His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church at Mar- 
cellus. She taught school for several years. 

Mr. Hall is one of the substantial men and farmers of South 
Onondaga. 





rb^loo. \>y W. V. lUitgpr, Syncufto. 



ELIAS II. IIKAOLKV. 



I>II<£UE BRAM.EY. 



KLTAS B. URADLKY. 



Kliiw H. Unullcy wiui born in r<iiiiioftii'nl, IK'C. 11, l"!tl. 
While 11 I'liniuT-boy \\v wurkitl hj tlic nmntli in tliu Huuiuiur, and 
rlii>|i|H<d wchkI by ibe f4)rd in wintor. Wlu-n ul)out twoiity- 
fivo years nM bi- bnu^bt a iHHldler'H covori'd wapon and a borw, 
iiriii Inivelwl Kuutb, H|K-ndin^ wvcral years in tbo State of 
licwrpu Mvllin); himmIh, alwuyit Nlo«;j>inj» in bis covered four- 
wliet'ljMl bou.sr. Tbus xccuriii;; n conipel<'ncy, lie purcbaseil a 
one bundn-d acre fanii in lb<> tiiwn of Onondaga, where he 
innrricd I'bd'bo llolnirx, May IH, ISSl, and ilied witboiit isnue, 
l''eb. S, 1K5K, rei)|)octed by all its a tbritly, upri^bt (.-itizon. 

His wife waH Uirn Aug. 28, 1795, about one mile wont of 
Saratoga Sprinpt, N. Y., from whence 8he often vi»it«Kl tbo then 
thn?c HpringH called High Uock, Flat Rock, and the Congress. 
Her miilbcr bleached the hoine-mude linen cloth for the bcd- 
«bet'lj< of the firnt board ing-bou.se at the Springs, in 1802. 

In ISl 1, .Mrs. Bradley moved with ber widowed mother and 



thrw! brolhere to Aurora. Eric county, in the Holland PurebuBo; 
but the burning of RufTaln. fiftci'U mili^s away, in the winter of 
1813, by the British and Indians, so frightened them that the 
family fled the .same day towards the interior of the Slate. In 
1818 she became a member of the Methodist KpUcopal church 
in South Onondaga, in which bhe has been a zealous and con- 
scientious worker over sixty years. .\ remarkable swectnetui 
of cbaraetcr, good business judgment and habits, a itinscien- 
tiiius dt"sire to live the Christian life she j)rofesse<l. great liber- 
ality to ibc poor, the unfortunate, the de.s«'rving, and to the 
church, have made her ]>et name, " Aunt Phoebe," a synonym 
of bcnevolenw, and of every saintly virtue. She gave, unaided, 
to the church their {larsttnage, and also lilierally to the Synt- 
cu.s)' university, so that only the smaller moiety of her estate 
remains for her own supiM)rt. Fler long life has been an orna- 
ment III the church, ami a benefaction to society. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



275 



1803; William Metcalfe Clarke, (Mass.,) 1805; 
Clark W. Kenyon, i8o6; Elisha D. Sabin, (Vt.,) 
1806 ; Samuel Kingsley, (Mass.,) 1806 ; David Hunt, 
1807, died 1874; Nathan C.Eaton, 1808 ; Eli An- 
derson, 1808; Josiah T. Northway, 1808; David 
Chafee, 1805 ; George B. Cornish, 1810, died 1867; 
C. C. Conklin, 181 1; William Rose, 1808; J. De 
Witt Rose, 1812 ; Augustus Reed, 1812, died 1875 ! 
Wm. Raynor, 1813 ; Jonathan Kneeland, 1813 ; 
Orrin Green, 1813 ; Geo. C. Hopper, 1814; Rufus 
Cossit, (Mass.,) 1814; Marcus G. Clark, 1814 ; 
Nathan Covell, 1815, died 1876; Enoch Kenyon 
(R. I.), 1816; Russell L. Kenyon (R. I.), 1816, 
died 1877; Augustus C. Kenyon (R. I.), 1816; 
Reuben W. Lincoln, (Mass.,) i8i6,died 1875 ; Wm. 
F. Mosely, 1815, died 1876 ; Joshua Chaftee, 1817 ; 
•George Anderson, 1817; Lemuel G. Clark, (Vt.,) 
1818, died 1870; Cicero Barker, (Mass.,) 1816, died 
1870 ; Chauncey P. Cornish, 18 18. 

Finlay McLaren, a prominent merchant residing 
at an early time at Manlius, was attacked by a bear 
and fatally injured, on the East Hill, while returning 
home from Onondaga Valley. Dr. Holbrook was 
called to dress his wounds, but he sank under them 
and soon died. 

Town Meetings. 

The first Town Meeting for Onondaga was held 
at the house of Gen. Asa Danforth in April, 1798. 
General Danforth presided ; Ephraim Webster was 
chosen Supervisor ; Jabez Webb, Town Clerk ; 
Samuel Searing, Daniel Earll and Sier Curtis, As- 
sessors ; and Elisha Alvord, Nehemiah Earll, Jr., 
and Elijah Lawrence, Commissioners of Roads. 
The meeting was adjourned to the house of Dr. 
Allen Beach. 

At the annual town meeting for 1799, James 
Geddes was chosen Supervisor ; Orris Curtis, Town 
Clerk ; John Ellis, Cornelius Schouten and Sier 
Curtis, Assessors. The meeting adjourned to the 
house of William Laird. At the town meeting in 
April, 1800, Sier Curtis was chosen Supervisor, and 
Orris Curtis Town Clerk. 

In the summer of 1796, John Cantine, assisted 
by Gideon Seeley, under the direction of the Sur- 
veyor-General, surveyed the Onondaga Reservation, 
and in the fall of that year Gideon Seeley and Com- 
fort Tyler bid off at the sales in Albany twenty-one 
lots of two hundred and fifty acres each, at two 
dollars per acre — in all, $10,500. Mr. Seeley con- 
structed the road from Samuel A. Beebe's to the 
south line of the town, including a bridge across 
■the west branch of Onondaga Creek. The first 
saw mill built within the present limits of the town 
was by Turner Fenner, on the west branch of Onon- 



daga Creek, in 1793. General Danforth erected a 
saw and grist mill in 1794, on what was afterwards 
called the Kirk farm. 

Masonic. 
Onondaga Lodge No. 98, of Free and Accepted 
Masons, was established at Onondaga Hollow in 
the winter of 1803. The charter obtained from the 
Grand Lodge of the State was dated January 21, 
A.L., 5803. Jasper Hopper was appointed W. M.; 
Walter Colton, S. W. ; and George W. Olmsted. 
J. W. "Br. Jedediah Sanger, of Whitestown, 
having received a dispensation for that purpose, 
summoned the said brethren to a meeting at Br. 
Comfort Tjler's, in Onondaga Hollow, on the fourth 
day of June, 5803, and in due form constituted the 
said Lodge and installed the said officers." The 
old book of records of this Lodge, now in the pos- 
session of George J. Gardner, Esq., of Syracuse, 
contains the proceedings of the Lodge till May 17, 
1826. About that time the Lodge was discontinued 
on account of the Anti-Masonic excitement. The 
oldest surviving member is Mr. Arthur Pattison,-, 
still residing at Onondaga Valley. Lewis H. Red- 
field, Esq., was the last Senior Warden, in whose 
possession were left the jewels of the Lodge. 

First Postoffice in the County. 

A Postoffice was established at Onondaga Hollow 
in 1794, and Comfort Tyler was appointed Post- 
master. This was the first postofifice established 
in the county, but one was established at Cayuga, 
then in Onondaga county, the same year. George 
Kibbie was Postmaster at the Hollow in 1801 ; 
George Hall succeeded him in 1802, and Jasper 
Hopper in 1803, the latter remaining in the office 
nineteen years, under every administration without 
distinction of party. The office at that time was 
quite an important one, being a distributing office 
for the county and parts adjacent. As late as 1812, 
letters were distributed from this office to people 
living in the towns of Camillus, Pompey, Marcellus, 
Otisco, Spaftbrd, Lysander and Manlius. 

George Kibbie, in 1800, was the first regular 
merchant who sold goods in the town of Onondaga. 
In 1803, there were but eight frame houses in the 
Hollow. In 1809, a frame school house was erected, 
a log one standing near the site of the Academy 
having previously been used. 

In accordance with an act of the Legislature 
passed in 1808, authorizing the Governor to deposit 
five hundred stand of arms and munition and mili- 
tary stores for the defence of the frontier, at Onon- 
daga, in 18 1 2 was built an Arsenal on the hill east 
of Onondaga Hollow, where for a number of years 



2/6 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



was kept a large deposit of arms and ammunition. 
As a military store it has long since been abandoned, 
and has fallen into decay. 

Newspapers. 

A newspaper was first established at Onondaga 
Hollow by Thomas Crittenden Fay, in December, 
1811, entitled The Lytix, having for its motto, 
" Liberty and my Native Country." Published 
every Wednesday and delivered to subscribers in 
the village of Onondaga Valley at two dollars per 
annum. In closing his prospectus he says: "I 
shall endeavor to promote the nation's interest with 
the industry of the Pcavcr, while I watch its 
enemies with the eyes of a Lynx." It was in the 
office of The Lynx that the subsequent distinguished 
editor of the Albany Evening youmal made his 
debut in the art of journalism. Mr. Weed, in the 
short space of about twelve months, became devil, 
printer, journeyman, editor and proprietor of the 
memorable Lynx. 

The Onondaga Register made its first appear- 
ance at Onondaga Hollow in September, 18 14, 
edited by Lewis H. Redfield, Esq., and was con- 
tinued till May, 1829, when it was transferred to 
Syracuse and consolidated with the Syracuse Gazette. 
(See History of the City and County Press.) The 
first iron press introduced into the county was by 
Mr. Redfield, who also introduced the first compo- 
sition roller. 

Russell Webb and James S. Castle published a 
paper at Onondaga Hollow in 1832, entitled. The 
Citizen s Press, which was discontinued after six 
months. 

'The Onondaga Gazette, by Evander Morse, was 
established at Onondaga Hill in 1816. Mr. Morse 
sold the establishment to Cephas S. McConnell, 
and in August, 1821, its name was changed to the 
Onondaga jFournal. Mr. McConnell sold out to 
Vivus W. Smith in 1826, who in 1829 removed it to 
Syracuse, and joined Mr. Wyman in the Onondaga 
Standard. 

ONONDAGA WEST HILL. 

One of the first settlers at this point was 
William Laird, in 1795. He became the first 
purchaser of Lot No. 114, and kept a log tavern, 
the first on the Hill. He committed suicide by 
hanging in October, 1802. Nehemiah Earll, 
Daniel Earll and Jabez Webb settled on the 
Hill in 1796. Jabez Webb was killed by the 
falling of a tree in 1806. He was the first pur- 
chaser from the State of Lot 118. Simeon and 
Reuben West moved to the Hill in 1805-6; Judge 
Strong in 1802, and kept the first school ever 



taught on the Hill, from November, 1802, three 
winter terms of four or five months each, in a log 
building which stood near where the Court House 
used to stand. A frame school house was erected 
near the same place in 1807. Judge Strong was a 
Deputy under Col. Elijah Phillips, High Sheriff, 
four years, and Under Sheriff to Sheriffs Earll and 
Rust during their periods of office. Dr. Salmon 
Thayer was the first physician on the Hill, in 1800, 
and was succeeded by Dr. Stewart. 

The first Agricultural Society of the county was 
organized at Onondaga Hill in 1819. For organi- 
zation, first fair, officers, &c., see Chapter on Agri- 
culture. 

St. jFohn's Church, Onondaga Hill, was organized 
by Rev. Davenport Phelps, November 26. J 803. 
It was succeeded by Zion Church, which was or- 
ganized in the summer of 1816. The clergy were 
Rev. Messrs. Ezekiel G. Gear, Milton Wilcox, 
Thomas K. Peck, Augustus L. Converse, John 
McCarty, George L Hinton, John W. Cloud, S. 
W. Beardsley and Marshall Whiting. Regular 
services ceased at this church in 1839. The bell 
formerly used here is now in use in Trinity Church, 
Syracuse. 

One of the early supporters and Wardens of this 
church was Mr. Reuben West, an early and well- 
known merchant at Onondaga Hill, at which place 
he settled in 1805. He was born in Hebron, Con- 
necticut, in 1783, and died at Onondaga in 1832. 

Mr. West's eldest daughter married Rev. George 
L. Hinton, of New York City, Rector of the church 
at Onondaga in 1827, and for about two years after- 
wards. Another of his daughters, Mrs. Thomas 
Underbill, born at Onondaga Hill, July 6, 1813, is 
now a resident af Syracuse, where she has resided 
since June, 1873. His youngest daughter married 
Mr. Erastus Sampson, of Ypsilanti, Michigan. 

James Mann, first landlord of the Syracuse 
House, was an early merchant at Onondaga West 
Hill. He was the son of Capt. Benjamin Mann, 
who commanded a company in Col. Stark's regi- 
ment at the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, 
and continued as such officer through the Revolu- 
tionary War. under Gen. Washington. 

James Mann was born at Woburn, Mass , Feb- 
ruary 15, 1767. From about 1800 to 1806, he was 
the principal merchant at Keene, N. H , and Presi- 
dent of the Cheshire Bank. In 1807 he became 
an importing merchant at Boston, at the head of 
the house of Mann, Adams, Nazro & Co., at No. 
67 Broad street. The trouble with England, soon 
coming on, compelled the firm to give up import- 
ing. About 1 810, he removed to Troy, N. Y., 




Plioto. by W. V, Ranger, Syracuse. 



J^. . iJ. ?C4i .A^ 



Levi Clark, the father of the subject of the present sketch, 
was a native of Vermont, and was born March 7, 1788. He 
came to the southern part of the town of Onondaga at the age 
of sixteen, and when only nineteen married Martha Fenner, 
aged seventeen, and who was tlie daughter of Capt. Turner 
Fenner, one of the earliest and most prominent settlers of the 
town. The young couple bought a forest-crowned farm on the 
old State road, and there reared to adult age all their children, 
five sons and four daughters. Of these, Levi Thomas was 
fur several years a clergyman of the Universalist church, and 
is now a resident of Kansas. Five of the other children 
nioved into western States. 

Levi Clark was not a farmer only ; he was an uncommonly 
inventive mechanic. He made the first "grapevine" grain 
cradle ever used, and for many years he and his sons annually 
manufactured in a shop on the farm hundreds of these then 
leading American harvesters of grain. A member of the Bap- 
tist church, he afterwards became a zealous Universalist and 
great Bible student, always ready with book, chapter and verse 
to meet any one who dared to controvert his religious views. 



His son. Dr. George T., was born December 20, 1819, and 
lived on the farm with his parents till he was of age. Being a 
good mechanic, he made grain cradles several years ; but, in 
1854, became a member of the Eclectic Medical College, then 
in successful operation in Syracuse. Spending two terms in 
that institution, he afterwards graduated at the American Medi- 
cal College in Cincinnati, Ohio. Devoting two years to his pro- 
fession in the village of Jordan, he returned to the homestead 
on account of his father's health, carrying on the farm and 
practicing medicine in the vicinity. 

After his father's death he bought the old home ; but his 
increasing practice induced him to move into the neighboring 
village of South Onondaga in 1869. His ride has extended 
through his native and adjoining towns into the city and 
into adjoining counties, and his professional business is now 
more extensive than that of any one in this or any of the 
surrounding villages. Kind and liberal to the poor, lenient 
to his patrons, yet prudent in his investments, he is a worthy 
descendant and representative of Onondaga's capable and suc- 
cessful pioneers. 




^^^ ^^^^^,^.^^^^.^2^^^-- 



Willintn Wilson, the paternal prcat-prandfalhcr of the subject 
of the prcwnit skctoli, wits an Aii?;lo-Iri.sli furniur in Cherry 
Valloy, N. Y., before the llevolutioniiry war. But the entire 
family was captured by Brandt, or his allies, during or near his 
Wyoininjr Valley expedition and niassacn;. His daughter Mary, 
only nintr years old, was hurried thmu^h the forest, with tlie 
other prisoners, to Detroit, and afkcrwards to Montreal, where, 
by luljor, the family bnufrht off one after another of the captives, 
and they settled in Onondapi and ncighlMjrinj: counties. The 
Indian prisoner jrirl married Kzekiel Ncwni:in, and on " Survey 
Fifty," in the town of Oii.sco, raised a family of children. Of 
these, Wilson bcjpin at seventeen and worked seven years for 
(iideon Swly, a wealthy pidiieer settler in (lie soutlieiLstern part 
of the town of Onondupi. and then married Ksther Conklin, 
the dnu;;hter of a widow who owned an adjoining farm. In a 
log irabin. on this farm, 6ve soils and two diiu<;hters were born 
and reared to ndull ap\ The father had only six months of 
schooling ; but, by the aid of his wife, his children, and books, 
he U>eanie a good Bible .seliolar, and was well ]H)sted in the 
current facts and theories ol' natural .science. He was nearly 
forty years the oliuss-leader of the Methodist Kpi.s<ro|Hd church 
of South Onondaga, and his pastor, in his obituary sketch, says : 
" Brother Newman was no ordinary man. He was one of those 
choice spinto who arc suffered occasionally lo ap|H>ar among us, 
and who, by the unwonted excellence of their I'lirLstiun character, 
challenge the admiration and respect of all, both saint and sinner. 
He was the most active and efficient class-leader we have ever 
known." 

The parents' ambition was to give their seven children a 
good commoii-.school cducalion ; but, when they had furnished 
this Ision, the children thirxted for more, and, almost by their 
own unaidc-d efforts, continued the work paternal encouragement 
had begun. Five became t*'aehers. The eldi»t, Ilaehcl {'., a 
graduate of the first class of the Grst Normal .scIicmiI in the 
State of New York, wils several years prec-eptress at the Caxe- 
novia seminary, and K. liansing is now pastor of a Methodist 
Episcopal church in Kochcster. N. Y. The oldest son, Wm. 
Wilson, born Oct. 5, IH2I, after "keeping buchelor's hail" 



one winter in tlic Onondaga academy, began to teach when 
a few days over seventeen, and continued in that profcwion, 
without a single exception, twenty-five winters, and, unlcM 
attending school, during these entire twenty-five years. One 
summer wa.s spent, with two younger brothers, in the Al- 
bany academy, studying only Latin and (Jreek, under Dr. 
Peter Bullions, with free tuition, and all living in the city of 
Albany, with such economy of hLs hard-earned wages, that 
the entire expense for room rent, washing, and provisions wb«, 
on an average, for each person only seven-eiglillis <if a ilollar a 
week. At the close of the term be received the priw; for 
composition and declamation, from the venerable T. lUimeyn 
Beck. 

Acting under the advice of President Nott and Prof. Bullions, 
he continued his studies while teaching, and received the hon- 
orary degree of A.M. from Union college. Bi-coming prinei|ial 
of I'ublic School No. 7, now the Putnam, in the then village of 
Syracuse, then the largest school in Onondaga (."ounty, he con- 
tinued to be its j>rincipal after the village became u city, and, in 
that building, at a county teachers' institute, wa.s married, April 
2U, 185U, to one of his assistant teachers, Elizabeth K. Williams, 
of Manlius. Thence they went to Public Schin)l No. 13, in the 
city of Buffalo, where they continued thirteen years, till his 
failing health led them to change their vocation, and return to 
the old honu'stcad farm in 18tJ4. Not as teacher or farmer 
only, but aLso as author and editor, as administrator and executor 
of eslalcs, accepting some minor politicjil and public jxwitions 
and refusing others, and as correspondent of Syracuse and New 
York city journals, he continues in the quiet and varied duties 
of a retired but u.si'ful life. On liLs homestead farm, costing 
from two dollars to five dollars an acre in ITiTj to one hundred 
dollars in 1875 and aggregated by ten separate purchases and 
deeds, where he and his parents and grandparentw have cleared 
away forestj*, erected buildings, and made tillable lields, where 
two generations have passed away, and three generations liave 
been born and re;ired, a family representation remains, toiling 
amid the duties of the jirescnt, and treasuring the sacred mem- 
ories of the past. 








C^W^^A^ X- -tc^y-^^^^^i/l^ .^/iji4.Ul2 ^uAfUri.JMr) 



JUDGE CHARLES CARPENTEK 

[ONONDAGA HILL.] 



Among the worthy citizens and representative men of 
this town, none deserve a more honorable mention upon the 
pages of our county history than the subject of this sketch. 
He is the son of William and Lois Carpenter, and was 
born Sept. 4, 1800, in Kingsbury, Washington Co., N. Y. 
His father was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., in 176] ; his 
grandfather, William, was born near New York, in 1710 ; 
and his forefathers were of English origin, having settled 
in New England among the early pioneers to that country. 

The judge had very limited advantages for an education, 
but by reading and reflection he has acquired a more than 
ordinary education, being able to perform well whatever 
duties may devolve upon him. His father settled in this 
ttiwn in the spring of 1816, and followed coopering. He 
died in Herkimer county, in the fall of 1821. His wife, 
Lois Carpenter, died in Kingsbury, Washington Co., N. Y., 
April 30, 1814. 

In the fall of 1816 the judge settled in the town of 
Onondaga, and for a number of years followed coopering. 
At the age of twenty he shouldered his pack of tools and 
went more than one hundred and fifty miles from home, 
into what is now Orleans county, but then the " far west," 
and made one hundred and fifty flour barrels for a man by 
the name of Morey, who was at the time a merchant at 
Onondaga Hill, and who engaged young Charles to make 
the barrels for him. 

Returning to Onondagu Hill, he continued his trade till 
he was twenty-four, when he married Miss Nancy Burgess, 
a native of Montpelier, Vt., April 15, 1824. She was 
born Oct. 8, 1804, and settled, in company with her parents, 
in 1816, in Manlius, Onondaga County. By this happy 
union nine children were born, namely, Charles H., Cynthia 
Ann, Emeline, Seth M., Edward W., Wm. H., Silas A., 
Kate L., and Emma L. Cyntliia Ann and Emeline are 
deceased. 

In August, 1827, the judge was appointed " deputy salt 
inspector" at Geddes, holding the same position for some 
ten years, and for the following fourteen years was engaged 



in the manufacture of salt. He then was appointed " prin- 
cipal inspector" of salt, and held that position until said 
office was abolished. 

In 1852 he purchased a farm in the town of Clay, 
having disposed of his salt interest. He returned to Geddes 
in 1854, and on Jan. 20, 1855, his wife died. Mi-s. Car- 
penter was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church ; was a faithful wife, and a devoted and affectionate 
mother. In the spring of 1855 the judge was reappointed 
" salt inspector," and held the same for two years. He 
married his present wife April 14, 1858. Her maiden 
name was Abiah L. Briggs, a native of Schenectady, N. Y. 
She was born July 6, 1811, and married Mr. Thomas Ste- 
venson, of Broome Co., N. Y., Nov. 25, 1829, by whom 
one son, Wm. B. Stevenson, was bom, March 27, 1831, 
and died July 30, 1874. Mr. Stevenson died April 30, 
1856, and she married the judge at the date before 
mentioned. 

In 1859 the judge went back on his farm in Clay, occu- 
pying it seven years; selling it in 1866, he removed to 
Onondaga Hill, where he now resides. 

In politics, he affiliated at first with the Democratic party, 
casting his first presidential vote for General Jackson ; but 
in 1838 be joined the Whig party, and remained in it until 
the organization of the Republican party in 1856, since 
which time he has acted with that party. He has held the 
office of inspector of election, overseer of the poor, assessor, 
and justice of the peace in three different towns, serving 
some twenty years, and was recently elected in Onondaga to 
serve four years more. He was elected in the fall of 1871 
to serve as "justice of sessions," serving two years. In all 
these different positions he has given excellent satisfaction, 
and is held to-day in high esteem by his fellow-townsmen. 

His wife is a member of the Congregational church. 
The judge is now in his seventy -eighth year, living in 
retired life with his esteemed lady, and has the satisfaction 
of reviewing a long and usefiil life, with no apprehension 
of the future. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



277 



where he established himself in mercantile busi- 
ness, and also opened three stores in Onondaga 
County, one in the firm name of Mann & Johnson ; 
one was at Onondaga West Hill, one at Camillus 
and one at Baldwinsville. In 1817, these stores re- 
quiring his attention, he closed his business at Troy 
and in March of that year removed with his family 
to Onondaga West Hill, or " Court House," as it 
was sometimes called. 

In October, 1820, the house occupied by him 
and his son-in-law, Mr. Joel Dickinson, was burnt to 
the ground ; soon after which, having failed in busi- 
ness, he went into the " Hotel," so called, at Onon- 
daga Hill, and kept it till the fall of 1821, when he 
removed to Syracuse and became landlord of the 
" Syracuse Hotel," afterwards changed to the Syra- 
cuse House. About 1825, he left the Syracuse 
House and the county of Onondaga, and finally died 
September 22, 1835, at Aurora, Cayuga county, N. 
Y., where he had gone on a visit to his daughter. 

A postoffice was established here about the year 
1800, Nehemiah Earll, Postmaster. Daniel Mosely 
established himself here as a lawyer in 1809. 
Medad Curtis, B. Davis Noxon, and several other 
members of the Onondaga Bar resided here pre- 
vious to the removal of the Court House to Syra- 
cuse. With the completion of the Erie Canal and 
the removal of the public buildings the prospects 
of the Hill began to decline, and the business and 
professional men removed to a more promising 
locality. 

ONONDAGA SOUTH HOLLOW, 

now South Onondaga, is a small village on the west 
branch of the creek, with a resident clergyman of 
the M. E. Church, and the usual accompaniments 
of a country village. This church was organized 
about the year 1818, and is now the only one in the 
place. 

Some of the first settlers in this part of the town 
previous to 1800, were Gideon Seeley, Phineas 
Sparks, Ebenezer Conklin, Turner Fenner, Gilbert 
Pinkney and Amasa Chapman ; from 1800 to 1804, 
Obediah Nichols, John Clark, Henry Frost, John 
Carpenter, Zebulon Rust, Joseph Warner, Oliver 
Cummings, Daniel Chaffee, Isaac Parmenter and 
others. 

Near this village is a singular elevation of land 
rising about two hundred feet above the creek, with 
sides steep and not easily accessible, except on the 
west. On the top is a beautiful plateau or table 
land perfectly plain and level, containing about a 
hundred and fifty acres of excellent land under a 
high state of cultivation. There are other similar 
39 



elevations in this branch of the Onondaga valley, 
but none so deserving of notice as this. 

Navarino and Oakland Mills, now called Ce- 
darvale P. O , are other small villages in the west 
part of the town, with a resident clergyman of the 
M. E. Church at Navarino, and at East Navarino is 
the Baptist Church with a settled minister. 

VILLAGE OF DANFORTH. 

The village of Danforth was incorporated De- 
cember, 1874. The first officers were elected Jan- 
uary 23, 1875. Edward Abeel, President; Luke 
Wells, Enoch Mann, Hontoneter Bowers, Trustees; 
Hiram Collins, Treasurer ; Amasa L. Pratt, Col- 
lector ; James H. Hinman, Clerk of the first Board 
of Trustees. 

Present officers— elected March 19, 1878: Tru- 
man K. Fuller, President ; Charles P. Phillips, Eli 
C. Brayton, Frank Jerome, Trustees ; Daniel N. 
Lathrop, Treasurer ; William S. Brown, Collector ; 
John S. Markell, Village Clerk ; Enoch Mann, 
Village Justice. 

ONONDAGA ACADEMY. 

At a meeting of several of the persons residing 
in the village of Onondaga Hollow held August 15, 
1812, a subscription paper was circulated having 
for its object the raising of funds sufficient to build 
and endow an academy. 

The following were among the principal subscri- 
bers to the building fund : 

Joshua Forman $500. ; Thaddeus M. Wood 
300 ; Nicholas Mickles 200 ; John Adams 150 ; Jos. 
Forman 150; Dirck C. Lansing 150; W. H. Sa- 
bin 150; Cornelius Longstreet 100; Jasper Hop- 
per 50 ; Joseph Swan 50 ; Judson Webb 50. 

And the following to the endowment fund : 

Joshua Forman ^750 ; Thaddeus M. Wood 500 ; 
Nicholas Mickles 200 ; John Adams 250 ; Joseph 
Forman 250 ; Dirck C. Lansing 250 ; Jasper Hop- 
per 200; Joseph Swan 125 ; Judson Webb 150; 
Cornelius Longstreet 250 ; George Hall 250 ; Wm. 
H. Sabin 250. 

Application was then made to the Board of Re- 
gents for a charter of incorporation, which was 
granted April 10, 1813. The members comprising 
the first board of trustees were Rev. Caleb Alexan- 
der, President ; Jasper Hopper, Secretary ; Joseph 
Forman, Dirck C. Lansing, Wm. H. Sabin, Joseph 
Swan, Thaddeus M. Wood, Gordon Needham, Ja- 
cobus DePuy, Cornelius Longstreet, Judson Webb, 
George Hall, Dan Bradley, Oliver R. Strong, Nicho- 
las Mickles, John Adams, Trustees. 

The Academy building was erected in 18 14 and 



278 



HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



endowed by the State with a gift of a lot of land 
belonging to the Literature Fund, viz : Lot 9 in the 
town of Lysandcr. For many years this Academy 
was an important educational institution and many 
distinguished men of the country owe to it obliga- 
tions for advantages received in its halls. 

Rev. Caleb Alexander was the first Principal and 
to his exertions and influence the public was largely 
indebted for the establishment of the Academy. 
Through his influence the Fairfield Academy also 
was established. 

Mr. Alexander was a man of extensive learning 
and varied acquirements, a fine conversationalist, 
and an author of some note. He was elected the 
first President of Hamilton College, but declined 
the situation. He died at Onondaga Hollow in 
April, 1828. aged seventy-two years. 

By an act passed April 28, 1866, entitled "An 
Act to consolidate Districts Nos. seven and twenty- 
eight in the town of Onondaga, County of Onon- 
daga, and to provide for the organization of a school 
and academy therein, and to enable said district to 
provide the necessary building therefor," (Vide 
Chap. 839 Session Laws of 1866,) the present 
Onondaga F"ree School District was organized with 
the following named persons as Trustees: George 
B. Clark, M. Roland Markham, James Longstreet, 
Ralph Chafce, Thos. K. Clark, Richard R. Slocum, 
Nathaniel Bostwick, Cornell Crysler, Truman K. 
Fuller. 

May 15. 1866, the "prudential" board of the 
academy transferred the entire control of the same 
to the above named Board of Trustees, in accord- 
ance with said act. The academy has been under 
the charge of the present Principal, Prof O. W. 
Sturdevant, since 1872. From the last Regents' re- 
port we find the value of library and apparatus to be 
$1 ,000, and that of the balance of the property to 
be J 1 5.100. 

This academy is one of the " gymnasia " con- 
nected with the Syracuse University. 

Churches 

P'lKsr Pkkshvtekian Church, Onondaga Val- 
ley. — This church was originally called the " United 
Church of Onondaga and Salina," parties living in 
both places being members. Clark says, " the 
First Presbyterian Society was established on the 
Hill, but the people finding it rather fatiguing to 
climb up there every Sunday, resolved to have a 
society and church nearer home. Accordingly, in 
November, 1809, the ' Onondaga Hollow Religious 
Society' was organized." 

Speaking of the society first formed on the Hill, 
he says: 



" The First Presbyterian Society of Onondaga 
was formed on the Hill at the log tavern kept by 
Daniel Earll ; present, Joshua Forman. Jasper 
Hopper, John Ellis, Jonah Ellis, Jonas C. BaUlwin, 
John Adams and Oliver R. Strong. The ministers 
previous to 1806, were : Rev. Messrs. Higgins and 
Hely. Rev. Dirck C. Lansing was called and 
settled in i«o6 ; Rev. Jabez Chadwick in 181 1 ; 
since succeeded by Rev. Messrs. Burback, Prentiss, 
Bacon and Machin." 

The succession of ministers since we have not 
been able to ascertain. Rev. O H. Seymour, pastor 
at the \'alley, officiates also as pastor at the Hill. 
The church edifice still in use at the Hill was 
erected in 18 19. 

The church in the Hbllow, 1 now called the Valley,) 
which according to Mr. Clark was organized in 
November, 1809, was organized, according to the 
records, by the Presbytery of Geneva, N. V , on the 
20lh of March, 18 10. John Adams, Aaron Bellows, 
Nicholas Mickles, Thaddeus M. Wood and Joshua 
Forman were chosen Trustees. Joseph Swan was 
chosen Secretary. Rev. Mr. Davenport officiated 
as the first minister, the services being held in the 
school house. In November, 18 10, Rev. Dirck C. 
Lansing, who had previously been pastor at the 
Hill, was called and remained in charge of the 
church till May, 1814. The records show that the 
present church building was occupied in 181 5. 

At the organization. March 20, 1810, the follow- 
ing persons were chosen and ordained Elders and 
Deacons : 

lilders — Joseph I'orman, Joseph Swan, Jason 
Wright, Abel Cadwell and Peter Bogardus. 

Deacons. — Henry Bogardus and Aaron Bellows. 

The first meeting of the Session was held April 
18, 1 8 10, and presided over by Rev. Dirck C. 
Lansing, afterwards the distinguished Dr. Lansing. 

Some of the first members were : Joseph For- 
man, Judson Webb, ( Elders and Deacons already 
given, I Charlotte Hopper, Sally Mickles, Hannah 
Danforth, Sally Sabin, Agnes Conklin, William C. 
Gazley, William H. Sabin, Joseph W. Brewster, 
Richard Lord, Deborah Longstreet, Sarah Leaven- 
worth, Polly Raynor, Julia Pattison, Nicholas 
Mickles and John Ainsley. William H. Sabin, 
Esq., gave the land for the church and the academy, 
a beautiful, large plot. 

The full list of pastors cannot be given, as the 
records of the church from 1831 to 1868*9, have 
been lost or destroyed. Clark says Rev. Mr. Lan- 
sing was succeeded in the following order, by Rev. 
Ebcnezcr J. Leavenworth, Rev. Samuel T. Mills, 
Rev. James H. Mills, Rev. Washington Thatcher, 
Rev. Elijah Buck, Rev. Moses Ingalls, Rev. Abel 



I 





GEORGE HAI-L. 



Photo, by W. Y, Ranger, Syracuse. 



MRS. RUTH R. HALL. 



GEORGE HALL, 



son of Shubael and Sarah Hall, was born in South Onondaga, 
Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1805. His parents were natives 
from near Hartford, Conn., and were married Dec. 13, 1795. 
His father was born Sept. 24, 1771, and mother, Feb. 9, 1773. 
Thej emigrated to the county of Onondaga in February, 1799, 
being eighteen days on the road, coming on an ox-sled. They 
settled on the farm now owned by their sons, Shubael and 
George, some one-half mile south of what was formerly known 
as " Hall's Corners," now as " Navarino.' They owned some 
two hundred and fifty acres of good land, which they gave to 
their children. They had three children, — Shubael, born in Con- 
necticut, Nov. 8, 1796, and came here with his parents in 1799 ; 
Sallie, born Sept. 16, 1800, and George, born Nov. 17, 1805, 
both of whom were born in Onondaga County, on tbe old farm. 
Shubael, Sr., died Feb. 27, 1826, and Mrs. Shubael Hall died 
March 27, 1841. 

Mrs. Hall was a member of the Baptist church. In politics, 
Mr. Hall was a life-long Democrat. George Hall, having been 
reared a farmer, early learned those principles so necessary to 
success. He came in possession of his portion of his father's 
estate when he was twentj^-one years of age, and to this he has 
kept constantly adding, until to-day he is pointed to as one of 
the most substantial farmers in the town. I 



He was married to Miss Ruth Rosette West, Dec. 25, 1827. 
She was born Aug. 13, 1806, in this State. They never had 
any children of their own, but took a boy by the name of Wesley 
Chrisler when he was but eight years of age ; he married Miss 
Isabel Kent, a native of Michigan, Jan. 19, 1867, by whom 
two children, Ruth and Helen, were born ; he died July 29, 
1874, in the thirty-seventh year of his age. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hall have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
for a great many years, doing all in their power to advance the 
cause of Christ by word and deed. After forty years of married 
life, Mrs. Hall died April 20, 1868. 

The widow Chrisler and her two children are the only mem- 
bers of his family left beside himself. Mr. Hall is one of the 
best farmers in the county, and has some very fine farm build- 
ings which he has built, a view of which may be seen opposite. 
Mr. Hall has always been a Republican or a Whig in politics. 
Although bereft of his youthful companion, he seems to enjoy 
life well ; is hale and hearty as a man of fifty, though he is in 
the seventy-third year of his age. 

He is one of the best men we have met in our travels through- 
out the town. He seems to be living with the fact ever in 
view that soon his Master will say, " It's enough ; come up 
hisiher." 





^ 



^ 



\iil.M.V IvlNi. 



.Ml;>. \ul. Sl.\ Kl.Ni 



VOLNEY KING. 



Viiliu-y KiiiR, son of Thoiiixs arid Kuth Kiii;{, was bom Nov. 
It, ISdO, in I'itlKtown, UonsiH-liur Co., N. Y. He is of 
Kngliiih orij^in. His fiitlicr w:is a native of Bratlk-borough, 
Vt, and was born Oct. 16, 1770, and mother a native of Pitts- 
town, Rensselaer Co., N. Y.,and was born May 12, 1777. They 
Mettled in this county in November, 1K05, in Marccllus. They 
came to Onondii;^ in the spring of 1813. They were mem- 
bers of the Baptist churi-h. In iMilitics was at first a Jefferson 
DeuuK-nil, and tlien a Wliig. Tlionia.-* Kiiij; died July ;!1, 1845, 
at Montrose, Iax Co., Iowu, and Mrs. T. King died at Palermo, 
this county, Marcli 20, 1838. At tlio ago of seventeen 
Vohiey King commenced to barn the caqK!nt*-r and joiner 
trade, and tliis, together with fanning, lius been his life's work. 
lie was married to Miss Salina Chapman, daughter of Capt. 
AiniL'^a Chapman, of Mureellu.i, May 12, 1822. Mrs. King 
waii born Aug. 21, 1800, in Marccllus. Her father. Captain 
Chapman, wa.s a native of Ashford, Conn., and his wife, 
Hannah Aiuidon, also. They settled in Marccllus in 1799, 
and in 1801 removed to this town. They reared six children, — 
three sons and three daughters. Hon. Abncr Chapman, whoso 
portrait and biography graces the ]<ai;r.s of another part uf this 
work, is one of their sons. Captain Chapman was very fond 



of militjiry tactics, was a school-teacher for many years, and 
was one of the best readers in all this part of the State, being 
often called upon to rood the Det'lar.ition of Independence on 
the fourth of July. He was a robust man, and of commanding 
appearance. 

Mr. Volney King and wife have been married for more than 
fifty-six yeans, and for more than fifty years have been bright 
and shining lights in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. 
King has been class-leader for the greater part of this time, 
has been steward for many years, and has been supi'rinttMidenl 
of the Sunday-school ; and, more than all this, he has led the 
singing for more than sixty years until quite recently. .Mr. 
King and wife have reared four children, throe of whom are 
MOW living, and are following in the footsteps of their aged 
parents. For more than fifly years Mr. King has been a strong 
temperance man, and it is to such men as he and Hon. Abner 
Chapman, and others we might mention, that public sentiment 
has been rightly controlled. Of his living children, two sons, 
Volney h. and George Thomas, are farmers in the town of 
Otisco, and one daughter, Salina A., married a Methodist 
Episcopal preacher by the name of Ilev. Thomas Harroun, now 
of Binghamton, N. Y. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



279 



Cutler, Rev. Mr. Howell, Rev. George H. Hulin 
and Rev. William W. Collins. Those of recent 
years have been Rev. Elijah Bush, Rev. E. S. 
Davis, Rev. Joseph Rosenkrans, Rev. Mr. James, 
Rev. James S. Baker, and Rev. Henry N. Payne. 
Rev. O. H. Seymour, present pastor, began his 
labors here in May, 1S78, and is also pastor of the 
church on the Hill. 

The present membership is about 100 ; Sunday 
School 90. 

A lecture room has been recently added to the 
rear of the church building, two-stories high, 35 by 
40 feet, and paid for. 

The rapid growth of Syracuse absorbed for a 
time the life of the Valley, but new life seems now 
to be slowly flowing back again. 

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of 
Onondaga Valley. — Methodist Church services 
were first held at the Valley in the house of Mr. A. 
Pattison in 18 16, under the pastorate of Rev. 
George Densmore. The members of the first so- 
ciety were Rev. George Taylor, A. Pattison, Clark 
W. Brownell, Ezra Hoyt, Ruth Hoyt, Ada Hoyt, 
Moses Hoyt, Keeler Hoyt, Caleb White, Bishop 
White, Benjamin D. Gardner, Nelson Palmer, 
Jonathan Knott, Sylvester Nobb, Nathaniel Root, 
Sally Rich, Phebe Vroman and Alonzo Webster. 

The church building was erected in or near 1825. 
Trustees — Rev. G. Taylor, A. Pattison and Clark W. 
Brownell. In 1847 ^ dwelling house was purchased 
adjoining the church lot, at a cost of about $200. 
Among the earliest ministers were Manly Tooker, 
1823 ; Eben L. North, 1825. 

The membership of the society is now 38. 
Valuation of church about $1,500, and parsonage 
about the same. Present pastor, J. J. Turton. 

The Methodist Episcopal Society on the 
Reservation Hill, town of Onondaga, was founded 
about 1819 or 1820, by Aaron Preston, a local 
preacher. The church building was not erected 
till some few years afterward. 

The first members were Aaron Connell and wife, 
Thorn Dubois and wife, Mrs. Mary Barnum, John 
Woodward and wife, Benjamin Snow and wife, Cor- 
nelius Miller and wife. 

The society worshiped in the school house till 
1847, when the present church building was erected 
at a cost of about g 1,600. Present membership 
38. This church has been closely connected with 
the society at the Valley. The same preacher 
usually supplies both places. Present pastor, J. J. 
Turton. 

Onondaga Baptist Church. — This church is 
located in the southwest part of the town of Onon- 



daga. Among the early settlers of this section of 
the country were a few brethren and sisters of the 
Baptist faith from different churches of the land. 
They were like sheep without a shepherd and 
literally scattered in the wilderness. Their love for 
their common Lord soon drew them together into 
prayer and conference meetings, by which they be- 
came better acquainted and encouraged to make an 
effort to raise the standard of the Lord in a perma- 
nent way. 

On the 4th of July, 1811, a few disciples met at 
the log house of James Redway, in Otisco, and 
there formed themselves into a church conference 
for the purpose of becoming organized into a 
church as soon as practicable. April 11, 1812, 
they voted to call a council on the second Wednes- 
day in June, in order to be recognized as a Baptist 
Church. The council was composed as follows : 
Sempronius, Elder Robert Niles and Brother Enos 
Phillips ; Owasco, Elder Elkanah Comstock ; 
Aurelius, Brother S. Tucker ; Marcellus, Elder 
Harmon, Brethren Skeels, Hurd, Fitzgerald, Ses- 
sions, Kneeland and Chapman ; First Church of 
Onondaga, (then at Howlett Hill,) Brethren War- 
ren and Richmond. 

The council met in Ephraim Hall's barn (now 
Austin G. Wyckoff's) at Navarino, and organized 
by choosing Elder Niles, Moderator, and Peter 
Warren, Clerk. After due deliberation the council 
voted unanimously to fellowship the conference as a 
Church of Jesus Christ. The number constituting 
the church at that time was twenty-four, prominent 
among whom were Sylvester Olney, Silas Church, 
Solomon Draper, Mrs. Sarah Hall and Sally Red- 
way. 

The pastors of this church, in the order named, 
have been as follows : Rev. Elkanah Comstock, 
1812, served three years; Rev, Israel Hodge, two 
years ; Kev. Solomon Gardner, i820-'29, (a period 
of marked prosperity for the church) ; Rev. D. D. 
Chittenden, i829-'32, (94 added to the church) ; 
Rev. E. P. Die preached a short time in 1833 ; 
Rev. William Powers, 1834-37; Rev. Mr. Holt, 
1837 ; Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, 1838; Rev. N. Camp, 
i839-'4i ; Rev. A. P. Howell, 1841-43 ; Rev. 
Barton Capron, 1843-49; Rev. A. H. Trow, 1849 
-'50; Rev. L. W. Nichols, i850-'S2 ; Rev. N. 
Camp, (second pastorate) 1853-55 ; Rev. H. A. 
Sizer, 1856-58 ; Rev. W. H. Delano, 1859-60 ; 
Rev. Daniel Reese, 1860-64 ; Rev. Samuel Smith, 
1864-67; Rev. Levi Reynolds, i867-'69; Rev. 
Jacob Smith, 1869-72; Rev. L. Q. Griffin, 1872 
-■]6. The last named was succeeded by Rev. 
Charles Coon, the present pastor. 



28o 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



The first Deacons were Sylvester OIney and 
Silas Church ; then followed Aaron Case and Henry 
Gallaspie ; then S. Keiiyon and James Kowe, Sen. 
Deacon James Rowe, Sen., was baptized and united 
with the church October 8, iS^o, was chosen Clerk 
at the next annual meeting, and ser^'ed nine years, 
was elected Deacon in 1830 and filled the office till 
the time of his death, January 7, 1873 He was an 
efficient and faithful member for over half a century. 
Born in Stillwater, Saratoga County, October 2, 
1773, he came to Onondaga in 1806, was a resident 
of the town si.xty-seven years, and all that time 
owned and occupied the same farm. He died in 
the 1 00th year of his age. 

Among the old and earnest members of the 
church are E. B. Wright, Superintendent of the 
Sunday School ; who has been a member for 
twenty-one years ; Lyman Gardner, who united 
with the church in 1822, and served as Deacon 
twenty six years ; James Rowe, Jr.. who has served 
the church in the capacity of Clerk since 1852, has 
been a member since 1844. 

The present membership of the church is 73 ; 
attendance at the Sunday School about 80. 

The first church edifice was erected in i822-'23, 
timber and shingles being obtained from the pine 
woods of Dryden, now in Tompkins county. The 
Building Committee was David ChaflTee, William 
Willett and James Rowe, Sen The church cost 
$1,300, and the dedicatory sermon was preached by 
Rev. Sylvanus Haynes, of Elbridge. The first 
stove used in the house was put upon the tops of 
the scats. In 1834 a parsonage was erected; in 
1858 sheds were built the whole length of the 
church lot ; in 1871 the church was thoroughly re- 
modeled in conformity with modern style, and was 
rcdedicated November 2, Rev. H.J. Eddy, D. D. , 
of Syracuse, preaching the sermon The cost of 
repairs and refitting the church was ^2,000. 
Building Committee— W. C. Fish, E. B.Wright 
and David Hunt. 

FiKST M. E. Church, Onondaga Hill. — The 
edifice of this church was erected in 1874 at a cost 
(including parsonage) of about $6,000. The Trus- 
tees at that time were John McClarencc, Richard 
Cradock, Henry Raynor, Monroe Mathewson, and 
Cicero Fowler. All of the above Trustees now 
officiate, except Cicero Fowler, deceased, his place 
being supplied by the election of Asa Strong. The 
society was organized and the church built under 
the administration of Rev. Frederick DeWitt, who 
remained pastor till 1 876. and was succeeded by 
Rev. William Curtis, who remained a little over 
one year, and was compelled to resign on account 



of ill health. The present pastor. Rev. Abncr 
Fancher, commenced his ser\ices in the fall of 
1877. The church numbers about 80 ; Sunday 
School about lOO. 

Mkthodist Episcopal Church, Cedarvale. 
— This church was built about 1840, and regular 
services have ever since been held in it. Among 
the early members were R Kcnyon and wife. Vol- 
ney King, Ezra Lownsbury, John Evans and wife, 
Thomas C. Kenyon; Augustus C. Kenyon, and 
Alexander Browning. Among the clergymen who 
have officiated are Revs Messrs. Youngman, Bush, 
Tooke, Cowles, and the present pastor. Rev. D. W. 
Sherman. The church is prosperous and has a 
well-attended Sunday School. 

The Univeksalist Church at Hewlett Hill was 
built by the Baptists, and was used by them until 
about 1 849 or '50. The lot had been deeded to them 
by Leonard Caton upon condition that, when they 
abandoned it, it should revert to him or his heirs, 
which it did. Mr. Caton then deeded it to the Uni- 
versalist Society upon the same condition, and it was 
repaired and refitted by the latter. The first officiat- 
ing Universalist clergyman was Rev. Nelson Brown, 
who had preached for the society a number of years 
previous in the school house and who remained a long 
time with the society. He was succeeded by Rev. 
James M. McMastcr, Rev. J. M. Austin, Rev. E. C. 
Sweetscr, and other pastors of the Church in Syra- 
cuse. Dr. Green was the first Universalist who 
preached at this place, out of whose efforts grew the 
society. It was organized with John T. Robinson as 
President, and Wheeler Trucsdell as Secretary, who, 
with John Case, B H. Case, J. Q. Robinson, Chas. 
Land, Giles Case, David Robinson, Eliphas Case 
and Eusephus Lawrence, were prominent in its or- 
ganization and maintenance. The society at pres- 
ent numbers about twenty. 

The church has been occupied by the Episco- 
palians for about three years, being supplied by 
clergymen from Marccllus, who hold services nearly 
every Sunday afternoon. 

The Methouist Episcopal Church of Sooth 
Onondaga.— This Church was organized about the 
year l8i6. Among the first prominent members 
were Wilson Newman, Phebe Bradley, Volney 
King, Salina King his wife. Joseph O. Seeley, Ros- 
well Kenyon, Francis Hamilton and Sterling Cole. 
The first meetings were held in the school house on 
the "corner." 

The church was supplied by itinerant preachers, 
among whom were Eben L. North (now postmas- 
ter at the village,) Father Aylesworth. Elder Puffer, 
Rev. John P. Newman, (now pastor of the Metro- 



(V 






Mrs Rebecca WvoiforF Ausns G Wvcirorr 




ALiSTiN GWrCK'Orr, Navarino. N y 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



281 



politan Church at Washington, D. C.) In 1827, a 
church edifice was built by the united efforts of the 
Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, and Universalist 
Societies, and was occupied alternately by them. 
About the year 1837, the present Methodist Epis- 
copal house of worship was built at a cost of ;SS 1,600. 
Rev. Dr. Bowen preached the dedication sermon. 
It is a plain brick structure, of the modern style of 
architecture, and has a seating capacity of about 
three hundred. The first trustees of the new 
church were Wilson Newman, Volney King and 
Leonard Hodgkins. The pulpit was supplied as 
before by itinerant clergymen. For the past twelve 
years the church has had resident pastors. The 
present pastor is Rev. D. W. Sherman ; present 
membership 80 ; attendance at Sunday School 
about 100 ; Superintendent of the Sunday School, 
Charles Quick. The present Trustees are Leonard 
Hodgkins, Moses M. Dwelle and Wm. L. Fisk. 

Several members of this church have gone forth 
into the world and occupied prominent and useful 
positions. Mary Seeley went forth as a missionary 
to China ; Rachel C. Newman is Preceptress of 
Cazenovia Seminary ; Rev. E. Lansing Newman is 
now pastor of the North Street Church at Roches- 
ter, New York. This is the only church organiza- 
tion at South Onondaga and the only church in 
which regular divine services have been held for 
several years past. 



B!OGi|APHic>L Sketches. 



JARED W. PARSONS, 

Son of Jared and Electa Parsons, was born May 
22, 1820, in Otisco, Onondaga County, N. Y. His 
father was the son of Noah and Sarah Parsons, and 
was born in West Hampton, Mass., April 10, 1783, 
and settled in this county at Otisco, in 1802. He 
married Miss Electa Wales, of West Hampton, 
Mass., in the spring of 1807, by whom he had four 
children. Miss E. Wales, now Mrs. Jared Parsons, 
Sr., was born in 1785. Jared Parsons, Sr., held 
several important offices in Otisco, such as Loan 
Com., Justice of the Peace, and Supervisor. In 
1843 he removed to South Onondaga, where he 
continued to live with the subject of this sketch 
till his death, which occurred May 29. 1866, in 
the eighty-third year of his age. His wife was 
a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church 
at Otisco. She died March 17, 1863, •" the 78th 
year of her age. 



In politics, Mr. Parsons was first a Whig, and 
then a Republican upon the organization of the lat- 
ter party. 

Jared W. Parsons, is of English origin ; his 
forefathers came from England at a very early 
period and settled at Windsor, Conn., and removed 
thence to Springfield, and from thence to North- 
ampton, Mass. He continued to live with his pa- 
rents till their death, and then came in possession 
of the " old homestead," by paying the heirs their 
proportion. The farm in the town of Onondaga 
contained at first some three hundred acres, and to 
this he has added one hundred more, making him 
one of the largest farmers in the town. He has a 
fine home ; the buildings are all good and his land 
is in a fine state of cultivation. 

Mr. Parsons was married to Miss Rachel M. 
Swan, of Fabius, Sept. 29, 1840. Mrs. Parsons 
was born June 9, 182 1, and died October 8, 1874. 
She was a worthy and consistent member of the 
Presbyterian Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Parsons 
were born five children, viz : Almira, Electa A., 
Rose E., Jared Ives and Nellie C. Parsons. In 
politics, Mr Parsons has always affiliated with the 
Republican party since its organization. He has 
been twice Supervisor of his town, and has always 
been in favor of good schools. Though not a mem- 
ber of any church, he contributes to the support of 
the one in his neighborhood. He is now in very 
poor health, and to his only son, Jared Ives, he has 
given the control of the "old homestead." 



A. G. WYCKOFF. 



Among the many men whose names appear upon 
the page of local history, none is more highly respec- 
ted by his neighbors than the subject of this sketch. 
He is the son of Jonathan and Sarah Wyckoff and 
was born April 11, 1813, at Charleston, Montgom- 
ery County, N. Y., and immigrated to this county, in 
company with his parents, in 1815, and settled near 
Skaneateles. He was reared a farmer and continued 
to work for his father till he was thirty-two years of 
age, receiving ^100 a year after his majority. Dur- 
ing this time he was married to Miss Rebecca Eg- 
gleston, of Skaneateles, October 9, 1839. She was 
born April 3, 18 18, in Skaneateles. Her parents 
settled there in 1801. Mr. and Mrs. Wyckoff have 
reared four children, namely, Helen A., Jonathan, 
Austanie R., and Austin G., Jr., all of whom lived 
to be men and women. Helen A. died July 18, 
1865. In 1845, Mr. Wyckoff settled in the town of 
Onondaga, on the place he now owns. He has 



40" 



282 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



made nearly all the improvements on his fine farm, 
a view of which may be seen in this work. 

In politics, he was first a Whig and then a Re- 
publican after the formation of the latter party. 
Mrs. Wyckofl" is a member of the Baptist Church. 
Mr. W. is now in his 65th year, living respected by 
all who know him, surrounded by intelligent chil- 
dren and all the necessary comforts of a happy 
home. 

THKODORE EDWARD CLARKE. 

Theodore Edward Clarke was born January 23, 
1806, in the village of Pompey Hill. Onondaga 
County, N. V. He was a son of Hezekiah and 
Lucy ( Bliss I Clarke. His early educational advan- 
tages were excellent. After pursuing a course of 
study at Pompey Academy, he entered Oneida 
Institute at Whitesboro, Oneida County, N. V., 
and was occasionally employed as an assistant 
teacher. Theodore D. Weld, who was a teacher 
and lecturer in the Institute, said of him : " He 
had a happy faculty of illustration, and of convey- 
ing his ideas to his class." He afterwards entered 
the office of Jchiel Steams, M. D , of Pompey Hill, 
but at the end of six months he was compelled on 
account of failing health to abandon his studies. 
Dr. Stearns said of him : " He is the most rapid 
and thorough student I ever knew. The technical 
names with which these studies abound seemed to 
be no hinderance to his rapid progress." Theodore 
D. Weld writes of him on receiving the intelligence 
of his death : " My heart aches and bleeds I Ecw I 
how few ! have so grown to it as Theodore E. Clarke. 
What loathing of all shams! What true apprecia- 
tion of the kernel of things." The Rev. Jared F. 
Ostrander says : " For logical acumen, for profound, 
abstract thought, for far-reaching and comprehensive 
views, for bold excursions into the unknown, he had 
probably few equals." 

His compositions, both in prose and verse, from 
boyhood up, shadowed forth a mind of no ordinary 
cast. He was most deeply and heartily interested 
in all the great moral and religious questions of his 
time. In him total abstinence found a nevcr-wav- 
cring advocate. He read with avidity the pro- 
foundest writings of the schools, and discussed and 
criticised them very familiarly. He purchased a 
residence in Baldwinsville and lived there with his 
sister and aged mother imtil his death, which oc- 
curred at Syracuse, October 26, 1853. 



Tolland county, Conn., Januar)- 3, 1794 He was 
reared a farmer and continued to follow that occu- 
pation throughout his active life. In Feb. 1801, 
he came to this county in company with his parents 
and settled near Navarino. His father died August 
16, 1828. his mother about 1803, and were both 
buried on their own farm. 

Deacon J. Hunt married Miss Lucy Bliss of this 
town, December 25, 1817, and after forty years of 
married life she died in November, 1857. She was 
a worthy member of the Baptist Church of Syra- 
cuse, N. Y. On the 23d of September, 1858, 
Deacon J. Hunt married Miss Eliza Clark, a native 
of Wcsterlo, Albany county, N. Y. She was born 
December i, 1802 ; her parents were natives of 
New England, and were among the earliest settlers 
in Albany county. Mrs. Hunt was Principal from 
1829 to 1839, of the "Asylum for Orphans and 
Destitute Children " at Albany, N. Y., and on the 
27th of April, 1 845, she became Principal of the" On- 
ondaga County Orphan Asylum," located at Syra- 
cuse, N. Y.. and continued to hold that responsible 
position until the date of her marriage with Deacon 
Hunt. In her official position she was very effi- 
cient and performed her duties exceedingly well, and 
has many warm friends all over this county and 
State, and even in other States, who treasure her 
memory, and only think of her with the tenderest 
affection. Hers has been a noble life, full of good 
deeds and the memory of them can only be pleas- 
ant to her in her declining years. She has been a 
member of the Baptist Church for more than sixty 
years, and Deacon Hunt for more than forty years. 

The Deacon is one of the most liberal men of 
that great denomination, having aided in the build- 
ing of several houses of worship. He and his wor- 
thy companion are bright and shining lights of the 
church, and are greatly respected by their neigh- 
bors. He has been a very successful farmer, but 
whatever he has made has been by industry and 
economy ; many a mid-night hour has witnessed 
him at work in the field. In politics he was at first 
a Whig and then a Republican. Deacon Hunt is 
the owner of one of the best homes in Onondaga, 
a view of which, with portraits of himself and wife 
appear in another part of this work. 



DAVID CHAFEE, 



DEACON JERATHMAEL HUNT, 
Son of John and Anna Hunt, was born in Union, 



Father of Ralph Chafee, was born in Ashford, 
Conn, July 25, 1772. He came to Onondaga in 
1799, and worked for Col. Comfort Tyler, in haying 
and harvesting. Returning to Connecticut, he 
taught school one winter, and in the spring came 



1 





UtS J yiUHT 



( moTiu BY W.V HnMCcn.Srinkciist i 



OCACON J J^UNT 








Photcts. b^' 
\V. V. Raugei-. 




DAVID 

Among the pioneer families of" this county none are more 
deserving of an honorable mention on the pages of our county 
history than the Chafee family, and, as an individual member 
of it, David, perhaps, is the most prominent and successful. 
He is the son of David and Eunice Chapman Chafee, and was 
born in Onondaga township, February 16, 1805. His father, 
David, was a native of Ashford, Windham county, Connecticut, 
and was born July 25, 1772, and married Miss Eunice Chap- 
man, November 27, 1800. Mrs. Eunice C. Chafee was born 
in Connecticut, June 2, 1780. 

David Chafee, Sr., settled in Marcellus before 1799, and 
soon afler removed into this town, near Navarino, where all of 
his eleven children were born, namely, Louisa, Ralph, David, 
Abner, Comfort T., Guy, George, William H., Eunice, Joshua, 
and Polly. 

David Chafee, Sr., was a farmer, and carpenter and joiner by 
occupation, and reared his family to industry and economy. In 
polities a Whig. He held the office of justice of the peace for 
many years. He died September 18, 1847, aged seventy-five 
years. Eunice Chafee died July 11, 1831. 

David, Jr., had common-school advantages for an education, 
going to school a few months in the winter, and working on 
the farm summers. He purchased a farm of one hundred and 
eighteen acres in Marcellus (Tyler Hollow) in the flill of 1833, 
and married Miss Betsey Kinyon, February (5, 1834. 

Miss Betsey Kinyon was born January 21, 1811, in Otisco. 
Her father, Benjamin Kinyon, was a native of Connecticut, 
and was one of the early pioneers to this county, and settled in 
Otisco. 

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Chafee three children were 
born, namely, George, Byron R,., and Alice. George died while 
young, aged two and one-half years ; Byron R. died at the 



CHAFEE. 

I age of twenty-nine years ; and Alice married William M. 
Haines, and is now living in Iowa. 

Mrs. D. Chafee was a member of the Baptist church at East 
Navarino, and was a very worthy lady. She died February 
25, 1849, and was buried at East Navarino, in " Pine Grove 
Cemetery." 

Mr. Chafee married Miss Mary Lewis, July 23, 1851. She 
is the daughter of Chauncey G. and Huldah Tucker Lewis, and 
was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, December 21, 1818. 

Chauncey G. Lewis was born June 3, 1791, in Massachusetts. 
Removed to New Hartford, Oneida county. New York, when a 
small boy, and thence to Pompey Hollow in 1802. He married 
Huldah Tucker, a native of Woodbridge, Windham county, Con- 
necticut, March 16, 1815. She was born September 21, 179G. 
and died July 31, 1873, and Mr. Lewis, July 7, 1874, in 
Pompey. 

Mr. Chafee has had two children by his second wife, namely, 
David, Jr., and Betsey M. David, Jr., died June 10, 1857, 
aged five years, seven months, and ten days. Betsey married 
William J. Bassett, and is now living in Liverpool, Onondaga 
County. 

Mr. Chafee was reared a farmer, and, in connection, has 
worked at the carpenter's and joiner's trade. Mr. Chafee 
settled in Onondaga Valley, April 1, 1872, on the place where 
he now resides. He built his present fine home in 1872. In 
politics he affiliated with the Republican party. Has held 
nearly all the important offices of his town, such as school 
commissioner, justice of the peace, supervisor of the town, and 
assessor, and in all these several offices discharged the duties 
imposed upon him to the general satisfaction of his constit- 
uents. He is now an old gentleman of seventy-three, hale and 
liearty, surrounded by all the comforts of a happy home. 





RAN8EL 8. KENTON. 



Photo, b) W. V. lUligor, SjrrmciMi. 



ELIZABETH KENTON. 



RANSEL S. KENYON. 



Rjinsel S. Kenyon wns lx)rn in Uliode Island, January 5, 
17911. His nnctntors woro anion).; the earliest settlers of that 
State. During the War of the Revolution they did good 
Borvicc for their country, and were over found ready to assist 
in the cause of Independence. 

While yet a boy, RanscI S. was enrolled in the State militia, 
and was a member of a company called " The Governor's 
Life Guard,"' and after that were termed '• Minute Men." 
His regiment was ciillod out once during the " War of 1812." 
He was married to Miss Elisuibelh Card, a native of the same 
town and State as himself, when he was nineteen years of age. 
In 1816 his family, consisting of self, wife, and four children, 
followed an elder brotluT lo the county of Onondaga, N. Y. 
In 1819 he united with the Methodi.tt Episcopal church, and 
was ever afUTWards a consistent ('hristian, doing all in his power 
to advance the vannc of {,'hrist and build up fallen humanily. 
For two years, known as the " Cold Summers," he conducted the 
business of a grist-mill, and many a grist went away untolled, 
although his own family wa« in great need. Soon after he 
removed to Otisco, and remained two years, and then retunied 



to his own home in the town of Onondaga, which he purchased 
of IMiilip Van Cortland. Upon this he lived until his di^th, 
which occurred September 10, 1S77. 

Mr. Kenyon was a hard-working, indu.strious farmer. Hi- 
paid for his farm by boiling salt at the " Salt Springs" in 
winter, and working upon his land in summer. Albany was the 
nearest market in those days. There were no railroads ami no 
canals. Syracuse was unknown as such, and had only one log 
aibin. He lived to see " Old Onondaga" ininsfurnicd from a 
wilderness to one of the bt^t and most flourishing couiitiiis in 
the Stale ; Syracuse to change from a single log cabin to 
a mighty inland city of more (ban fifty thousand inhabitants; 
he lived to sec the greatest im]irovements in science, art, and 
agriculture, etc., that the world has ever seen. lie has reared 
seven sons and four daughters to be good, respected citizens. 
He has also seen his grandchildren reach manhood's years. 
His was a green old age. He wa.s able to lalHir till he was 
eighty-five. When he passed away, Onondaga lost a good 
citiicn and his children a kind father. Ho lived rcspctcd, 
and died n^;rettcd by all who knew him. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



283 



back and selected a place a little north of Amber, 
on land since owned by Jonathan Davis ; after 
chopping down an acre of timber he left it and 
selected Lot No. 208 in the town of Onondaga, 
which he purchased of the State upon an article of 
agreement at $2. 00 per acre, paying interest there- 
on at six per cent., for a term of years. November 
27, 1800, he married Eunice Chapman, daughter of 
Joseph Chapman, of Manlius, and lived on the place 



above referred to till his death, September 18, 1847, 
having raised a family of eight sons and three daugh- 
ters, all of whom are living, except the youngest, who 
died January 12, 1878, aged 57years and 10 months. 
Mr. Chafee served the town as Assessor in the 
years i8o8-'9 and 1816, andwas at that time Justice 
of the Peace, and at one time taught school. 

Daniel Chafee settled on the lot north of Lot No. 
208, in 1800. 



MARCELLUS. 



Marcellus, as laid out in 1794, was one of the 
eleven original towns of the county, and comprised 
all the townships of Marcellus and Camillus and 
all of the Onondaga Salt Springs Reservation west 
of the Onondaga Creek and Lake. A part of 
Onondaga was taken off in 1798 ; Camillus in 1799; 
a part of Otisco in 1806 ; and Skaneateles in 1830. 
A part of Sempronius, Cayuga County, was annexed 
in 1804, and a part of Spafford in 1840. The town 
at present contains but about thirty lots of the 
original township. No. 9 of the Military Tract, or 
about one-tenth of the original town as first set 
off upon the organization of the county. 

The surface of this town is a rolling upland, 
broken by the deep valley of the Nine Mile Creek, 
which extends north and south through the center. 
The declivities bordering upon this creek are steep, 
and rise from two to five hundred feet in altitude. 
The falls, of which there are several, furnish a large 
amount of water power. Lime and gypsum are 
abundant. The soil is generally a deep, black loam, 
formed by the decomposition of the Marcellus 
shales, intermixed to some extent with clay, and is 
among the richest and most valuable for agricultural 
purposes. 

Nine Mile Creek is the principal and only stream 
of note in the town. It is the outlet of Otisco 
Lake, and passes through this town from south to 
north. It received its name from the fact that it is 
nine miles from Onondaga Hollow which at the 
time the first settlements were made at the Creek 
was the nearest settlement on the east. It was 
also nine miles to Buck's, the nearest settlement on 
the west. 

Early Settlements. 

William Cobb appears to have been the first white 
settler in the town, on the East Hill, east of Nine 
Mile Creek, in 1794. The same year Cyrus Hol- 



comb settled on the West Hill, and Samuel Tyler at 
Tyler Hollow. The families of Conklins, Bowens 
and Codys became residents of the town about the 
same time, and a Mr. Curtis and family settled 
temporarily on Nine Mile Creek. The first per- 
manent settlers here were Dan Bradley and Samuel 
Rice in the fall of 1795, and Dr. Elnathan Beach 
the following winter. The latter, in 1796, erected 
the first frame house in the town, near the dwelling 
house of Curtis Moses, of a later day. The second 
frame house was erected by Judge Bradley, and the 
third by Deacon Rice. In 1806 there were nine 
dwellings in the village. 

From this time settlements grew rapidly in differ- 
ent parts of the town. 

Among those who settled on the West Hill were 
Nathan Kelsey, Thomas Miller, and Col. Bigelow 
Lawrence. The latter had eight sons who settled 
in sight of one another on the east and west hills, 
viz : Joab, Peter, Bigelow, Rufus, Calvin, Jepthah, 
Levi and Dorastus Lawrence. Martin Cossit 
settled in the village in 1798, and Samuel Wheadon 
on South Hill in iSoo. He was followed, in the 
same neighborhood, by Josiah Frost, Philo Goddard, 
Nathan Healy and Enoch Cowles. Caleb Todd, 
Nathaniel Hillyer, Richard May, Martin Goddard. 
Terrence Edson, Reuben Dorchester and William 
F. Bangs, were early settlers on the East Hill at a 
later day. 

James C. Miller and sons were the first perma- 
nent settlers in the northeast portion of the town. 
Mr. Miller had six sons, all except one of whom, 
and himself, died within a short time after their 
settlement. Settlement at the falls (Union Village) 
was begun in 1806. A paper mill was erected 
there in 1807 and grist and saw mills in 1808. 

Most of the early settlers of Marcellus were from 
Massachusetts. Some were from Connecticut and 



284 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Vermont. They paid a high regard to religious 
duties and great attention to the training of their 
children in moral and intellectual pursuits. The 
establishment of schools was therefore early a 
matter of public attention. The first school was 
established in 1796, and was taught in a log school 
house (luring the summer by Miss Asenath Law- 
rence, daughter of Col. Bigelow Lawrence. During 
the two successive winters the school was taught by 
Dan Bradley, afterwards Judge Bradley, who, on 
account of his interest in the education of the 
young, volunteered his services He was the first 
male teacher in the town. A frame school house 
was soon after erected on nearly the same ground, 
and was occupied till 1807 ; after which school 
houses were erected in the village and on the West 
Hill. 

The first mill of any description erected in the 
town was a saw mill on Nine-Mile Creek. It was 
built by Samuel Rice and Judge Bradley in the 
fall and winter of 1795-6, and stood a short distance 
above the stone mill of Mr. Talbot. The inhabi- 
tants were so few at the time that the proprietors 
had to get help from Camillus to assist in raising 
their mill. Before the grist mill was built in 1800, 
the inhabitants had to go to Manlius, fifteen miles, 
or to Seneca Falls, twenty-five miles west, which 
usually took two or three days. The first grist 
mill was built near the saw mill in 1800 by Mr. 
May and Mr. Sayles. For several years it was a 
great relief to the inhabitants, for it did all the cus- 
tom work for the town and part of Onondaga and 
Camillas. 

The records of this town prior to 1830, were 
destroyed by fire, so that the names of the first 
town officers cannot be obtained. It appears, how- 
ever, by the act of 1794, that the first town meet- 
ing was ordered to be held at the house of Moses 
Carpenter, about a mile east of the present village 
of Elbridge, and it was probably so held. The 
record of the Board of Supervisors shows that 
William Stevens was Supervisor from 1794 to 1797; 
Samuel Tyler, in 1797, and Winston Day in 1798. 
* The voters of Marcellus had at first to go down to 
Camillus to poll their votes. This they considered 
a hardship, and in 1796 mustered all their forces, 
out-voted the Camillus people, and carried the next 
town meeting up to Marcellus ; so that the first 
town meeting in Marcellus proper was held in 1797 
at the house of Samuel Rice. The log house at 
which this election was held stood nearly opposite 
the house afterwards belonging to William Leonard, 
now owned by the widow of Justice North. 

Samuel Bishop opened the first law office in the 



town, in 1801, and B. Davis Noxon, the next in 
1808. 

Hon. D.an Bradlf.v. — We have already referred 
to Hon. Dan Bradley in our notes upon the early 
settlers. He was one of the most distinguished 
citizens of Marcellus. Born in Haddam, Conn, on 
the loth of June. 1767, he graduated with distin- 
guished honors at Yale College in September, 1789, 
and received the degree of M. A., at the age of 
twenty-three. In October, I790,hewas licensed as 
a preacher of the Gospel, and was pastor of the 
church in Whitestown, (New Hartford,* till 1795, in 
September of which year he settled in Marcellus. 
His business was that of a farmer, and he reduced 
farming to a science, both practically and theoreti- 
cally. It has been said that the improvement of 
agriculture in the County of Onondaga and in this 
whole section of the country, was due more to his 
influence than to that of any other man. As a patron 
and advocate of agricultural societies he was among 
the first, and to his opinions and influence many 
of the prominent advantages derived by the State 
from the law of 1819 was unquestionably owing. 
He was elected President of the first Onondaga 
County Agricultural Society, in 1819. His numer- 
ous articles published in the volumes of the State 
Agricultural Reports and his contributions to most 
of the agricultural journals of the day, established 
conclusively the interest he felt in his favorite pur- 
suit and the zeal and intelligence he brought to its 
support. He was appointed a Judge of Onondaga 
County Courts in i8ot, and first Judge of the 
County in 1808, which oflfice he filled with great 
credit till he resigned and was succeeded by Judge 
Forman in 1813. 

Judge Bradley died at his residence in Marcel- 
lus, September 19, 1838, aged 71 years. 

Mention ought here to be made of Rachel Baker, 
whose experience in devotional somnittm, so called, 
in this town, from 1812 to 1816, furnishes the most 
remarkable case of the kind on record. A full 
history of her case may be found in the Transac- 
tions of the Physico-Medical Society of New York, 
vol. i, page 395. See also Clark's Onondaga, vol. 
ii, page 294. This lady was subject to nightly 
paroxysms or trances, lasting usually about three 
quarters of an hour, in which, with body and limbs 
as rigid and motionless as those of a statue, and in 
a state entirely unconscious to herself, she pro- 
nounced sermons or religious discourses of a high 
devotional character. These discourses were pre 
ceded by prayers, her face turned upward to heaven. 
The only motion the spectator could perceive was 
that of the organs of speech. " She began with 




Mahcelius Woolen Mills. UKIUS 




PWETOR, MARCELLUS.NEWYOffK. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



285 



a text, and proceeded with an even course to the 
end, embellishing her discourse with fine meta- 
phors, vivid descriptions and poetical quotations." 
She usually passed from her trance state into that 
of regular and natural sleep, and awoke in the 
morning without any knowledge or consciousness of 
what had transpired. 

She was born at Pelham, Mass., May 29, 1794. 
At the age of nine her parents removed with her 
to Marcellus. She was finally cured by Dr. Spears, 
in 1816. 

VILLAGE OF MARCELLUS. 

The first store in the village was opened by Dr. 
Elnathan Beach in 1796. He kept dry goods, gro- 
ceries and medicines, and continued in business till 
his death in 1801. Lemuel Johnson succeeded him, 
and built a new store. 

Deacon Samuel Rice kept the first tavern ; then 
General Humphreys and William Goodwin. In 
1799 the first postoffice was established at the vil- 
lage, Dr. Elnathan Beach, Postmaster. Samuel 
Tyler was the first Justice of the Peace, appointed 
as early as 1798 or 1799. 

Dr. Elnathan Beach came to the town as a prac- 
ticing physician in 1795. A year or two after he 
erected the first frame house. He came from 
Cheshire, Connecticut, where he was born and 
educated. He was an active and prominent citi- 
zen ; entered considerably into public life ; was 
SheriflT of the county in 1799 and held the office 
till his death, in 1801. 

Incorporation. 

At an election held June 4th, 1853, at the house 
of John Carpenter, it was decided by a vote of 
forty-one to ten to incorporate the present village 
of Marcellus. At the first charter election, held 
July 23, 1853, the following officers were elected : 
President, Wm. J. Machan ; Trustees, Elijah Row- 
ley, Isaac N. Soules, Isaac Bradley, Daniel G. Coon; 
Assessors, A. H. Cowles, Chester Moses, and J. 
Taylor ; Clerk, H. T. Kennedy ; Collector, Joseph 
Taylor ; Treasurer, G. N. Kennedy ; Pound-Master, 
Avery Willson. In 1854, Edmund Akin was 
elected President, Isaac N. Soules, Vice-President, 
and I Bradley, J. G. B. White, Nathan G. Hoyt, 
Trustees. 

The following is a list of the Presidents of the 
village of Marcellus from 1855 to 1877: Luke I. 
Tefft, 1855; Stephen Cobb, i8s6-'S7; Daniel G. 
Coon, 1858; Cornell Crysler, 1859; William Well- 
ington, i860 ; Chester Moses, 1861 ; John H. 
Cowles, 1862-63; E. R. Howe, 1864; Chester 
Moses, 1865-66; Ira Bush, 1867 ; Chester Moses, 
41 



1868 ; Thomas Rhoades, i869-'7o ;Oscar J. Brown, 
1871-72 ; Newton G. Case, 1873 ; D. G. Coon, 
1874 ; Isaac N. Sherman, 1875-76. The officers 
for 1877 are as follows: President, Isaac N. Sher- 
man ; Trustees, James C. Sayre, James Axten, and 
Albert Curtis ; Treasurer, William B. White ; Col- 
lector, James Johnson ; Clerk, Thomas Walker. 

Manufactures. 

Eagle Paper Mills, H. J. Lawless & Co. — 
These mills were erected in 1844, by Messrs. Reed 
& Case, who sold the property to John F. Jones. In 
1875, the present firm was organized, and have since 
conducted the manufacture of Rag Wrapping Paper 
and Print Wrappers. The mills are located at Mar- 
cellus Falls, and are among the leading paper manu- 
facturing establishments in this section of the State. 

Lucius Moses, Woolen Mills, Marcellus. Estab- 
lished by William J. Machan and Chester Moses 
in 1849. Brick buildings erected in 1849, 1864 
and 1 87 1. The mills are run by waler-power, and 
have four sets of cards. The capital is g6o,ooo, 
and 75 hands are employed. Office 329 and 331 
Broadway, New York. 

Marcellus Stone Mills, S. M. Bronson, pro- 
prietor. These mills do both merchant and custom 
work. The first mill was built in 1827. The pres- 
ent mills have a capacity of about forty barrels per 
day, besides custom grinding, the business of the 
present proprietor dating from 1875. The water- 
power is a fine one. 

Sherman Bro's, Paper Mills, established in 
1865. Manufacture Straw Wrapping Paper. The 
mill is the first on the creek below Marcellus vil- 
lage, and employs nine hands. 

Marcellus Falls Flouring Mills, Rollin & 
Rathbon, proprietors. Built in 1875, with four 
run of stones, on the site of the old mill. These 
mills manufacture merchant and custom flour — 
capacity fifty barrels of the former per day, and 
four hands employed. 

Phoenix Paper Mill, A. Robinson, proprietor. 
Established in 1873. Capacity two tons per day. 
Straw Wrapping Paper. Buildings erected in 1872. 
This paper mill employs twelve hands. 

Edward Johnson, of Fayetteville, has a Pearl 
Barley Mill at Marcellus Falls. 

Masonic. 
Morning Star Lodge No. 524, Marcellus, N. Y., in- 
stituted in 1862. Charter officers, E. P. Howe, W. 
M. ; Henry C. Sarr, S. W. ; John E. North, J. W. 
Officers for 1878 : I. N. Sherman, W. M. ; R. E. 
Dorchester, S. W. ; Augustus Austin, J. W. ; Seth 
D. Gilbert, Sec. 



286 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Y. M. C. A— CHURCHES. 

In the month of June, 1876, seven young men of 
Marcellus met and started a Sunday afternoon 
prayer meeting in a room over Irving Moses' store. 
The meetings were regularly attended with gratify- 
ing success. The increase of their numbers and 
the good influences arising from their holy work in- 
duced them to organize themselves into a perma- 
nent body for the purpose of accomplishing greater 
results. Accordingly, a Young Men's Christian 
Association was formed, on the nth of February, 
1876, at the Session Room of the Presbyterian 
Church of Marcellus, with a membership of twenty- 
two persons. A constitution was adopted on the 
i8th of February, and a meeting appointed on the 
2 1 St of February for the election of ofTicers. At 
the annual meeting of the Association, February, 
7, 1877, there were forty-three active members. 

The work of the Association consists in holding 
gospel meetings, at difTerent places in the town, 
and in Sunday School work. A Sunday morning 
Prayer Meeting is held at 9:30 a. m., which is 
doing noble work. 

First Chukch of Makcellus. — This church 
has been from its organization Presbyterian in its 
ecclesiastical relations, and at the same time Con- 
gregational in its internal policy and arrangement, 
having for the management of its affairs a standing 
committee instead of a regular church session. Its 
membership has been made up of different denom- 
inations, but chiefly of Presbyterians and Congre- 
gationalists, who constituted the controlling religious 
element in the early settlement of Marcellus. 
There were a few Baptists and people of other 
reli{;ious proclivities among them ; but at the time 
of the first settlement, and for twenty years after- 
wards, they were sufficiently united practically to 
combine their strength and resources in providing 
for a common religious worship; and on the 13th 
of October, 1801, they formed a church under the 
simple yet comprehensive title, " Church of Christ." 
A society was also formed under the name and 
style of the " Trustees of the Eastern Religious 
Society of Marcellus " in May, 1802, of which Dan 
Bradley, Martin Cossit, James C. Miller, Martin 
Goddard, Thomas North and Nathaniel Kelsey 
were Trustees. 

Materials for a house of worship were set up at 
auction, and among the bidders were nearly all the 
inhabitants of the town at that lime. The edifice 
was completed in 1803, and was the first church 
building ifi the County of Onondaga. " By way of 
renown it was then remarked that it was the only 
meeting house between New Hartford, Oneida 



County, and the Pacific Ocean, which was literally 
the fact." 

Rev. Seth Williston was missionary here in 1800, 
and subsequently Rev. Caleb Alexander, who offi- 
ciated in organizing the society. 

Among the original members of the church were 
the following named persons : Thomas, Mary, 
Lucy, Asahel and Hannah North, Thomas North, 
Jr., Samuel and Hannah Rice, James C. and Sarah 
Miller, Martin and Olive Cossit, Dan and Eunice 
Bradley, Samuel and Phebe Wheadon, Caleb Todd, 
and Thomas Cathcart. 

Before the erection of the church edifice services 
were regularly held in Deacon Samuel Rice's 
tavern. At whatever inconvenience to themselves 
and to the throng of travelers stopping with them. 
Deacon and Mrs. Rice would have their large upper 
room made ready every Sabbath for the worship of 
God. And though the good Deacon could not 
write a sermon himself, he could read one with 
more eloquence of heart and voice than many a 
minister. 

James C. Miller was the first clerk, and served 
the church for five years. To show his frank and 
honest Christian character, we insert the following 
passage entire from his records : 

" Whereas, I did sometime in the month of April 
last suffer a few of the young people of my neigh- 
borhood to dance a short time at my house, which I 
now believe was, under existing circumstances, 
wrong and inconsistent with my engagement with 
this church ; I do therefore request my brethren 
charitably to believe that the offense was unpre- 
meditated, that it took place under circumstances 
not affording much opportunity for reflection, and 
that I had not the least intention to wound the feel- 
ings of any of my Christian friends, or to offend 
against the rules of the church. I now sincerely, 
and, I hope, humbly, confess that I have done 
wrong, have given occasion of offense to my breth- 
ren of this church and have dishonored my Chris- 
tian profession. I ask the forgiveness of this 
I church and all my Christian friends, and for the 
future will endeavor to be more circumspect in my 
walk. [Signed,] Jas. C. Millkk." 

Mr. Miller died in March, 1807, from an attack 
of typhus fever. 

Of the eighteen original members only three 
ever removed their connection with the church. 
One of these died under 50 years of age, four be- 
tween 60 and 70, and four over 80. Within the 
last seven years only ten members have died ; of 
these, eight were over 80 and one 73 years of age. 

Pastors. — Rev. Levi Parsons, the first pastor, 

was born in North Hampton, Mass, in 1779, and 

graduated at Williams College in 180 1. He studied 

I theology with Dr. Hyde, of Lee, Mass., and was 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



287 



licensed to preach at Stockbridge, Mass., in 1806. 
As Missionary of tiie Berkshire Missionary Society, 
he visited the new settlements westward as far as 
Niagara, and settled at Marcellus in September, 
1806. He was the second pastor in this whole 
region of country — Pompey having one (Rev. Mr. 
Wallace) a little earlier. He preached at Marcel- 
lus thirty-three years, except an interval of two 
years spent in Otisco. He died, widely known and 
respected, November 20, 1864, aged 85 years. 

While Father Parsons was preaching in Otisco, 
Rev. Levi Griswold supplied his place. 

The second settled pastor was Rev. John Tomp- 
kins, who served the church twenty-five years. 
What was to have been his quarter-centennial an- 
niversary was suddenly and mysteriously changed 
to his funeral service. 

His successor, Rev. W. S. Franklin, of Syracuse^ 
was pastor during a period of three years, and was 
succeeded by the present pastor. Rev. D wight 
Scovel, who is now (1878) in the seventh year of 
his pastorate. 

The original church edifice, erected in 1803, cost 
^1,500, including, perhaps, painting three years 
afterwards. In 1814 another bent was added and 
a steeple, and the house was newly painted at an ex- 
pense of ^4,500, raised by selling the pews. In 
1858, it was frescoed and painted ; and immediate- 
ly preceding the 75th anniversary, in October, 1876, 
it received a tin roof, was painted without and new- 
ly frescoed which, with a new pulpit and furni- 
ture and the liquidation of all debts, cost g 1,600. 

In 1845 the church numbered 162; in 1857, it 
was reduced by deaths and removals to 130; the 
revivals of i858-'59, increased the membership to 
170, the highest number ever attained. It fell 
afterwards to 144, and now (1878) numbers 149. 

The Sunday School was organized June 14, 1818, 
and soon numbered 146 scholars. It was among 
the first Sunday Schools in the United States, a 
few only having been previously formed in New 
England. From the first it was carried on with 
deep interest, especially in memorizing Scripture ; 
several scholars committed in one year 1,000 verses 
each, and Dr. FrankHn' Bangs 3,000. The present 
number of scholars is 178 ; teachers, 19. 

The church has furnished two missionaries to 
foreign countries, viz: Rev. Dan Bradley, Jr., for 
many years a missionary to Siam, and Rev. Geo. 
Todd, a returned missionary and now pastor at 
Arkport, N. Y. Also, as home ministers, Rev. 
Levi Parsons, D. D., son of the first pastor, settled 
at Mt. Morris, N. Y. ; Rev. J. Edward Close, of 
Jordan, and Rev. James S. Baker, of Onondaga. 



First Baptist Religious Society of Marcel- 
lus— Located at Thorn Hill. At the time the 
church was organized it was called South Marcellus. 
The date of organization was September i, 1815, at 
which loi members constituted the Society. John 
Kneeland and Nathan Thompson, Deacons. Among 
the leading members were Samuel Conklin, Amasa 
Kneeland, Daniel Cody, Joshua Chandler, Amasa 
Sissons, Luther Manley, Salmon Hunt, John Hunt 
and David Fitzgerald. The first meeting-house 
was built in 18 16, and stood a few rods southwest 
of the present edifice. The present edifice was 
completed in 1849— cost about ;5i,500. The fol- 
lowing have been pastors of the church : Rev. 
Elias Harman, i8o8-'i6; Rev. Salmon Morton, 
i8i6-'i9; Rev. J. B. Worden, i8io-'35 ; Rev. B. 
W. Capron, i835-'40 ; Rev. Thos. Brown, i840-'48 ; 
Rev. — Palmer, i848-'5o; Rev. Sylvester Gard- 
ner, i850-'5i ; Rev. William Wilkins, iS5i-'52; 
Rev. J. Baldwin, i853-'54 ; Rev. A. Milen, i855-'56 ; 
Rev. Hiram'Powers, i856-'59 ; Rev. Mr. Bowen, 
one month — died here, 1859 ! Rev. J. Suley, 
i8S9-'6o; Rev. Wm. Roney, i86o-'64 ; Rev. E. 
B. Hatch, i864-'69; Rev. Wm. L. Goodspeed, 
i870-'74 ; Rev. Wm. Haw, i874-'76 ; Rev. P, Perry, 
1877, present pastor. 

Membership, 94 ; Sunday School, 112. 

First Methodist Episcopal Church, Mar- 
cellus. — The earliest meetings were held in a 
school-house in Marcellus ; afterwards, in the year 
1816, in the house of Mr. David Holmes. The 
Society was not organized into a corporate body till 
Dec. 8, 1823, at the house of Stephen Cobb. The 
first class was formed in 1816 with sixteen mem- 
bers. The following persons were members of that 
class : David Holmes and wife, Temperance Holmes, 
Matilda Holmes, Susan Holmes, Thomas Pryor and 
wife, Joseph Gilson, Isaac B. Benham and wife, 
Polly Shepherd, Silas Bush and wife, John Rhoades 
and wife, and a Mrs. Hawley. The first church 
was built of stone, on the hill west of the village, 
the place now occupied by the Catholic Church as 
a cemetery. The second church was built of stone 
on the spot now occupied as a residence by Dr. 
Richards. The third church edifice was built of 
brick, in the year 1857, on the site of the present 
church. This edifice was burned January 25, 1877, 
and the present new and beautiful church was built 
the same year the former was destroyed by fire, at a 
cost of about $ri,ooo, the stone of the old church 
forming the basement. This Society has been con- 
tinuously served by good and devoted pastors 
From 187s to 1878, Rev. Wm. Jones was pastor. 

The present membership is about 200. Sunday 



288 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



School has a membership of 150. Several mem- 
bers of this church have gone forth as ministers of 
the Gospel. 

This Church was organized in 1823, under the 
name of " First Zion Society of Marcellus," while 
its members were Methodists, and the Society con- 
tinued to regard itself — and was regarded by others 
— as a Methodist Church. 

The name of the corporation was changed in 
September, 1877, on application to Judge Riegel, 
from " The First Zion Society of Marcellus," to 
" The First Methodist Episcopal Church." 

St. Francis Xavier's Church, Marcellus. — 
In the year 1853, the first services of the Catholic 
Church in Marcellus, were held at the house of John 
McNally. The church was organized in 1854, and 
consisted of about twenty members, among whom 
were John McNally, John Glover, Patrick Mc 
Laughlin, John Kerwin, Michael Curtin, John Mc 
DonncU, Jeremiah Curtin and James McNally. 

In 1853, Rev. Michael Haes, of Syracuse, was 
pastor. The following have since officiated : Rev. 
Wm. McCallian, 1S54; Rev. Father Hutler, Syra- 
cuse, 1862 ; Rev. F. J. Purcell, Skaneateles, 1873 ; 
Rev. J. J. Hayden, re.sident pastor, 1874 ; Rev. B. 
J. McDonough, present pastor, (1878 ) 

The number of families is about one hundred and 
fifty, with an attendance of one hundred at the 
Sunday School. 

The pastoral residence was purchased in 1873. 
The church from the first has experienced an en- 
couraging and prosperous growth. 

St. John's Church of Marcellus. — The facts 
contained in the following brief sketch of this 
church, have been kindly furnished by Mr. John 
H. Lloyd, present assistant in charge. 

This church was organized in the year 1824. 
Meetings were regularly held in the school house 
of the village of Marcellus until 1827, when Mr. 
White generously gave the society the lot upon 
which the present church building stands. The 



church was unfortunately burned down in the 
winter of 1867. Up to the year 1836. the society 
had no resident clergymen, but was in charge of St. 
James Church of Skaneateles. 

The present church edifice was built under the 
charge of Rev. Robert M. Duff, Rector of St. James 
Church at Skaneateles, at a cost of $3,300 It is a 
plain wooden structure capable of seating comfort- 
ably about 250 persons, and has a fine organ valued 
at $f<Xi. The church is under the charge of St. 
Andrew's Associate Mission of Syracuse ; Rev. C. 
P. Jennings, Dean of St. Andrews, Rector ; Mr. 
John H. Lloyd, assistant in charge. 

The present church officers are, viz : S. W., 
Newton G. Case; J. W., Lucius Moses ; Vestry- 
men, Orlando Beach, Myron H. Whiting, Dan Moses, 
Storms M. Griffin, Willis Case, Thad. C. Beach, 
James C. Sayre and Kdwin Whitney. The church 
numbers forty families, forty communicants, Sunday 
School scholars, thirty-four ; teachers, six. 

In connection with the history of the churches 
of Marcellus, we append the following brief sketch 
of the Methodist Chapel at Marcellus F"alls. 

The first Methodist class of the town of Mar- 
cellus was organized at Marcellus F'alls. When 
the subject of building a church was agitated, the 
members at Marcellus Falls claimed that it should 
be located at Marcellus Falls, but the members 
residing at the village maintained that it ought to 
be built at Marcellus, because of its more central 
location. For some time there has not been a 
regular class. Services have, however, been held 
by the Methodist and Presbyterian ministers who 
preached alternately at least once a fortnight. A 
Sunday School and a prayer meeting have been 
regularly held and supported by the members of 
both Methodist and Presbyterian churches. A 
ladies sewing circle keeps in repair the commodious 
chapel and furnishes books for the Sunday School 
library and the choir, for which they have recently 
purchased a fine cabinet organ. 



SKANEATELES. 



Skaneateles is the southern town on the west line 
of the county, and derives its name from the lake 
on both banks of which the southern portion of the 
town is situated. This lake is a beautiful sheet of 
water, extending from the northwestern corner of 
Cortland county, along the entire western boundary 
of the town of Spaflford, and north to the center of 



the town of Skaneateles. Its Indian name, according 
to some, signified " very long lake," according to 
others, " beautiful squaw." The outlet was called 
" Hananttoo," meaning " water running through 
thick hemlocks." 

The town of Skaneateles was formed from Mar- 
cellus February 26, 1830. The surface is rolling 




rhoto, by Wildey, Skaneatelcs. 



JUDGE HEZEKIAH EARLL. 



The Earll family is of Welsh origin. The Earlls emigrated 
from Wales to Nova Scotia at quite an early day ; from thence 
were scattered in the different parts of New England, and in the 
eastern part of New York State, near Lake Champlain. 

Daniel Earll came from Whitehall, Washington county, and 
settled at Onondaga Hollow in the year 1792. He had eight 
sons, hardy, enterprising men, who settled in different parts 
of the county, and became a powerful family in their many 
branches. The Earlls were generally farmers, owning consider- 
able land. 

In the winter of 1794-5, Robert Earll and his brother, Abijah, 
came and settled on Lot 27, near Skaneateles. They did a good 
deal at a very early day for the opening of this region. 

Robert Earll probably had a school opened before any in the 
village. He built at first a log house, but afterwards, though 
still at a very early day, the land-mark long known as the old 
" Red House." This was on the old Genesee road. It was by 
this road that a pathway was first opened to Skaneateles, and 
by it the earlier settlers came. 

Daniel Earll, Sr., remained in the town of Onondaga until 
1810, and after that lived near his sons Robert and Abijah 
until his death, which occurred in 1817, at the advanced age of 
eighty-eight years. Robert Earll had six sons, one of whom, 
Hezekiah, is the subject of the above sketch. 

Hezekiah Earll was born about the year 1790. He has 
identified himself with the history of Onondaga County as 
one of its most successful business men. He was universally 
respected and beloved for his moral worth, manly virtues, and 
integrity of character. He engaged in many business enter- 
prises, though his principal occupation was farming. The latter 
years of his life he resided at the " Community Farm," about 
three miles from Skaneateles, where he died October 30, 1863. 



He was for some years connected with the Auburn Exchange 
bank, and was at one time its president. 

Judge Nehemiah H. Earll, eldest brother of Hezekiah Earll, 
has occupied several important stations in the official history of 
the county. Judge of Onondaga County common pleas from 
1823 to 1831, superintendent of Salt Springs from 1831 to 
1835, and member of the Twenty-sixth congress, 1841 and 1842. 

Hezekiah Earll had seven children, three of whom died in 
infancy. His son, George H. Earll, at the death of his father 
inherited the homestead known as the " Community Farm," and 
was an enterprising and successful farmer. He died in 1873. 

Julius Earll, eldest son of Hezekiah Earll, was born in the 
town of Skaneateles in 1818. In his youth he received a 
thorough academic education, and subsequently studied law in 
the office of Sandford & Moseley, and afterwards with Sherwood 
& Green, in Buffalo, and was admitted to the bar in due course 
of time. Instead of pursuing the practice of law he entered 
into the manufacturing business and was prominently identi- 
fied with that and other business interests which were uniformly 
successful. His life was a remarkably busy one. Strong 
common sense and unfaltering energy were his marked charac- 
teristics. He was a true and substantial friend to the working- 
men of Skaneateles and vicinity. Mr. Earll was also promi- 
nently identified with political affairs in Onondaga County. 
In politics he was a pronounced Democrat. He several times 
represented his district in State conventions, but never con- 
sented to accept a political office. At the time of his death he 
was president and principal stockholder of the Hart street 
paper company. He died, July 26, 1876, while still in middle 
age and in the midst of an active and prosperous life. 

He left a widow, a son, and daughter, who still reside in Skan- 
eateles, his sou being Julius H. Earll, of that place. 





MffS.A J.f^RLL 




RESIDENCE Of A . J. CARLL . 5«ANt*:u 




A.J. Earll. 




ONDAGA County. Nev* York. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



289 



or moderately hilly, and from the lake slopes beau- 
tifully upwards to a height from two to five hundred 
feet, affording, on both borders, some of the most 
beautiful sites for residences in the State, many of 
which are occupied by fine cottages and villas. 
The soil is principally a clay loam. The only stream 
in the town is the outlet of the lake, which has upon 
it numerous falls, furnishing an abundance of water- 
power. In 1840, a part of Spafford was annexed to 
this town. 

The State has constructed a dam across the out- 
let of the Lake for the purpose of retaining the 
water for the Jordan level of the Erie Canal. This 
forms a vast reservoir, eighteen miles long by from 
one to two miles broad and four feet deep, from 
which to draw during the dry season. Formerly, 
before the State improvements on the limestone bed 
of the stream, some three miles north of the village, 
in dry seasons, fully one half of the water used to 
disappear in the fissures of the rocks. In order to 
save the water the State has expended large sums of 
money. The channel has been turned and the 
bottom chinked with small stone, clay and grout, so 
that, since this was done, there has been but little 
waste. The lake is the highest in the county, some 
two hundred feet higher than Otisco and one hun- 
dred higher than Owasco, on either side of it. It 
is situated among the shale above the limestone 
stratum, and is mainly fed by springs which are not 
impregnated with lime : hence the water is pure, 
soft and limpid, and has been highly valued by manu- 
facturers for washing and cleansing wool and other 
manufacturing materials. 

Early Settlers. 

According to Clark's Onondaga, the settlers in 
this town came in as follows : John Thompson, the 
first white man, with his family, within the present 
limits of the town, in 1793 ; a Mr. Robinson in 
1794; from this till 1796, Lovell Gibbs, Jonathan 
Hall and Winston Day. Mr. Gibbs kept the first 
tavern in a log house. In 1797, and soon after, 
came Warren Hecox, James Porter, Dr. Munger, 
Dr. Samuel Porter, Elnathan Andrews, John Legg, 
Moses Loss, John Briggs, Nathan Kelsey, Wm. 
J. Vredenburg, Isaac Sherwood and Dr. Benedict. 
Then came the Kelloggs and Earlls, from 1802 to 
i8io. 

Daniel Earll, with his brother Nehemiah, came 
from Washington County and settled at Onondaga 
Hollow, in 1792. Nehemiah, who had one daugh- 
ter, died in 1808. Daniel Earll had the following 
named sons, viz : Jonas, Daniel, Nathaniel, Robert, 
Benjamin, Watson, Nehemiah and Abijah. The 
two youngest, Nehemiah and Abijah, came to Onon- 



daga with their father. Robert and Benjamin 
removed with their families to Onondaga in the 
winter of 1794-5, and remained there about a year. 
Afterwards, Robert, Benjamin, Watson and Abijah 
removed to Marcellus ; Robert and Abijah settled 
on Lot No. 27, and the other two on Lot No. 11, 
in the same town. 

In 1802, Jonas Earll came from Washington 
County and settled on Lot No. 19, Marcellus. He 
had three sons — Solomon, Jonas, Jr., and David. 
Solomon died many years ago. Jonas, Jr., died in 
October, 1846, and Jonas, Sen,, in October, 1847, 
at the advanced age of 96. Jonas Earll, Jr., was 
one of the leading political men of the county for 
more than twenty years, and held many important 
ofifices of trust. He was a member of Assembly 
in 1820 and 1821, and Senator from 1822 to 1827, 
a member of the XXth and XXIst Congresses, from 
1826 to 1830, for several years Sheriff of the 
County and Postmaster at Syracuse from 1837 to 
1841. 

Robert Earll had six sons, viz : Isaac, Robert, 
Nehemiah H., Hezekiah, Hiram and Ira. Robert, 
Sen., died in 1834, and his son Ira about the same 
time. The other sons remained residents of the 
county, except Robert Jr, who removed to Wyom- 
ing county. Judge Nehemiah H. Earll occupied 
several important stations in the official history of 
the county. He was Judge of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas from 1823 to 1831 ; Superintendent of 
the Salt Springs from 1831 to 1835, and Member 
of the XXVIth Congress, in 1841 and 1842. 

Daniel Earll, Sen., remained in the town of On- 
ondaga till 1810, when he removed to Marcellus 
(now Skaneateles) and lived near his sons Robert 
and Abijah until his death, which occurred in 1817, 
aged 88. This numerous and influential family 
were of Massachusetts origin. 

Charles Pardee is said to have been the first 
white child born in the town of Skaneateles. He 
died at his residence in the village of Skaneateles, 
April 10, 1878, aged 82 years, which would make 
his birth to have occurred in 1796. He was a 
prominent man, and during his active business life 
was thoroughly identified with nearly every interest 
of his native town. 

One of the most distinguished citizens of the 
county, viz : Daniel Kellogg, Esq., became a resi- 
dent of Skaneateles in the spring of 1803. He was 
born in Williamstown, Mass., April 19, 1780. 
After spending two years as a student in Williams 
College, he studied law in the office of Abraham 
Van Vechten, Esq , of Albany, and was admitted 
to the Bar in October, iSoo. In 1801, he began 



290 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



the practice of law in the village of Auburn, then 
a hamlet of only a few scattering houses. In 1802 
he married in that place Miss Laura Hyde, and in 
1803, removed to Skaneateles. He soon became 
famous both as a lawyer and financier. In 1813 
he was appointed District-Attorney for the counties 
of Onondaga. Cayuga, Chenango and Cortland, and 
discharged the duties of the office with signal 
ability for three years. Elected President of the 
Hank of Auburn in 1818. he held that important 
financial station till his death, which occurred May 
4, 1836. Cut off in the full vigor of his mental 
powers, when many years of active usefulness 
might have reasonably been anticipated, his death 
was regarded as a public calamity, especially by 
business men who knew and could appreciate his 
worth. 

PlONEEK LiFK. 

The primitive settlers of Skaneateles often found 
the means of subsistence scanty and precarious. 
Provisions were obtained chiefly from the towns of 
Aurelius and Scipio, which had been settled some- 
what earlier, and were then in Onondaga county. 
The following from Clark's Onondaga, was related 
by Warren Hecox, one of the oldest settlers : 

" In 1799, there was an uncommon scarcity of 
grain, and he had to send to Scipio. twenty miles, 
and pay two dollars and fifty cents for one bushel of 
wheat. He could only raise money enough to pur- 
chase a single bushel at a time. He hired a horse at 
fifty cents a day. and sent a boy eighteen miles to 
Montville. in Sempronius, to get the bushel ground, 
which took two days ; the mills at Auburn and 
Camillus having stopped running on account of the 
great drought of that season. Many of his neigh- 
bors were in a worse predicament, for they could 
get neither money nor wheat." 

After the early settlers had prospered, so as to 
raise a surplus, the markets for produce were at 
Albany and Utica. It took a horse team in those 
times fourteen days, and often longer, to make a 
journey to Albany and back ; an o.\ team about the 
same length of time to go to Utica and return, taking 
a load of grain or potash, and bringing back a load 
of goods. 

The lake and forests, however, were well supplied 
with fish and game. Skaneateles Lake has been 
noted for its abundance of excellent trout, some of 
which have been taken weighing fifteen pounds. 
Perch have also been caught m considerable num- 
bers. Formerly the region around the lake and the 
river abounded with game. Deer were often seen 
swimming across the lake and canoes and skiffs of 
all sorts were put in requisition to capture them ; 
all hands joined in the chase, and the pleasurable 
reminscences of the sport are often recounted by 



the early settlers and their immediate descendants. 
Hon. Freeborn G. Jewett was a prominent citizen 
of Skaneateles— Judge of the Court of Appeals 
and of the old Supreme Court of Judicature. (See 
Civil List of the County. > Judge Jewett was born 
August 4, 1791. and died January 27, 1858. 

VILLAGE OF SKANEATELES. 

The first frame house where the village of Skan- 
eateles now stands was erected by Lovell Gibbs in 
1796. Dr. Hall erected the second during the 
same year. In 1797. James Porter erected a large 
tavern, the first in the place. The timber in this 
house is noted as having been in the first raft ever 
afloat on Skaneateles Lake. The first store was 
kept by Wmston Day, who, in 1797, erected a com- 
modeous building for the purpose, and was set up 
in trade by Judge Sanger. The Judge had invested 
money in land and mill sites at the outlet of 
Skaneateles Lake, and as one of the Commissioners 
to lay out the Seneca Turnpike, secured its passage 
across the outlet where the village is now situated. 
It followed an old Indian trail, crossing at the 
village, along which the Oneidas and Onondagas 
used to pass in visiting their Cayuga and Seneca 
friends. At the time of the first settlements this 
was the only road in the town. The old Genesee 
Road was first cut out and traveled a mile and a 
quarter north of the village. 

Judge Jedcdiah Sanger erected the first grist and 
saw mills at the outlet of the lake in 1796. The 
first bridge was built by the Seneca Road Company 
in 1800. It was twenty-four rods long by twenty- 
four feet wide, and stood upon fourteen posts. 
When it was rebuilt the second time, in 1842, its 
length was reduced to twenty-four feet. The iron 
bridge spanning the outlet at present, was erected 
by the State in 1871, by a special act of the Legis- 
lature. It is a fine structure, too feet in width. 

The first frame school house in town was erected 
at Skaneateles Village in 1798. Nicholas Otis was 
the first teacher. A school had been kept in a 
private room in the village before the house was 
built, by Ebenezer Castle. 

A postoffice was first established at Skaneateles 
in 1804. William J. Vredcnburg, Postmaster. His 
successor was John TenEyck; and Charles J. Bur- 
nett was Postmaster from 1817 to 1843. 

A steamboat was first put upon Skaneateles Lake 
in 1831. It failed to meet expectations and after a 
while was converted into a sail-boat. The experi- 
ment was again tried, (and has proved more suc- 
cessful) when the " Skaneateles," a neat and com- 
modious steamboat, commanded by Captain Hecox, 



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; : 1 1 I I I I i I I I I ( < I 




V/£w OF DAFVLL MILLS PROPiRlY of THOMAS 




IN , AT Skaheatcus Falls, Onondaga County, Wew York. 





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Urs D CThohntoh 



DC THomroH 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



291 



was put on July 4, 1848. The propeller, "Glen 
Haven," Captain E. B. Coe, now plies upon the 
lake between Skaneateles and Glen Haven. 

Scenery. 

The Village of Skaneateles is one of the most 
lovely and picturesque in Central New York. 
From this village the eye measures about half the 
distance of the lake to the south, a mile and a 
half in width. On the shores are no bogs or 
marshes to disfigure the prospect. The rich velvet 
turf of the gradually sloping banks of the lake 
seem to be resting on the water's brink. Villas 
and lawns give a charm enhanced by distance; and 
the woodlands, clothed in richest green, rock and 
rustle their foliage in the wind. In autumn the 
golden grain of the cultivated fields waves in the 
breeze ; the flocks and herds graze in the lu.xuriant 
pastures, and the light bark glides gracefully over 
the sweet bosom of the water. The rural scenery 
is not more wholesome and inviting than the village 
itself, which the hand of man has adorned with 
every element of neatness and taste. Cottages, 
mansions, gardens, fences, business places, churches, 
school houses, manufactories, are all kept from 
dilapidation and preserved in a fresh and healthy 
state of repair. It would be difficult to find a 
more desirable village to live in than Skaneateles. 

An Academy was established at Skaneateles in 
1840. It seems never to have been incorporated, 
and was subsequently merged in a consolidated 
school. 

The school established by the Quakeress, Lydia 
Mott, on the western shore of the lake, popularly 
known as " The Hive" was a very celebrated board- 
ing school for young ladies in its day. 

The village of Skaneateles was incorporated by 
special act of the Legislature passed April 19, 1833. 
The first election for officers was held at the " Indian 
Queen Hotel," kept by Isaac W. Perry, on the 
second Tuesday in May, 1833, when the following 
Board of Trustees was elected : Freeborn G. Jewett, 
President ; Daniel Tallcot, Phares Gould, William 
Gibbs and Lewis Sandford. The following named 
have since served as Presidents of the Board of 
Village Trustees : 

Daniel Kellogg, 1834 ; Freeborn G. Jewett, 1835 ; 
Phares Gould, 1836; George F. Leitch, i837-'38; 
James Hall, 1839; G. F. Leitch, 1840; Nelson 
Hawley, 1841 ; James Hall, 1842 ; John C. Beach, 
1843; Spencer Hannum, 1844; Nelson Hawley, 
1845-46 ; Alexander Horton, 1847 ; William H. 
Willets, 1848 ; Wm. H. Jewett, 1849 ! John Davey, 
Jr., 1850; Charles Pardee, i85i-'52,-'53 ; William 



Fuller, 1854; John Legg, 1855 ; John Barrow, 
1856 ; Freeborn G. Jewett, 1857 ; Thomas Snook, 
1858 ; Spencer Hannum, 1859 ; C. W. Allis, i860 ; 
Harrison B. Dodge, 1861-62 ; Charles Pardee, 
1863; Joel Thayer, 1864-65; Wm. R. Gorton, 
1866; Newell Turner, 1867; Jacob C. DeWitt, 
1868 ; C. Pardee, 1869; H. B. Dodge, 1870; James 
A. Root, 1871 ; C. Pardee, 1872; Thomas Kelley, 
1 873-74-75 ; William Marvin, 1876 ; Thomas 
Kelley, 1877; Thomas Kelley, Wm. H. Lawton, 
John Packwood, James Jewell, John E. Waller, 
Simon L. Irish, Russell B. Wheeler, Trustees, 1878. 
Clerk, James P. Wheadon. Treasurer, John Davey. 

Skaneateles has three Banks, viz : The Bank of 
Skaneateles, organized under the banking law of 
the State in i86g ; capital $100,000 ; Joel Thayer, 
President ; H. T. Webb, Cashier ; the Skaneateles 
Savings Bank, incorporated April 16, 1866, with 
the following officers, viz : Richard Tallcot, Anson 
Lapham, Charles Pardee, Joel Thayer, Henry L. 
Roosevelt, Caleb W. Allis, John Barrow, Josias 
Garlock, Henry T. Webb, Henry I. Hubbard, Thos. 
Isom,Jr. , Leonard H. Earll, Ezekiel B. Hoyt, Geo. 
H. Earll, Joab L. Clift. Its present officers are : 
J. L. Clift, President; John M. Nye, first Vice- 
President ; John H. Smith, second Vice-President ; 
Charles Pardee, George T. Campbell, George W. 
Earll, Willis Piatt, J. C. DeWitt, L. H. Earll, I. S. 
Amerman, John H. Gregory, A. R. Pardee, W. B. 
Lawton. J. Garlock, Secretary and Treasurer ; 
and the Private Banking House of C. Pardee & Co. 

The village has two Hotels — the Packwood House 
and the Lake View. The Packwood is kept by T. 
A. & E. A. Andrews. Built by Mr. John Pack- 
wood in 1872, at a cost, including building and 
furniture, of $20,000. Both are good hotels and 
well kept. 

John P.^ckwood, Carriage Manufacturer. Busi- 
ness established in 1855. The building occupied 
at present was built in 1865. The especial feature 
of the shops is fine carriages and sleighs. The 
works are located on Genesee street, and employ 
twenty-five hands. 

Union Free School. 

The Skaneateles Union Free School, with Aca- 
demic Department, was organized in 1866. The 
building, occupying the old Academy site, was 
erected in 1855, and enlarged by an addition on the 
north, in 1871. The present value of the property 
is g 1 2,000. The school has four departments, six 
teachers, and an attendance of about two hundred 
and fifty pupils. The Library contains about 1,000 
volumes. 



292 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Principals: M. H. Slee. i866-'69; William C. 
IJowcn, i86y-'74; F. H. Hodgson, i874-'75 = -"^ 
M Wright, present Principal, since 1875. 

The Academy, since merged in the above school, 
was established in 1S40. 

Farmers' Clud. 

The Farmers' Club of Skaneateles was organized 
in 1855, for the purpose of furthering the interests 
of agriculture, horticulture. &c., with forty-five 
members. 

In 1836, the prominent agriculturalists organized 
a society for the purpose of holding annual fairs for 
the disposal of stock, &c , and also for monthly mar- 
kets. The last Town Fair under their auspices 
was held in 1840, from which time the organization 
declined, and in 1855 was merged in the present 
farmers' club. The first officers 1 1855 > were Wm. 
M. Beauchamp, Secretary, and Peter Whittlesey, 
Treasurer. Managers of the first Annual Fair — 
Chester Moses, President ; Lewis W. Cleveland, 
Peter Whittlesey, Wm. P. Giles, S. Porter Rhoades 
and William J. Townsend, Directors. 

Present officers ( 18781: J. Horatio Earil, Presi- 
dent ; Frank E. Austin, first Vice-President ; E. 
H. Adams, second Vice-President : Martin C. Dc- 
Witt. Treasurer ; Wills Ciift, Secretary. 

M.-VSONIC. 

Charles H. Piatt, Chapter No. 247. A. F. & A. 
M. — First meeting under dispensation, Decem- 
ber 10, 1869. Lodge formed with nine original 
members. Officers — Henry J. Hubbard, H. P.; 
George W. Barnes, K.; John H. Gregory, S.; E. 
W. Harvey, Secretary. Present membership, fifty- 
two. Officers, 1878— G. W. Earll. H. P.; D. S. 
Dillingham. K.; J. Shallish, S.; W. A. Dwinwell. 
Secretary. 

Skaneateles Lodge No. 522, F. & A. AL— Pres- 
ent charter obtained June 12, 1862. Officers of 
that date : John H. Gregory, W. M.; Willigm F. 
Gregory, S. W.; George H. Williamson, J. W. 
Officers, 1878— George B. Harwood, W. M.; Wm. 
F. Gregory, S. W.; M. M. Livingston, J W. 
Numbers at present about ninety. 

Churches. 

St. James Church, Skaneateles.— The first 
church families who settled in Skaneateles and the 
immediate vicinity, were Gen. Robert Earll, in 1796, 
Jonathan Booth, in 1801. Wm. J. Vredenburg, in 
1803. Charles J. Burnett, in 1803. During these 
latter years. Rev. Davenport Phelps, a noble 
missionary of the church visited Auburn and officia 
ted there. It is also believed he visited Skaneateles. 



The first remembered services were held in the house 
now occupied by Mrs. Burnett, in 1803, and at the 
"Red House," residence of Gen. Robert Earll, 
during the same and the following years. Afterwards 
also in a small wooden building situated where this 
church now stands. One half of this building was 
used for the first postoffice, and the other half was 
used and fitted for church purposes. Mr. Charles J. 
Burnett, W. J. Vredenburg, John S. Furman and 
a Mr. Letherland, here read the services. St. 
Peter's Church in Auburn, was organized in 1808, 
and the Rev. Davenport Phelps became the rector. 
The church building there was consecrated in 1812, 
on the 22d day of August, by the saintly Bishop 
Hobart. Mr. Vredenburg was one of the wardens 
of that church, and Jonathan Booth a vestryman. 
The church people here very generally attended 
church service in Auburn. Rev. Davenport 
Phelps, while rector of St. Peter's, frequently came 
here and officiated. His first service was held in 
the upper hall of the Vredenburg mansion, since 
known as the Kellogg house, Seats being arranged 
for the people who very generally attended the ser- 
vices. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett received their first 
communion in this house, from the hands of the 
Rev. Davenport Phelps, in 1809. He also baptized 
their first child. Mr. Vredenburg died in [813. 

Services were held more or less regularly by lay 
readers, or an occasional missionary visitor— among 
the latter the Rev. W. A. Clarke, who followed Mr. 
Phelps as rector of St. Peter's Church, Auburn — 
until the year 1816, when the first zcritUii record of 
the life of this parish appears. This is the act of 
incorporation of St. James' Parish, Skaneateles, 
attested by Mr. John TenEyck, one of the Judges 
of the Court of Common Pleas, bearing date Jan. 
4, 1816. At this same meeting of the incorpora- 
tors and others, the Rev. Wm. A. Clarke presided, 
and Jonathan Booth and Charles J. Ikirnett were 
elected wardens, and Edward G. Ludlow, John W. 
Livingston, Zalmon Booth, Stephen Horton, John 
Pierson, John How, Samuel Francis and William 
Gibbs were chosen vestrymen. Rev. William A. 
Clarke was ordained in 1812. He resigned St. 
Peter's Church in 1814. 

In 1 8 16, an attempt was made to build a church, 
a conditional subscription being raised for that pur- 
pose. But as only 51,500 of the $2,oco required, 
was raised, the enterprise fell through and the 
organization was abandoned, although lay reading 
and occasional visits from clergymen were continued 
with more or less regularity. 

On the 19th day of April, 1824, the parish was 
reorganized under the same name, and the organiza- 




k'lnW or IHOMAS MORTONS MiLLi.*: VT 





-£. Onondag,4 County. New York. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



293 



tion was attested by Levi Mason, of the Court of 
Common Pleas, and R. L. Hess, Clerk of the same 
Court. At the same time the following gentlemen 
were elected officers of the society : Wardens, 
Jonathan Booth and C. J. Burnett ; Vestrymen, 
William Gibbs, John Daniels, Stephen Horton, 
John Pierson, Charles Pardee, J. W. Livingston, 
Samuel Francis, Elijah P. Rust. The meeting for 
the election of these persons was presided over by 
Rev. Augustus L. Converse, of whose after history 
we can learn nothing. 

Another blank follows until the 27th day of 
March, 1826, when a meeting of the congregation 
was held, at which the Rev. Amos Pardee presided. 
The same vestry was elected with the exception of 
John Daniels, who was replaced by Mr. John S. 
Furman. The following year, 1827, the Rev. Amos 
Pardee was still officiating, and the name of James 
M. Allen appears among the Vestrymen. 

Although there is no mention made in the pro- 
ceedings of either of the last mentioned meetings, 
of the project of building a church, yet we find a 
paper bearing date August 3d, 1827, which is a 
contract between the Wardens and Vestry of St. 
James Church, and Enos P. Root, in which Mr. 
Root agrees to build the church and make it ready 
for occupancy. Of the same date there is also a 
a subscription paper, on which is subscribed the 
sum of $2,sgs. Mr. Burnett and Mr. Gibbs were 
this year the Wardens, and Mr. Butler S. Wolcott's 
name appears among the Vestrymen. 

In the report of the Rev. Amos Pardee to 
the Convention of the Diocese, held in Trinity 
Church, New York City, October 17, 1827, appears 
the following : 

" In Skaneateles the past year our members 
have increased, and our prospects are very much 
improved. A church was commenced in the last 
summer, and is now nearly or quite inclosed." 

On the 2Sth day of January of the following 
year, (1828,) the Rev. Algernon S. Hollister was 
called to officiate as Rector for one year from the 
following Easter, and Timothy Baker and Augustus 
Kellogg were elected on the Vestry ; and the fol- 
lowing from Bishop Hobart's address to the con- 
vention of 1828, held in Trinity Church, New 
York, October 16th and 17th, shows at what date 
the church was consecrated : 

" On Tuesday, the 23d of September I conse- 
crated the church at Skaneateles, where a small 
congregation has for several years been kept to- 
gether, and at last by extraordinary exertions have 
erected a neat edifice for worship." 

On the 26th of May, 1834, the old parsonage and 
grounds were purchased of Mr. Lucas and an addi- 

43 



tional strip of land from Alanson Edwards. Under 
the same date the thanks of the Vestry are ten- 
dered to the " Circle of Industry " for the donation 
of ;gioo towards the purchase of a parsonage. 

In August, 1S45, the necessity for the enlarge- 
ment of the church was first discussed by the Ves- 
try, indicating very clearly the growth of the parish. 
The old parsonage was sold in March, 1846, and 
with the proceeds, $100 from Bishop DeLancy, ^300 
from Trinity Corporation, New York, and the pro- 
ceeds of a subscription, the building was enlarged 
and improved in 1847. 

In May, 1853, a lot and house adjoining the 
church were purchased of Mr. Vovvles, and in the 
following month the house was improved and ar- 
ranged for a parochial school. 

In February, 1854, the Ladies' Society saved the 
School House from sale under foreclosure of mort- 
gage by paying through the Treasurer, Miss Har- 
riet T. Gibbs, the sum of ;$I50, for which the Ves- 
try returned a sincere vote of thanks. 

The corner stone of the present St. James 
Church, Skaneateles, was laid by the Bishop on the 
30th of May, 1873, and was consecrated January 
6th, 1874. 

Clergyme7i — Rev. Augustus Converse, 1824; 
Rev. Amos Pardee, i825-'27 ; Rev. Algernon S. 
Hollister, 1828-31 ; Rev. Joseph T. Clarke, 1832- 
'44, (died on the Island of Jamaica, July, 1845); 
Rev. Charles Seymour, March 3, 1845 to June 16, 
185 1 ; Rev. A. C. Patterson, July 1851 to Octo- 
ber, 1858; Rev. Mr. Page, 185810 i860; Rev. E. 
Moyses, October, i860 to November, 1866; Rev. 
R. M. Duff, May, 1867 to September i, 1872 ; Rev. 
Thomas Smith, September i, 1872 to July 17, 
1874. 

Rev. John A. Staunton, the present Rector, be- 
gan his ministry in the parish, October i, 1874. 

The following have been among the prominent 
members. Wardens and Vestrymen of St. James 
Parish : 

Messrs. Dyer Brainard, J. G. Porter, Dr. E. H. 
Porter, Thomas Yates, L. Bartlett, W. M. Beau- 
champ, J. Snook, Jr., N. J. Roosevelt, Ransom 
Crosby, Justin Redfield, D. T. Mosely, R. I. Baker, 
E. N. Leslie, W. H. Jewett, D. W. Hall, F. W. 
Stotwell, H. Q. Knight, John Humphreys, E. B. 
Coe, C. W. "Xbeel, H. J. Hubbard, and others, 
Vestrymen. N. J. Roosevelt, Samuel Francis, W. 
M. Beauchamp, E. B. Marshall, and others, 
Wardens. Present Wardens— William Marion, E. 
Reuel Smith. 

Statistics— Yz.m\\\&s, 150; communicants, 191; 
Sunday School scholars, 125 ; contributions for all 



294 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



purposes for the year ending June i, 1877, $3,679- 
99 ; value of church property, $30,000 ; rectory, 

$4,500- 

Pkesbvterian Church of Skaneateles — 
The first settlements in the village of Skan- 
eateles were made in March. 1796. Five years 
from its settlement it contained about one hundred 
buildings of difTercnt kinds, when, on the 20th of 
July, 1801. the first church in the village — bearing 
the name of " The First Congregational Church of 
Marcellus " — was organized by the Rev. Aaron 
Hascom. The Articles of Faith and Covenant 
were subscribed to by Joshua Cook, Solomon 
Edwards, Simeon Hosmer, Asa Harwood, Daniel 
Cook, and Aaron Cook. They were incorpo- 
rated as the First Church of Christ in Marcel- 
lus, and the same day on which the church 
was organized, the following persons were re- 
ceived : James Porter. Mary Cook. Elizabeth 
Edwards, Lucretia Hosmer, Electa Edwards, Anna 
Clark, Hannah Annice, Martha Seymour, and Re- 
becca Cook. The same day Aaron Cook was 
elected Clerk of the Church. 

The first church edifice was erected in 1808 and 
was dedicated March i, 1809. 

The church having called Mr. Swift, invited the 
Presbytery of Cayuga to ordain and install him, 
which was accordingly done on the 14th day of 
September, 181 1. He resigned October 27, 1812. 

Mr. Benjamin Rice was ordained and installed 
by the Presbytery of Cayuga, July 7th, 1813. He 
resigned his charge in August. 1817. 

In January. 1818. it was unanimously resolved to 
adopt the Presbyterian form of government, and 
the church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Cayuga. The society had extended a 
call to the Rev. B. H. Stocton to become their 
pastor. The call was accepted, and he was in- 
stalled March 4th, 1818, and resigned his charge in 
April, 1822. 

Rev. Alexander M. Cowan, from Virginia, was 
installed December 4th, 1S22, and resigned in 
1828. 

Rev. Samuel W. Brace began his labors with his 
people in November, 1828, and was installed Febru- 
ary 17th, 1830. He resigned in November, 1843, 
having completed fifteen years of labor. 

The society erected a new brick house of worship 
in the year 1830. The manse was purchased in 
the year 1832. Rev. Samuel W. Bush was installed 
in March, 1844, and resigned his charge in March, 
1851. Rev. Selden Haines was installed on the 
4th of December, 1851, and resigned in September, 
1855. Rev. William B. Dada was ordained and 



installed July i. 1856, and resigned July 1st 1858. 
Rev. A. Mandell, was installed February 2nd, 
1859, and resigned January 16. 1861. On the 20th 
of April. 1862. the present pastor. Rev. M. N. 
Preston, began laboring with this people. He was 
ordained and installed on October 2d, 1862. 

By the new boundaries of presbyteries established 
by act of General Assembly in 1869, this church 
was separated from Cayuga Presbytery and became 
a part of the Presbytery of Syracuse. 

In January, 1852. the church, on the recommen- 
dation of the session, adopted the plan of electing 
Elders for the term of three years — to be divided 
into three classes, so that the term of one class 
shall expire on the first Monday of January in each 
year ; when an election shall be held to fill the 
vacancy. The following persons constituted the 
several classes in the session— July, 1873: 

Luther Clark and James A. Root to January, 
1874 ; J. A. Edwards, S. L. Benedict and Emerson 
Adams to January, 1875 ; H. D. Fulton and 
Newell Turner to January, 1876 ; N. Turner, Clerk 
of the Session and Treasurer. Trustees of the 
Society are : Dr. George Campbell, J. Augustus 
Edwards, James A. Root, Newell Turner, Sereno 
Field, Emerson Adams. Dr. George T. Campbell 
Clerk of the Board of Trustees. 

Deacons. — Eli Clark, died 1834; Joshua Cook, 
dismissed 1807; Samuel Bellany, dismissed 1832; 
James Porter, dismissed 1826 ; Ebenezer Warner, 
died 1849; Chester Moses, died 1862; Philip 
Crosbey, died 1865 ; Foster Clark, Henry T. 
Hooker, William Clark, Sereno Field. 

The present membership of this church is 220 ; 
attendance at Sunday School, 160. Three mem- 
bers became missionaries in foreign countries. 

BaI'Tist Chl'kch. — The Baptist Church of 
Skaneateles was a branch of the church of the same 
denomination in Elbridge, and began about 1820. 
The church edifice at first occupied was built by 
the Congregationalists on the hill east of the village 
in 1807, and was subsequently bought by the 
Baptist Society, moved down and refitted. The 
present building was erected in 1842, and cost 
$5,000. The ministers officiating have been Revs. 
Amasa Smith, Nathan Denison, Charles Elliot, 
John G. Zeeple, S. S. Relyca, William Roncy, 
Henry Bowen, E B. Palmer, George K. Allen 
and C. H James. Present membership, 153; 
average attendance in Sunday School, 100. 

Friend's Churches.— The Society of Friends 
of Skaneateles was organized from 1810 to 1814. 
Joseph Frost, Russell Frost, Silas Gaylord, William 
Willets and Abner Lawton were among the early 



\ 






««4. 



v/tw or URA'fcmr fkFiif Mius.Fmn 

SMN(«riit<.Oa 




f.G.AND W. T. WEEKS , 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



29s 



members. Meetings were held in the meeting 
house now occupied by that branch of the Friends 
known as " Hicksites," about two and a half miles 
southwest of the village, near the Octagon School 
House. 

In 1828, a division of the society into the two 
branches of Orthodox and Hicksites occurred, the 
latter being the followers of Elias Hicks, a distin- 
guished liberal preacher among the Friends. Among 
the most prominent members of the Orthodo.x branch 
were Joseph Talcott and his two sons, Richard and 
Daniel. Of this branch Sarah Talcott was the first 
minister. Meetings were held in the old meeting 
house which was built on the farm of Richard 
Talcott, just within the present corporate limits, 
and which was torn down in 1873, during which 
year the present edifice was erected. The present 
membership is about forty, and value of church 
property $3,000. Present minister, Chauncey B. 
Thorne. 

The branch known as Hicksites continued to 
hold meetings at the old meeting house, in which 
they still worship. Their first minister after the 
separation was Adin Cory. At that time William 
Willets, Warren Giles, Abner Lawton and Silas 
Gaylord, were among their prominent members. 

St. Mary's of the Lake, Roman Catholic 
Church, Skaneateles. — Earhest meetings held in the 
village about 1845. In 1853, the first church was 
begun on the site of the present edifice, and was 
dedicated September 7, 1856. It was a wooden 
building and cost $2,500. Rev. William McCallian 
officiated from the organization of the church till 
his death, in 1864, and was succeeded by Rev. 
Joseph Butler, O. S. F. Rev. F. J. Purcell 
assumed the pastoral charge in June, 1865. The 
first church was destroyed by fire Wednesday, May 
23d, 1866, and the present edifice erected by Rev. 
F. J. Purcell and dedicated June 30, 1867. Cost, 
$it,ooo. Present membership six hundred ; Sunday 
School fifty. 

St. Bridget's is a Chapel at Skaneateles Falls, 
four miles distant from St. Mary's of the Lake, 
built to accommodate parties too far from the 
church. It was erected by Rev. F. J. Purcell at a 
cost of $5,500, and dedicated September 20, 1874. 
It belongs to the same parish of St. Mary's of the 
Lake. 

Skaneateles Methodist Episcopal Church. 
— For several years previous to i832-'33, the circuit 
preachers of this denomination held religious ser- 
vices in a school house located nearly opposite the 
present parsonage on West Genesee street. A 
class was early formed which was largely increased 



in i832-'33, through the means of a revival con- 
ducted by " Father " Bibbins. Following this revival 
was a movement for the building of a chapel to 
better accommodate the needs of the growing 
society, which resulted in the purchase of a lot on 
the south side of West Genesee street, and the 
erection of a building thereon in 1834, under the 
pastorate of Rev. Lyman R. Redington. 

In 1853, this chapel was enlarged and beautified 
at a cost of about $800. At the completion of 
these repairs the expense was all provided for with 
the exception of $75. To meet this indebtedness 
the society resolved to hold a reopening service at 
which an effort would be made to liquidate the debt. 
Rev. C. P. Bragdon was secured to manage the 
financial part. Rev. C. D. Burritt, a former pastor, 
preached morning and evening, and Rev. Mr. Den- 
ison, pastor of the Baptist Church of the village, 
in the afternoon. Through their united efforts the 
necessary amount was raised. The society was 
well accommodated in this chapel until 1859, when 
David Hall, Esq., built at his own expense a plain 
brick church on Jordan street, at a cost of about 
$5,000, and presented it to the society. The Trus- 
tees to whom this conveyance was made, were 
Richard Huxtable, David Hall, John Burridge, 
Lorenzo Driggs, Jacob Hoagland, Forest G. Weeks, 
Spencer A. Daniels. In 1868 the church edifice 
was enlarged, remodeled and refurnished, at a 
cost of about $9,000. Rev. William C. Steele 
delivered the address at the laying of the corner 
stone of the first brick church, and Bishop E. S. 
Janes delivered the dedicatory sermon. At the 
rededication of the church after its enlargement. 
Dr. Jesse L. Peck, now " Bishop," delivered the 
the dedicatory sermon. 

The following named pastors have served the 
church here, viz: "Father" Bibbins, 1832; 
Lyman R. Redington, 1833 ; Jesse T. Peck, 1834; 
Selah Stocking, 1835 ; I. Hutchinson and Joseph 
Cress, 1836; C. W. Harris, 1837; V.M.Coryell, 
1839; John E. Robie, 1840; Walter Hare, 1841 ; 
Thos. H. Pearne, 1842; Isaac Parks, 1843-44; 
John H. Mitchel, 1845-46; Charles D. Burritt, 
1847-48 ; James Hartwell, 1849 ! Wm. N. Cobb, 
1850-51; O. Hesler, 1852-53; S. H. Brown, 
1854; E. N. Cuykendall, 1855-56; W. H. Miller, 
1857, served but a few months and was succeeded 
by Isaac Foster, 1858-59 ; Wm. Searles, 1860- 
'61 ; Wm. N. Burr, 1862-63 ; Wm. Bi.xby, 1864; 
M. S. Wells, 1865-66; T. J.Bissell, i867-'68-'69; 
Wm. Reddy, 1 870-7 1-72 ; R. Redhead; 1873- 
'74-75 : G. S. White, 1876-77. Present member- 
ship, one hundred and seventy. Number of Sun- 



296 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



day School scholars one hundred and seventy. 
Ministerial support, $1,104.00. Benevolent collec- 
tions for the year, $406.00. 

The Skankateles Falls Methodist Episco- 
pal Church is located in the town of Skaneateles 
about three and a half miles north of Skaneateles 
village. The first meetings were held in the house 
of M. B. Bannister, class leader, late in 1867, or 
early in 1868. Rev. D. W. Beadle, then supplying 
the M. E. Church at Elbridge, delivered the first 
sermon. He was soon followed by Rev. T. J. 
Bissell, pastor of the M. E. Church at Skaneateles 
village. In 1873 and 1874. the school house was 
occupied for religious services, and from 1875 to 
1877, inclusive, a room in tfie brick block provided 
by Thomas Martin. A legal organization was 
effected November 12, 1877, A. G. Borden and H. 
C. Templar being presiding officers, and George 
Atyee, Joseph Hunt, Levi Starr, Marquis Giles 
and H. G. Borden being elected Trustees. Be- 
sides the above, with the exception of M. Giles, 
there were among the original members H. Harris 
and Mrs. M. Giles. A very creditable church 
building, 24 by 40, with basement, has been erected 
at an expense of $1,500 chiefly through the aid and 
enterprise of F. G. Weeks, a member of the M. 
E. Church at Skaneateles village. 

The dedication took place F"ebruary 6th, 1878. 
Previous to the autumn of 1872, the place was sup- 
plied by Revs. H. Woodruff and W. Whitham. 
Rev. P. J. Ball was the regularly appointed pastor 
from October, 1872, until October 7th, 1873 ; Rev. 
O. N. Hinman, from October 7th, 1873, until 
October 13th, 1874; Rev. Abram Fancher, from 
October 13th, 1874. until September 25th, 1877; 
and Rev. M.J. Wells, the present pastor, appointed 
September 25th, 1877. The present membership 
is twenty ; the average attendance at Sunday 
School about forty. The Protestant people within 
reach are not numerous, but generally interested 
and enterprising in their support of the church. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Mott- 
viLLE, in the town of Skaneateles, is comparatively 
young as a distinct society, though the place had 
been a Methodist appointment with more or less 
regularity for about twenty-five years. Meetings 
were held in private houses or the school house 
until 1873, when under the supervision of Rev. 
William Reddy, D. D , pastor of the M. E. Church 
at Skaneateles village, the old school house was 
purchased, moved to its present site and fitted up 
for church purposes at a cost of about $1,000. 
The dedication occurred January 24, 1873. Among 
the original members were O. Coleman, Chester 



Benton, Mrs. Catharine Blodgett, Mrs. Maria 
Hunsiker, William Barber, Mrs. Esther Young and 
Mrs. Charlotte Bradley. 

Rev. O. N. Hinman was the next pastor during 
the year beginning October 7, 1873, and ending 
October 13. 1874. Rev. Abram Fancher followed 
as pastor from October 13, 1874 to September 25, 
1877. Rev. M. J. Wells, the present incumbent, 
was appointed pastor September 25, 1877. The 
present membership is forty-three, the average 
attendance at Sunday School about the same, con- 
gregation good, and social meetings well attended. 
An open temperance meeting is held every other 
Sabbath evening with remarkable interest and suc- 
cess. Up to January 28, 1878, one hundred and 
sixty-three have been induced to sign a total 
abstinence pledge for life. 

The Umveksalist Church at Mottville, was 
built in the year of 1831. The organization is that 
of a society only. The ground for the church and 
for a High School was given by Ansel Frost, and 
the building was erected by the liberal donations of 
Col. Robert Earll, Col. Stephen Clark, Ansel Frost 
and many others whose names we have not been 
able to obtain, as the church records are not to be 
found. 

The church was dedicated by Rev. Dolphus Skin- 
ner of Utica ; the first regular pastor was Rev. 
Jacob Chase ; afterwards Rev. Stephen Miles, Rev. 
Isaac Whitnall and Rev. Mr. Root officiated, and 
in later years Rev. J. M. Austin of Auburn, Rev. 
Dolphus Skinner, Rev. G. W. Montgomery and 
others. Within the past eight years through the 
summer season, sermons semi-monthly by Rev. 
J. G. Bartholomew, D. D., Rev. J. M. Austin 
Rev. J. W. Keyes and others, and at present by 
the Rev. L. L. Briggs, of Auburn 

Before the church was built the society held meet- 
ings in the school house and the Rev. Isaac Whit- 
nal was the pastor. 

Manufacturing Interests on the Outlet. 

Skaneateles Paper Company. — The original 
mill occupied by this company was built in i930 by 
Solomon Earll, as a flouring mill. Earll & Kellogg 
remodeled it into a distillery about 1840. In 1864, 
it was changed into a paper mill by Earll, Thayer 
& Co., and is now occupied by the Skaneateles 
Paper Company, in the manufacture of print 
paper. 

Willow Glen Woolen Mills. — Built by Doras- 
tus Kellogg about 1 840, and now owned by Alexan- 
der Horton. (Not at present, Jan., 1878, in opera- 
tion.) The mill is a " five set" mill. 









VIIW or F.A.SINCLAIR'S UNION CH 









4 




^CTORY, UoTTviLLE, Onondaga County, N .Y. 




-<l^l^ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



297 



Earll & Tallman's Distillery. — Located on 
Skaneateles Outlet, one and a half miles from 
Skaneateles. It is in the twenty-fourth Collection 
District of New York. The building was erected 
by Cotton, Lewis &Co., in 1824, and remodeled at 
the time the present distillery was established in 
1857. The capacity of the distillery is three hun- 
dred bushels of grain per day. Four hands are 
employed. Daniel Earll has been partner or sole 
owner from the commencement. 

The present firm are also proprietors of a custom 
mill next below the distillery. It is located on the 
site of the old mil! built by Abijah Earll in 1818. It 
was burnt in 1825 and rebuilt by Cotton, Lewis & 
Co, in 1826. It has one run of stones and is 
carried on in connection with the distillery. The 
proprietors of the distillery manufacture French 
and Cologne spirits and alcohol. In connection 
with the distillery, they feed one hundred and twen- 
ty-four head of cattle. 

Thomas Morton's Fine Woolen Shawl Fac- 
tory, Mottville. Established in 1862 ; capacity, 
eight thousand pounds of wool per month ; fifty 
hands employed. The building was erected about 
1852. Machinery run by water-power ; fall about 
eighteen feet. 

Mr. Morton is also proprietor of the Darvel 
Woolen Mills, at Skaneateles Falls, established in 
1867. These mills have a capacity for ten thou- 
sand pounds of wool per month, and employ sixty 
hands, making a specialty of finecassimeres. 

Sherman, Irish & Co , Proprietors of Mottville 
Flouring Mills, successors to Thayer & Irish, who 
owned and occupied the same mills from 1876 to 
the establishment of the present firm in 1878. The 
mills have eight run of stones, with a capacity of 
one hundred bushels per day. They manufacture 
both merchant and custom flour. 

E. B. HoYT, Iron Founder and Machinist, Mott- 
ville. Established in 185 1. The foundry occupied 
by Mr. Hoyt was burnt in 1S68, and the present 
building erected upon the same location immedi- 
ately after. 

Skaneateles Iron Works and Rolling Mills, 
Mottville. Not at present in operation. L. F. 
Powell, Syracuse, proprietor. Works established 
in 1870, at a cost of ^100,000. 

Skaneateles Paper Company, F. & J. Weeks, 
Marysville. Manufacturers of paper. 

Marysville Lime and Plaster Works. E. 
B. Hoyt & Co., proprietors. Established in 1866. 
Employs twelve hands. 

Youngs & Benedict, Cataract Mills, Long 
Bridge, Skaneateles Outlet. Established in 1876; 
44* 



five run of stones ; capacity one hundred and fifty 
barrels per day ; merchant and custom flour. Build- 
ing erected in 1869; owned by Wm. Barnes. 

F. A. Sinclair, Union Chair Works, Mottville. 
Building erected in 1870; business established in 
1859; employs 23 hands. 

Hart Lot Paper Company, Manufacturers of 
book paper, half mile south of the junction. Capac- 
ity, two tons per day ; hands employed, forty-seven. 
Incorporated in 1869. John M. Nye, President; 
John H. Childs, Secretary ; Julius H. Earll, Treas- 
urer ; W. E. Jones, Superintendent. 



BioGPi^APHic/L Sketch. 



BENONI LEE. 

Benoni Lee was born in the State of Vermont, 
on the 7th day of June, 1812. At the tender age of 
nine years he was left an orphan. With no kind 
relatives to take him into the bosoms of their 
families and no friend but God, he entered upon 
his life of toil and privation, which has developed 
in him those excellent habits and that astuteness 
which distinguish him as a lawyer and as a man. 

His early recollections of Vermont are quite 
dim, having left it when a child and gone with his 
parents to the State of New York, and from there, 
when seven years old to Pennsylvania. In the 
year 1826 he came to Skaneateles, Onondaga 
county, N. Y., where he attracted the attention of 
Col. Warren Hecox, who carried on a large leather 
and shoe business. Col. Hecox saw in the young 
lad of fourteen years something that convinced 
him that he was worthy of being helped ; and, ac- 
cordingly, offered him an apprenticeship in his 
business, which offer Mr. Lee readily accepted. 
He was treated as a son ; being taken into the 
family, and for three winter's enjoying the advan- 
tages of the school taught by Thomas W. Allis, a 
young man of considerable note and more merit. 
He worked in the tan-yard one season ; nearly two 
seasons in the shop ; and as foreman, had nearly en- 
tire charge of the business for four years. All of 
his leisure moments, before and after working 
hours, were spent in diligent study and assiduous 
reading. In this he was encouraged by his em- 
ployer, whose reading covered a wide range of 
literature. 

In 1833, determined to obtain a liberal educa- 
tion, at whatever sacrifice, he attended the Skan- 



298 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



cateles Academy, where he made such rapid and 
thorough progress that he won the admiration of 
his friends and the Principal, \Vm. H. Green, now 
a prominent lawyer of UuflTalo. 

At the close of the academic course, he began 
to read law with Freeborn G. Jewitt, a thorough 
and successful lawyer, to whom he is indebted, 
doubtless, for many of his excellent professional 
characteristics. Winters he taught the village 
school, receiving a fair compensation, until 1840, 
when, after having passed a successful examination 
he was admitted to the Bar of the State, as an at- 
torney and solicitor, and soon after began the prac- 
tice of law in partnership with Mr. Jewitt. 

For thirty-eight years he has had a successful and 
lucrative practice, and during that long period not 
a stain has tarnished his professional uprightness. 
As a lawyer he is careful and pains-taking, always 



thoroughly examining litigated cases, on both sides 
before suit. Not a flaw has ever been found in his 
preparation of a case, and no false step of his oppo- 
nent is ever unnoticed. As a pleader, he is per- 
suasive, and manages, generally, to " carr)' his 
point." His style is clear and forcible, clothed with 
plain, Anglo-Saxon words, which express his 
meaning with remarkable exactness. As a coun- 
sellor, he has the rare and unusual faculty, especially 
in a lawyer, of bringing irritated parties to settle- 
ment before having recourse to the law. Asa citi- 
zen of Skaneateles, he has been prominently 
identified with every interest which has tended to 
develop its growth and beauty. 

In every sense of the word he is a self-made 
man. Few would have had the pluck and per- 
severance to have broken the iron fetters of circum- 
stances which surrounded his youth. 



ELBRIDGE. 



Eliiridge was formed from Camillus March 26, 
1829. It is the central town upon the western 
border of the county. Its surface is level in the 
north and rolling in the south. Seneca River and 
Cross Lake form a portion of the northern bound- 
ary. Skaneateles Outlet flows northwestwardly 
through the western part of the town. Upon the 
banks of the Outlet, near the center of the town, 
are found the peculiar tunnel-shaped cavities in the 
earth, characteristic of regions abounding in gyp- 
sum. Several weak brine springs are found along 
Seneca River. In the west part of the town, at 
the time of the first settlement, were found the re- 
mains of three distinct fortifications : one square, 
one quadrangular, and one circular. (See Chapter 
on Antiquities.) When first discovered, the em- 
bankments were three feet higlj, and upon one of 
them stood an oak tree four feet in diameter. 
These works were each situated near a living spring 
of water. The remains of various articles found 
here seem to indicate that these fortifications were 
Jtnown to the French. 

At Jack's Reefs, when the whites first settled 
this town, the Onondagas had a large settlement, 
with an extensive clearing and a valuable orchard. 
They had also cleared oft' what were called the Salt 
Fields in the town of Cato, and had a small settle- 
ment there. The country north of the Seneca and 
Oneida Rivers was their favorite hunting ground. 



Eaklv Skttlement. 
Josiah Buck made the first settlement in this 
town in 1793. In 1791 he had surveyed the town- 
ship of Camillus into lots, and selecting the site 
where he located, came in 1793, with his family, in 
a large wagon. This wagon, under the shade of a 
large elm tree, which, we believe, is still standing, 
was for several weeks their only shelter, till a com- 
fortable cabin could be er.ccted. The place where 
this settlement was made was on the lot sub- 
sequently owned by Col. John Munro, and a large 
oak log was left here for many years as a memorial 
of the spot. A little later in 1793, Robert Fulton 
settled in the town ; James Strong in 1794: Col. 
Chandler, Dr. Pickard and a Mr. Porter, the first 
blacksmith, in 1795 ; James Weisner and Nicholas 
Mickles, in 1796. Isaac Strong erected a saw mill 
in 1795, and a grist mill in 1798. The inhabitants 
who first settled in this town had to go to James- 
ville to mill. William Stevens located herein 1794, 
and built a saw mill about a mile west of Elbridge. 
He also built the first store in the town, in 1797, in 
which he set up Dr. John Frisbie. Mr. Levi Clark 
built the first school house, in 1801. Josiah Buck 
kept the first tavern in 1793. Moses Carpenter 
opened another soon after. William Stevens was 
the first Justice of the Peace in 1794. 

The first settlers in the vicinity of Jordan were 
Zcnas Wright and Aaron Wright, in 1797; Martin 





Thomas w.Hul, 



M/?s Thomas VV. Hill. 



( PHOTOS, SY W.V.fANOLR ) 
Syracuse h y 




HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



299 



Tickner, Reynolds Corey, Isaac Smith, Jonathan 
Rowley and Jonathan Babcock, came soon after. 

The first town meeting for Elbridge was held at 
the house of Horace Dodge, April 28, 1829. Squire 
Munro was chosen Moderator, Seneca Hale, Secre- 
tary. Timothy Brown was elected Supervisor, and 
James McCIure, Town Clerk. 

The channel of the Seneca River at Jack's 
Reefs has been deepened by the State, for the pur- 
pose of draining the Cayuga marshes. The work 
was commenced in 1854 and finished in 1857, ^^' 
der the superintendence of Hon. George Geddes. 
More than 200,000 yards of rock-cuttings were re- 
moved, and the marshes were drained as far west 
as Mosquito Point. The cost was g 156,000. Pre- 
vious to this about $100,000 had been expended for 
deepening the channel near the Oswego River. 

A feeder from the Skaneateles Outlet connects 
with the Erie Canal at Jordan. 

In 1 83 1 the schools of the town of Elbridge are 
reported as follows : Number of children taught, 
961 ; number of districts, ten ; parts of districts, 
six; text-books used, Webster's Spelling Book, 
Cobb's Spelling Book, Cumming's & Woodbridge's 
Geography, Murray's Grammar, English Reader 
and Testament. 

VILLAGE OF ELBRIDGE. 

Situated on the Skaneateles outlet in the south- 
west part of the town. The village was incorpo- 
rated April I, 1848. Its first settlers were Moses 
Carpenter, James Weisner, Squire Munro, Ezra 
and John Brackett, and Joseph and Aaron Colman, 
1794 and 1795. Squire Munro kept the first 
tavern in the place, soon after his settlement here. 

Gideon Wilcoxon first established himself as a 
lawyer in the village in 1813 ; Hiram F. Mather 
in 1818 ; afterwards Mr. Putnam. Dr. John Frisbie 
was the first physician, in 1797 ; Dr. Sweet in 
1810 ; then Dr. Chichester. In 1813, a postofifice 
was established, Gideon Wilcoxon, Postmaster. He 
was succeeded by Hiram F. Mather, Hendrick 
Wood, Squire Munro ; then Mr. Wood again, then 
Mr. Munro. 

At an election held at the house of J. D. Rhoades, 
March^2t, 1848, to determine whether "or not the 
village should be incorporated, as provided for in an 
act of December 7, 1847, one hundred and seven 
votes were cast, of which ninety-one were in the 
affirmative and sixteen in the negative. The 
officers for 1848 were Lucius Millen, President; 
Harvey Roberts, Ezekiel Skinner, Alonzo Wood 
and William VanVechten, Trustees ; Cyrus W. 
Upham, Treasurer ; and Charles McGowan, Clerk. 



The following have been Presidents of the village 
in the years named : A. Wood, 1851 ; W. P. Van- 
Vechten, 1852 ; William C. VanVechten, 1853-54 ; 
J. D. Rhoades, i855-'56-'57 ; Alonzo Wood, 1858 ; 
J. D. Rhoades, 1859; Squire M. Brown, i860; 
John Rice, 1861-62 ; C. W. Hilliard, 1863 ; S. M. 
Brown, 1864; Nathan Munro, 1865; John Rice, 
1866 ; C. G. McGowan, 1867 ; M. H. Lamson, 
i868-'69-'7o; M. W. Lyon, 1871-72; W. P. 
Smith, 1873 ; B. A.Wood, 1874; John Rice, 1875 ; 
Charles O. Baker, 1876. Present officers (1877) : 
President, M. W. Lyon ; Trustees, T. K. Wright, 
A. L. Gere, D, M. Rice ; Treasurer, John T. 
Thomas; Clerk, John F. Thomas. 

MuNRO Collegiate Institute. 

The Munro Academy, (now known as the Munro 
Collegiate Institute,) was founded by Nathan 
Munro, Esq , in 1835. In the winter of 1835-6, 
it was opened in the ball room of Ezekiel Gardner's 
tavern, where Mr. M. W. Lyon now resides, and 
the following summer a wooden building was con- 
structed for it. The Academy was incorporated 
April 23, 1839. 

At the first meeting of the Trustees under the 
charter, July 6, 1839, it was announced that Mr. 
Munro had died on the 5th instant, and that, in 
addition to the Academic site and buildings, library 
and apparatus, contained in the original grant to 
the Academy, and specified in the application to 
the Regents of the University, upon which the 
charter was granted, the deceased founder of the 
Academy, by his last will and testament, had made 
a further endowment to the same, by enlarging the 
Academic site, and by a bequest of ^20,000, as a 
permanent fund for the support of the school, pay- 
able immediately after his decease. 

July 13, 1839, the Board met pursuant to adjourn- 
ment ; John Munro, senior Trustee, in the Chair. 
On motion of R. Farnham, Esq., the Board pro- 
ceeded to elect a President and other officers. 
John Munro was elected President ; James Munro, 
Secretary ; and Hiram F. Mather, Treasurer. 

In 1854, the Trustees erected the building known 
as " The Munro Academy." This Academy stands 
in an open landscape, and is surrounded by trees, 
which, with the irregularity of the plan and outline 
of the structure itself, contribute to its picturesque 
effect. Its general form is an octagon, from which 
project four arms, forming a cross. One of the 
arms at the right is connected by a hall with a large 
oblong division, projecting at the front and rear. 
The material is brick with stone dressings. 

From the elevations it will be noticed that the 



300 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



external walls are enriched with heavy base mould- 
ings, buttresses and turrets at the corners of all the 
parts — visible at the fronts and ends. 

In 1859. the Trustees further improved the 
Academy, by the completion of the elegant chapel 
at an expense of about $i,cxx), and placed at the 
cast end a marble tablet, bearing the following in- 
scription : 

To the memory of Nathan Munro, who was born 
at Cheshire. Mass., and died at Elbridge, New 
York, July 5th, 1839, in the 49th year of his age. 

In 1835, he endowed the Academy which in 
April, 1839 was incorporated and called after his 
name ; and at his death gave to it as a perpetual 
fund $20,000. From the income of this fund and 
the sale of the old academy property, the Trustees 
in 1854 erected this edifice. 

There is a Library of nearly 1,000 volumes con- 
nected with the institution, to which the students 
may have access under the direction of the Prin- 
cipal. The Laboratory is supplied with some ex- 
cellent apparatus. There is also a well selected and 
valuable cabinet of minerals. 

The Course of Instruction includes an English 
Course embracing five years, or a Classical Course 
embracing three years. 

The Classical Department, Ancient and Modern, 
is well sustained, embracing more than half of the 
whole number of pupils in attendance. The 
Academy is regarded in many respects as one of the 
best fitting schools in the country. 

The great number of graduates who have already 
attained eminence in the pulpit, at the bar, and as 
educators, is a proof that the merits of the school 
have been well attested. 

There have been for many years various Literary 
Societies connected with the Academy. The ex- 
ercises consisting of Debates, Essays and Criti- 
cisms. The Ladies' Literary Society was for many 
years an attractive feature of the Academy. 

The Gentlemen's M. C. I. Club continued in 
successful operation until the spring of 1873, when 
the present Lyceum was organized admitting ladies 
and gentlemen upon precisely the same footing. 
The e.xercises of each meeting consisting of Music, 
Declamations, Recitations, a Lyceum Paper and 
an Extempore Debate. 

John Munro, the brother of Nathan, was the first 
President of the Hoard of Trustees in 1839, and 
served acceptably till his death in i860. He was a 
man universally esteemed for his benevolence and 
ready sympathy with the unfortunate. He was 
born in Cheshire, Mass., March 26, 1780, and died 
in Elbridge, March 13, i860. 



John Rice, Esq , the second President of the 
Board of Trustees, was elected October 6, i860, to 
fill a vacancy caused by the death of Deacon John 
Munro. John Rice was born at Cheshire, Mass., 
January 8, 1799, and died at Elbridge, June 20, 
1875. He came to Elbridge in 1820. He was un- 
tiring in his efforts to enlist the sympathies of all in 
behalf of the Academy. 

Hon. Luke Ranney, now the President of the 
Board of Trustees of the Academy, was elected 
October 4, 1875, to fill a vacancy caused by the 
death of John Rice, Esq. 

The following have served as Secretaries of the 
Board : James Munro, elected July 13, 1839 ; Hon. 
Luke Ranney. elected October 27, 1869. Treas- 
urers: Hiram F. Mather, July 13, 1839; Squire M. 
Brown, April 13, 1842 ; W. C. Van Vechten, June 
27, 1849; Elijah D. Williams, December 28, 1S53; 
L. B. Bennett, October 27, 1869; John Munro, 
October 14, 1871. 

Succession of Trustees : Nathan Munro, charter; 
Jared Wheeler, July 13, 1839; Rev. E. A. Hunt- 
ington. July 13. 1867; Rev. Washington Thatcher, 
(resigned I charter ; Allen Munroe. March 30, 1842 : 
J. B Evarts, charter ; Daniel C. Munro, (resigned) 
F"ebruary 9, 1842 ; C. J. Merrinian, (resigned) 
charter ; Stephen W. Clark, (resigned) March 
30, 1842; Z. S. Clark, April 24, 1848; Hiram 

F. Mather, i resigned! charter; David Wilson, 
(from neglect I November 4, 1844; John Burnett, 
July 9, 1858 ; Rev. Medad Pomeroy, (resigned) 
charter; Levi Clark, March 6, 1845 ; Wm. Ran- 
ney, charter; Luke Ranney, June 9, 1858; John 
Rice, charter; Charles G. McGowan, Oct. 4, 1875; 
John Munro, charter ; David A. Munro, July 10, 
1867 ; James Munro, charter ; John Munro, Jr., 
March 9, 1871 ; Squire M. Brown, (resigned) 1848, 
charter: Wm. C. Van Vechten, (resigned) (the 
only charter member living 1 1848, charter; Charles 
Pardee, May 13, 1856 ; Reuben Farnham, (resigned) 
1848, charter; Abram Hall, (resigned) 1848, char- 
ter; Elijah D. Williams, (^ resigned) 1866, charter ; 
L. B. Bennett, Oct. 31, 1867 ; Thomas W. Hill, 
Oct. 4, 1875; Charles Lombard, (resigned) 1S48, 
charter ; James M. Munro, elected in place of Mr. 
Hicok, August 12, 1854; Allen Munroe, elected in 
place of Mr. Lathrop, August 12, 1854; Robert 
Townscnd, elected in place of Mr. Cornell, August 
12, 1S54 ; Hervey Wilbur, elected in place of J. R. 
Townsend, July 10, 1867. 

Present Board of Trustees. 

Hon. Luke Ranney, Elbridge, President ; Chas. 

G. McGowan, Elbridge, Secretary; John Munro, 



HON. LUKE RANNEY. 



William Ranney, father of Luke Ranney, was born in Middletown, 
Conn., June 30, 1785, and died at Elbridge, N. Y., Sept. 9, 1867, aged 
seventy-two years. He moved to Etbridge in 1835. 

The Ranneys were from Scotland, and first came to Middletown, Conn, 
They were noted for their great energy of character. 

Betsey Alden, the mother of Luke Ranney, was born at Ashfield, Mass., 
March 7, 1789, and died at Elbridge, May 9, 1870, aged eighty-one years. 

The Aldens trace their lineage directly back to John Alden, who landed 
from the Mayflower, on Plymouth Rock, 1620, — the same John who asked 
Miss Priscilla Mullens if she would have Capt. Miles Standish, and she 
hinted to him to ask for himself, and he know enough to take the hint. 
The Aldens have been noted for their great longevity and strong Puri- 
tanic religious character, many of them having been clergymen. 

Luke Ranney was born in Ashfield, Mass.. Nov. 8, 1815. Moved to 
Aurelius, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1823. At the ago of fourteen or fifteen 
the thirst for knowledge came upon him with almost irresistible power. 
The labor on the farm, under his father's energy and industry, took about 
all of daylight, and the nights, until two and three in the morning, were 
ofteu used to satisfy this craving for knowledge. Every cent that could 
be hud was used in the purchase of books. Rollin's Ancient History and 
Plutarch's Lives were obtained with the last farthing he could get, and 
devoured with an appetite which might be compared to a starved tiger 
feasting on a dainty morsel. They were read and re-read until all the lead- 
ing facts of ancient history were fixed in his memory for life, and were 
ever after at his command. 

In 1 834 he went to Shelburne Falls 
academy, Massachusetts, to school, 
an uncle, the Rev. John Alden, 
being principal. He walked sixty 
miles from Albany to the Falls to 
save three dollars, stage fure, to pur- 
chase books with. Was here five 
months, and was then called home 
by his father to help him on the farm. 

In the fall of 1835 his father 
wished him to go and spend a year 
helping his only brother in Van Bu- 
renCo., Mich. He went up Lake Erie 
in the last boat that ran that fall. 
Walked and drove an ox-team from 
Detroit there, one hundred and fifty 
miles. Got there the ninth day of 
December ; found his brother keep- 
ing bachelor's hall in a log shanty 
twelve by fourteen, and dieting on 
pork and potatoes, and, as he ex- 
pressed it, had for a change potatoes 
and pork. In the winter his brother 
had to be awny two weeks, and he 
remained in the shanty that time 
confined with a lame foot, without 
seeing a human being, and no com- 
panion but Shakspeare; and, as he 
said, he had an intellectual treat, 
and gained a knowledge of the great 
English poet which was a source 
of great pleasure ever after. 

He taught school in Throops- 
ville, Cayuga Co., in 1839 and 1841, 
and in Port Byron in 1840. Studied 
law with S. Robinson and S. Good- 
win, and in consequence of poor 
health was compelled to abandon 
the profession of law. Went to 
Christian Co., Ky., in the fall of 
1842, and there taught school one 
year, and had a good opportunity 

to see the evils of slavery. He then wrote home to a friend, as follows : 
" When I see the vast amount of evil that originates out of this system of 
slavery, I shudder at future consequences. The day of final judgment 
may be far distant, but it is sure to come as a rock loosened from the top 
of a mountain is to thunder down to the plain below, and woe, woe to all 
who are in its path. I may not live to see it, but the seed has beeu sown, 
the crop is more than half grown, and when the harvest comes it will be 
a harvest of death and desolation." 

At this time the great temperance reformation was sweeping like a tor- 
nado over the southwest, and he gave what time and strength he had to 
spare to this mighty work. His services were in demand to speak at all 
the principal places in Christian county. At some of these meetings as 
many as one hundred and fifty signed the pledge of temperance. 

He came back to Elbridge in the fall of 1843, and in May, 1844, mar- 
ried Miss Rebecca Lyon, daughter of Deacon Cyrus Lyon, of Weedsport, 
and lived five years on a farm three miles east of Weedsport. While 
there he held the office of town superintendent. In the spring of 1852 
he moved back to Elbridge, where he has resided ever since. 

He was elected supervisor of his town in 1857, and in the fall of 1858 
was elected to represent the first district in Onondaga County in the legis- 
lature. He was elected again in the fall of 1865, and again in the fall of 
1867, serving three times in the legislature. While there he served on the 
committee on claims, on the committee of nine for advancing bills, and on 
the select committee on assessments. The bill creating the State assessors 
was written by him, and his influence contributed largely to its passage. 

He was one of the select committee on a pro rata freight bill, a measure 




more largely connected with the interior interests of the State than almost 
any other, and he has reason to believe that it was defeated by money 
of the New York Central railroad, as the agent employed by that com- 
pany to do its lobbying in the legislature told a prominent citizen of Syra- 
cuse, at Seneca Falls {where they met), that it cost the company over two 
hundred thousand dollars to defeat Ranney's pro rata freight bill. 

His speech on the personal liberty bill gave him a State reputation as 
one of the best debaters in the assembly. Mr. Ranney says that the 
greatest good he ever accomplished for his country was in the organiza- 
tion of the opposition to the increase of the way fare on the New York 
Central railroad, and continuing the contest until its final defeat by the veto 
of Gov. Fcnton. By this defeat the way passengers are saved from pay- 
ing into the treasury of that mammoth corporation from five hundred 
thousand dollars to one million dollars annually. 

In a speech which he made on that occasion, and which was published, 
he showed as conclusively as figures can show, that the gains and profits 
of the company, over and above an annual dividend of seven per cent., 
had been not less than seventeen millions of dollars since the consolida- 
tion in 1853 ; and, as proof that he was right, soon after Vanderbilt came 
in as president and divided among the stockholders twenty millions of 
bonds to represent these surplus earnings. 

Mr. Ranney says be had no doubt at that time they were using the 
money of the corporation to buy votes; and, as further proof that he was 
right, Worcester, treasurer of the company, under oath, before a committee 
of the constitutional convention, in 186S, said that he paid, to influence 

legislation during the pendency of 
this bill, without any authority of 
law, vouchers, or receipts, two hun- 
dred and sixty-five thousand dol- 
lars, and the account was allowed 
by the directors. 

To judge how some members of the 
legislature must have been scorched 
on that occasion, we make the follow- 
ing quotation from his speech : "And 
now, before I close, what shall I say 
to those, if any such there be, who 
have received the money of this cor- 
poration as a reward for the betrayal 
of their constituency, for the sur- 
rendering and yielding up of their 
rights for their personal gain ? Re- 
member, Judas Iscariot betrayed his 
Lord and Master for thirty pieces 
of silver, and for that act has been 
held up for execration, scorn, and 
contempt wherever the banner of 
the Cross has been unfurled, even to 
the outermost bounds of Christian 
civilization. Turn your minds, gen- 
tlemen, within, and behold your- 
selves as in a glass, and see a villain 
whose company you are compelk-d 
to keep, and from whose vile com- 
panionship there is no escape. Dis- 
honored, scorned, and condemned 
by yourself, seeking through life a 
hiding-place from the goadings of 
conscience, dying while you are liv- 
ing, praying for the everlasting rocks 
and hills to fall on you and bide 
you from the righteous indignation 
of a constituency you have betiayed, 
from a legislature you have de- 
moralized, from a State you have 
dishonored, and a republic you have 
disgraced. Go, and return your ill- 
gotten gold to this soulless corporation, which would accumulate wealth at 
the expense of the integrity and virtue of this legislature, at the expense 
of liberty, and on the ruins of our country ! Go, and swear by the ever- 
liviu" God that you will live and die honest men, that your garments shall 
neve? be besmeared with the filth and slime of a corrupt and venal lobby 
which swarm around you like the carrion crows around a rotten carcass." 
He has o-iven his services as a speaker without one cent's compensation 
in every fmporlant campaign since 1855, often addressing his fellow- 
eitizens every night for some time previous to election. In his addresses 
he has spent as much or more time on the obligations we owe to our gov- 
ernment, and the proper discharge of those obligations, than on party 
polities. Showing them if they will be true to our country, she will be- 
come the beacon-light of all nations, leading them in the path of equal 
rights. Christian liberty, and universal intelligence. He has always ad- 
vocated impartial justice to all men, without reference to birth, nationality, 
or color. On party politics he has always endeavored to show that the 
reform and purification of the two great parties of the day was more im- 
portant than the immediate success of either, believing that parties should 
always be governed by the great principles of right, having the highest 
good of our country as their supreme object. 

He has been extensively employed as a surveyor, and often on disputed 
lines has harmonized parties and saved litigation. He has had many es- 
tates to settle, as executor, administrator, and assignee, in this county, 
Cayuga county, and in Michigan. He is president of the board of trustees 
of Munro Collegiate Institute, an institution of learning hardly second to 
any in the county. 



\ 




I'liulo. t>> Uru. l»>K('rl, JopUii, N. V. 



niAl Nt'KV B. LAIKD. 



The Muhjoct of tlii.H Nkelch, one of the olili'.-<t rciiiJeiit.s of the 
town of KIbridp', wiu* born July l{(l, ISdt, io tlif town of 
CniiiilluM, two luilnt west of the villa)j;e. He wu» the son of 
.loliii Liird niid Polly Iloyd, who were aiiion^ the firnt settlers 
of the town, emitfraiin;; from Siirotopi county. The elder 
Laird wils ii eaqn-nter by occupation, and Chiiuneey f4>llowed 
I he xanie Vocation for Momc time; but \m ta»tea were for ugri- 
eultund puntuits, and he iiecordinfjly purehiLs«'d n farm in the 
town of Klbrid};e, upon which he nettled in ls:U», and where 
he rcxided until his d«ith. which occurred April 0, 1873. In 
hi.H choiicn calliiij; he was eminently tiucceM.<*ful, and was regarded 



as one of the mast thoroujrh and systematic farmers in the 
town. 

In 1H27, .^lr. liuird wa.s married to Miss Sarah E., duuf:hter 
of John Adams, EfM)., of Skanejitclcs, one of the first settlers and 
a very prominent citizen. In 1843, Mrs. I..iiird died, and in 
1845 he was apiin married to Miss Lucretia Mills. Hy his 
first wife lie had five children, three sons and two dau^'hters, 
none of whom are now livin<;. 

By his seeond wife he had five children, two of whom are 
liviii);, — (."harlcM W. Laird, of Jordan, and Julia, wife of the 
Rev. J. C. Nichols, of the Central New York Conference. 




John D. Rhoades. 



HON. JOHN 

The subject of this sketch was born in Chesterfield, 
Mass., Nov. 11, 1801, and was the eldest child in the 
family of John and Hannah Rhoades, which consisted 
of ten children. When eight years of age, his father 
removed with his family to Onondaga County, settling 
in the town of Skaneateles. Here for years the family 
experienced the privations and hardships of pioneer life. 

Notwithstanding the almost entire lack of educational 
advantages, our subject acquired a good common school 
education, wliich he made practically useful to himself 
and others by teaching. At the age of twenty-one he 
went to New Jersey, and for several years was engaged 
as a traveling salesman. 

In 1826 he formed a co-partnership with a gentleman 
by the name of Bartlett, and engaged in trade at Stan- 
hope, N. J. In 1827 he married Sebiah, daughter of 
the Hon. Timothy Brown, of Elbridge, and in 1829 he 
removed to Hancock, Delaware county, where he became 
extensively engaged in lumbering. 

In 1833, meeting with some reverses, he sold, and 
again returned to Elbridge, where for ten years he was 



D. RHOADES. 

the proprietor of the Munro Hotel. In 1851 he 
purchased the farm where he now resides, which is 
beautifully located in the village of Elbridge. 

In politics Mr. Rhoades was a Whig until the formation 
of the Republican party. In 1855 he was elected county 
coroner, and in 1856 was elected a member of the legis- 
lature. 

His childhood of indigence, his early manhood of 
wearisome toil, served as the crucibles wherein sterling 
qualities were refined and tested, as preparatory for public 
service and higher obligation. 

In all basiness relations he is honorable and upright, 
ever the same in private business or official life. Sociable, 
benevolent, and possessed of ennobling Christian virtues, 
he has won friends among all classes, and by sound 
judgment and prompt decision gave weight to his opinions 
and strength to his purposes. 

Mr. Rhoades has been a valuable citizen in all relations 
of life, and by industry has accumulated a competency, 
and contributed largely to the welfare and social improve- 
ment of his neighborhood. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



301 



Elbridge, Treasurer ; Hon. James M. Munro, 
Camillus ; Hon. Allen Munroe, Syracuse ; John B. 
Burnett, Syracuse ; Charles Pardee, Skaneateles ; 
Dr. Harvey B. Wilbur, Syracuse ; Rev. E. A. 
Huntington, D.D., Auburn; Hon. Theodore N. Pom- 
eroy. Auburn ; David A. Munro, Camillus ; Thomas 
W. Hill, Elbridge. 

Succession of Principal Teachers. 



Years. 



Preceptress. 



1839 — Lemuels. Pomeroy. Julia A. Fitch. 
i840-'4 — Stephen W. Clark. Elvira P. Cadwell. 
1845 — Stephen W. Clark. Catherine A. Coleman. 
1846— J. W. Wolcott. Mary A. Ellis. 

1847— J. W. Wolcott. M. F. Loring. 

i848-'9— John H.Wilson. M. F. Loring. 
1850 — John H. Wilson. Mary A. Casey. 
185 1— John H. Kellom. Mary A. Goddard. 
1852 — John H. Kellom. Louisa Powers. 
1853 — David Burbank. Mary L. Powers. 

1854 — David Burbank. Mary L. Powers. 

1855 — David Burbank. Eliza A. Boss. 

I 856 — David Burbank. Charlotte A. Birdseye. 

1857 — John H. Wilson, i t. Charlotte A. Birdseye. 

Herman Sanford, 2 terms. 
1858— Truman K. Wright. Amanda Bunnell. 
i859"'72— T. K. Wright. Martha B. Wright. 
i873-'76— T. K. Wright. Laura M. Carpenter. 
1876-78— T. K. Wright. 

Patrons of Husbandry. 
Elbridge Grange No. 220. Instituted June 22, 
1874, with the following officers : Hiram D. Pres- 
ton, M. ; William B. Rice, Secretary ; Newman 
Crossett, Treasurer. Present membership forty- 
one. Present officers : Alonzo M. Curtis, M. ; 
M. W. Lyon, Secretary ; Charles E. Cook, Treas- 
urer. Meetings held every alternate Thursday at 
lodge rooms in Wood Block. 

I. O. O. F. 

Elbridge Lodge No. 275 was formed April 19, 
1871, with nine members. The following were the 
first officers : H. H. Porter, N. G. ; James M. 
Halstead, V. G. ; R. M. Cole, C. S. 

They have suffered loss in three successive fires, 
but are at present in a prosperous condition, having 
an influential membership of forty-four. The 
present officers (1878) are as follows: 

Fred. S. Hall, N. G. ; J. M. Halstead, R. S. N. 
G. ; Alfred E. Stacey, L. S. N. G. ; A. L. Chat- 
field, V. G. ; W. S. Hale, R S. V. G. ; James F. 
Thomas, L. S. V. G. ; C. O. Baker, M. D., R. R. 
S. ; C. E. Cook, L. S. S. ; C. C. Smith, C. S. ; 
C. A. Smith, P. S. ; Rev. Keese Coburn, Chaplain ; i 
David Bonta, W. ; William R. Stevens, P. N. G. ; 1 
45 



William C. Garrison, Treasurer ; G. Z. Allen, C. ; 
E. Z. Frazee, I. G. ; H. D. Preston, W. S. Hale 
and R. M. Cole, Committee on Finance. 

The lodge has a hall in Wood's Block which was 
finished and furnished by the members some two 
years since, and is also used by"the " Ancient Order 
of United Workmen," the " Patrons of Husbandry" 
and the " Good Templars." 

Manufactures of Elbridge. 

John T. Thomas & Sons, Bedstead Manufactur- 
ers. Established 1859. Employ four hands; use 
water power ; average production about 1,700 per 
annum. Occupy the old building erected in 1826 
by Jacob W. Page. 

Eaton & Seeley, Chair Manufacturers. Estab- 
lished 1877. Employ six hands ; use water power. 
Occupy building erected and occupied by Levi 
Clark as a carding mill and cloth dressing factory, 
afterwards used as a pail factory. 

BucKMAN & Sons, Chair Manufacturers. Estab- 
lished 1877. Employ seven hands; use water 
power. 

J. S. GowiNG & Co., proprietors of the " Elbridge 
Mills," formerly known as the " Munro Mills." 
These mills contain four run of stones ; capacity, 
100 barrels per day ; make a specialty of high grade 
flour. 

Curtis & White, manufacturers of every descrip- 
tion of marble goods. Established 1877. Employ 
four hands. 

Elbridge Marble and Granite Works, T. S. 
Hubbell, proprietor. Established by Mr. Hubbell 
in 1841. Besides the usual granite and marble 
monuments, Mr. Hubbell is agent for ornamental 
iron work for cemetery purposes. 

S. D. Paddock, Jr., Proprietor of Steam Dried 
Straw Board Mill, located just north of the corpora- 
tion line of the village of Elbridge, commenced 
business here in the spring of 1865, and made the 
first sheet July ist, of the same year. In the 
winter of 1868 and '69 he put in machinery for 
drying by steam and has run almost uninterruptedly 
ever since. Present capacity, 12 to 14 tons per 
week ; employs about twelve hands ; Capital in- 
vested ^20,000 ; water power ; steam used for boil- 
ing and drying. 

Churches. 

The First Congregational Society of El- 
bridge, formerly known as the " First Congrega- 
tional Society of the Town of Camillus," was organ- 
ized October 30, 1800. Among the original mem- 
bers were Hezekiah Freeman, Moses Fulton and 
John Healy, the latter being chosen the first Clerk. 



302 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



The first Deacons were Hezekiah Freeman and 
John Healy. in 1804. The first minister was Rev. 
Seth VVilliston. For more than twenty years the 
meetings of the society were held in private houses 
and school houses near by and in the present village 
of Elbridge. In i^io, Rev. Benjamin Bell began 
to officiate as stated supply, and continued up to 
and including 1818. There had been received into 
the Society fifty-seven additions, and the total mem- 
bership that year was fifty. 

The Society was legally organized December 24, 
1822. At the same time the following subscription 
was drawn up for the purpose of building a house 
of worship : 

" We, the subscribers, each one for himself alone 
severally and not jointly, do hereby promise and 
agree to pay to Jacob Campbell, Levi Clark, Nathan 
Munro, Jcdcdiah Richards, Charles Lombard and 
Hiram F. Mather, Trustees of the First Congrega- 
tional Society in the town of Camillus, in the County 
of Onondaga, the sums set opposite to our names 
respectively, to raise a lund for the purpose of build- 
ing a meeting house for public worship in the village 
of Elbridge, in and for the said society ; which said 
sums so by us respectively subscribed, shall be paid 
at the times and in the manner following, that is to 
say : — 

•' Two-thirds part of each subscription shall be 
paid in merchantable wheat, rye. corn, oats, pork, 
beans, beef, butter, cheese or lard, one half thereof 
to be delivered within three months from the first 
day of January next, and one half thereof in si.\ 
months from that time, at cash price when deliv- 
ered, and in such materials as shall be suitable for 
said building, to be delivered within four months 
from the aforesaid date, at cash ])rice when deliv- 
ered ; which said articles, both of provisions and 
materials for building, shall be delivered in such 
proportion of each as the Trustees of the said 
Society shall direct— having reference to the wants 
of the builder's family or families engaged in con- 
structing said house, and the due proportion of each 
kind of material necessary for the same : and shall 
be deposited at such place in Hllbridge as the afore- 
said Nathan Munro may direct. 

" It is understood, however, that any subscriber 
shall have the privilege of paying one of the afore- 
said two-thirds part of his subscription in neat cat- 
tle, (bulls and stags excepted;! to be delivered at 
such place in Elbridge as Nathan Munro shall 
direct, on the first of September next. 

" The remaining one-third part of each person's 
subscription shall be paid in cash, one half thereof 
in six months from the first of January next, and the 
other half in one year from the first of April next. 

" Witness our hands the 24th day of December, 
A. D., 1822." 

Then follow the names of the subscribers among 
whom we find 

Nathan Munro $500.00 

Gideon Wilcoxon 200.00 



The church edifice lat present occupied,) was 
erected during 1823-24, at a cost of $3,600. In 
184$, it was remodeled at an additional expense of 
$1,000, and was also further repaired in 1862. 

December 7, 1829, it was voted that the word 
" Elbridge" be substituted in the place of '* Camil- 
lus" in the name of the society, in consequence 
of the erection of the town of Elbridge from 
Camillus. 

The Parsonage connected with the Church was 
erected in 1834. at a cost of $1,600. The Church 
site was donated by Nathan Gorham. 

The following have been regular pastors of the 
church: Rev. Benjamin Bell, 1810; Rev. J. Bool, 
1818 ; Rev. Jabez Chadwick, 1821 — large revival 
under his ministry ; Rev. Stephen Porter, January, 
1824, to March, 1827 ; Rev. Timothy Stow. Febru- 
ary, 1828, to October. 1832 — large revival, about 
one hundred additions ; Rev. Medad Pomeroy, 
January, 1833, to June, 1840 — additions, thirty- 
four; Rev. Sidney Mills, August, 1841, to May, 
1843 — two additions ; ^^^'- Lemuel W. Hamblin, 
July, 1843. to October, 1846 — twenty-six additions ; 
Rev. C. N. Mattoon, October, 1847, to December, 
1849 — twenty-two additions ; Rev. George D. Fol- 
som, April 1850, to July, 1852 — two additions; 
Rev. E. J. Townsend, January 1853 to 1859— large 
revival, 75 additions ; Rev. P. J. Burnham, Sep- 
tember, 1859, ^o March, 1862: Rev. A. C. Reed. 
June, 1863 to i866^eighteen additions; Rev. Al- 
bert S. True, May, 1867, to October, 1871 — twen- 
ty-five additions ; Rev. N. B. Knapp, 1872— three 
additions by letter ; Rev. James Robertson, July, 
1873, to November, 1875— nine additions, one by 
letter. Rev George R. Smith, the present pastor, 
assumed charge in May, 1876. 

The church has had the following noted supplies: 
Rev. Dr. Mills, of Auburn, June 3, 1827 ; Rev. Dr. 
Richards, August 19, 1827 ; Rev. Dr. Nelson, 
student at that time at Auburn : Rev. G. W. Bas- 
sett, for three months, 1841; Rev. Dr. Condit, 
May 3, 1862, to May 11. 1863; Rev. Dr. Hunting- 
ton, January, 1866. 

The following named members have served in 
foreign missionary fields: Mrs. Betsy Curtis Lyons 
and Mrs. Bliss, to Sandwich Islands, and Mrs. M. 
F. True, in Japan. 

Among the more prominent members may be 
mentioned Nathan Munro, Esq., Judge Hiram F. 
Mather, member of the State Senate, 1829 — 1832 ; 
Hon. James Munroe, State Senator, 1851 — 1853; 
Henry K. Van Vliet, Esq., Bradley Bennet, Esq., 
Dr. Wheeler and Deacon Levi Clark— all deceased. 

The Church at Sennett, Cayuga County, was 




Phuto. by W. V. Riinger, Syracuse. 

JAMES RODGER. 



The subject of this sketch is of Scotch parentage, his father, 
William Rodger, being born in Greenock, and his mother, 
Elizabeth, in Edinburgh. The elder Rodger was a black and 
white smith by occupation, and in 1804 emigrated to this 
country, settling in the city of Albany, where our subject was 
born April 7, 1805. The family remained in Albany until the 
year 1818, when they emigrated to Madison county; here the 
elder Rodger purchased a farm which he carried on in connec- 
tion with his trade until 1822, when he sold and removed to 
Elbridge, and purchased a farm about one and a quarter miles 
north of the village of Jordan, where he resided until his death, 
which occurred December, 1822. He was a man of great 
energy and marked business ability, highly esteemed by all who 
knew him for his sterling worth and high social qualities. At 
his father's death James was seventeen years of age, and the 
cares of the family and the business devolved upon him, which 
developed those qualities to which his success in after-life is 
largely attributable. 

In 1832 Mr. Rodger went to Wayne county, where he en- 



gaged in farming until 1 834, when he returned to Jordan ; at 
this time he was in limited circumstances, and for some time 
worked for Judge Mason by the month. In 1840 he went into 
the business of storage and forwarding, and also bought grain 
on commission. This business he has carried on to the present, 
and also has dealt extensively in coal and lumber. In 1829, 
Mr. Rodger was married to Miss Olive M. Clark, daughter of 
Daniel Clark, of Westminster, Vt., where she was born March 
15, 1805.. Mr. and Mrs. Rodger have had five children born 
to them, three of whom are living. Mr. Rodger is pre-eminently 
a self-made man. Beginning life at seventeen, with only his 
natural resources for his capital and the limited education afforded 
by the ordinary district school of a new country, he has worked 
himself up step by step to a point attained by but very few in 
a generation. With a grasp of perception that could comprehend 
the details of a large business, and a masterly management over 
all, he has conquered success in every movement in his life, and 
stands forth to-day an illustrious example of the capabilities of 
chaiacter and manhood. 





I'hotii*. hy W. V. lUfigor. Synu-uw. 



TITI'S MKRIIIMAN. M.H. 



JIKS. TITI'S MKKIIIMAN. 



TITUS MKUIUMAN, M.D. 



The subject of thin Bketcli wus a native of Mcriden, Conn., 
and wan bum Oct. 1), 1786. When n child \m parents removed 
U) Otiaco, Ononda^ County. At an early ope he evinced a 
Htron); inclinatinn to a professional life. lie .studied medicine 
with Dr. Beach, of .^Inrccllu.■<. As a student he wa.s industrious 
and unremitting; in hi.Hdtudiest. In IS II he removed to Klbrid>;e, 
where for fifty years he devoted liiiuself to the practice of liis 
prufesiHion, and by tlie ener);etic pros«'cution of the plan.s of liis 
life he earned an enviable reputation thrcmgliout the entire 
county. In pursuing; his profession he never failed to respond 
to the calls of the sick. Whether in sunshine, storms, la(« hours, 
or outside business, for the p(X)r without hope of remuneration, 
or the Wealthy, he was e<|ually ready to devote himself to the 
relief of sufferiiij: and disease. lie was assooiatod in counsel 
with the eminent physicians of his day, was a meml>er of the 
" Syracuse Medical Society," and is still remembered by the 
elder members as a useful and skillful physician and perfect 
p!ntleman. 

In 1814 he was married to Miss Mary Wilcox. She died 



March 21, 1823, and in June, lH2.'i, he was married to Miss 
Polly, daujiliUr of I'etcr and Zi|>erah Hacker, of Elbridge, 
who were amon); the early settlers of the town. Mrs. Mcrriman 
was born in .\iii.itcrdam, Montgomery Co., N. Y., May 10, 
1805. 

Dr. Merrinian's services were not conBncd to his profe.Hsion. 
He was an earnest patron of education, and an uncompromisinj; 
temperance man iMith by precept and example. Noted for his 
hospitality, his hou.sc was always the home of the educator, 
preacher, and temperanoc worker. Well informed, and extremely 
social and affable, his hospitality was richly enjoyed by all. He 
died May 20, 1864, havin<j; seen his county and town develop 
from almost a wilderness to a beautiful and jnipulous rcpon, by 
the upward finidalions of an enorp'tic jKHiple buildin); ujxin the 
solid fciundutions laid by early residents like Dr. Merriman. 
He has gone; his generation have mainly passed away. In his 
life ho made the beat of his situation, enlarged his comforts 
with opportunity; then, having seen the fulfillment of his 
expectations, was numbered with the departed. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



303 



formed chiefly from members of this church, in 
1806. Seven of the original members of this society 
were dismissed to the church at Sennett. 

Letters of dismissal were granted to fourteen 
members in 1829, to form the present Presbyterian 
Church at Jordan. 

Although this is one of the oldest churches in the 
county, they have never asked nor received any aid 
from missionary funds. They have at present a 
fund of ;?3,400. 

The present membership is loi ; total member- 
ship, about 600 ; attendance at Sunday School, 100. 

The seventy-sixth anniversary of the church was 
celebrated October 30th, 1876. 

The Baptist Church in Elbridge was organized 
May I, 18 1 3, and recognized on the 20th of the 
same month. The following is the manner of its 
formation : 

The records of the church open with the minutes 
of a meeting held in the school house near Squire 
Munro's, by appointment of the church in Brutus, 
at which meeting " it was agreed that it is expedi- 
ent, and the church gives full liberty to all then liv- 
ing in (then) Camillus, to form into church order." 

On the 20th of the same month the body of 
believers was recognized as a regular Church of 
Christ, by delegates from the First Church in Onon- 
daga, the First and Second Churches in Marcellus, 
the church in Aurelius and the church in Brutus. 
Elder Israel Craw was pastor of the church at the 
time of its recognition, and in behalf of the church 
received the right hand of fellowship from Elder 
Joseph Cornell, of Providence, R. I. Elder Craw 
continued to be pastor of the church till October 
1 8th, 1817, at a salary of one hundred dollars per 
year ; and during a portion of this period he 
preached one-fourth of the time at Nine-Mile Creek. 
His connection with the church was then dissolved 
by the withdrawal of the hand of fellowship from 
him. 

On the 4th of December, 1815, the church and 
society met at the school house near Squire Munro's, 
their usual place of meeting up to this time, and 
voted to build a meeting house in the village of 
Elbridge, and also adopted a platform and constitu- 
tion. 

The first edifice at Elbridge was accordingly 
erected in 1816. In 1858, it was superceded by 
the substantial and commodious church edifice now 
occupied by the society and congregation. Deacon 
John Munro was the chief mover in, and contributor 
towards the construction of this church, and it 
stands as a monument of his liberality and Christian 
devotion. The cost of the building was $14,000. 



In 1875, church parlors were added at an expense 
of ;S2,5oo. 

Among the original members of the church were 
Deacon Squire Munro and wife, Ichabod Tyler and 
wife, and Isaac Hill and wife. 

The Baptist Church in Skaneateles was formed 
by the labors of this church and its ministry from 
1830 to 1832. David Bellamy, a member of this 
church was ordained the first pastor of the church 
at Skaneateles, December 29, 1832. 

About 1835 this church also sent off a colony in 
the opposite direction, as appears from its vote ap- 
proving the formation of a separate church in 
Jordan. 

Rev. Jacob Thomas was ordained by this church 
in 1S36 as a missionary to Burmah, and was killed 
by the falling of a tree just as he had reached his 
prospective field of labor. 

The pastors of the church have been the follow- 
ing in the order named : Revs. Israel Craw, May 
20, 1813 to October, 1817; Sylvanus Haynes, 
January, 18 18, to his death in 1826; Cyrus Fuller, 
June, 1827, to December, 1838 ; Jeremiah B. 
Evertts, January, 1839, to December, 1841 ; 
Isaac Butterfield, January, 1842, to December, 
1846 ; John Smitzer, January, 1847, to December, 
1848 ; Z. O. Grineli, May. 1849, to March, 1850; 
was ordained by the church ; Alonzo Wheelock, 

D. D., 1850-57; absent from his pastorate one 
year ; A. Kingsbury, i857-'58 ; C. G. Carpenter, 
January, 1859 to April, i860; Thomas Rogers, 
ordained pastor January, 1861, and continues in 
that relation. 

The present membership of the church is two 
hundred and twenty-six ; attendance at Sunday 
School, two hundred and eighty. 

Elbridge M. E. Church. — At the commence- 
ment of the Conference Year in 185 1, Elbridge 
became a station and at that time contained fifty 
members. Previous to this time it had sometimes 
been connected with Jordan and sometimes with 
Camillus. The church is situated in the village of 
Elbridge and the church property is estimated to ' 
be worth at present $2,000. The records are so 
incomplete it is impossible to give a connected his- 
tory. As far as the record gives, the following are 
the pastors who have served this charge : 

1851-52, E. S. Bush ; 1853, not known ; 1854, 

E. M. Cuykendall; 1855, B. L. Nye ; 1856, Denton 
Mills; 1857-58, Wm. Searles ; i8S9-'6o, William 
C. Bowen ; 1861, Alvin M.Lake; 1862-65, not 
known ; 1866, Chester Dingman ; 1867, Stephen 
Cobb; 1868, not known; 1869, Selah Stocking; 
1870, J. F. Brown; 1871, Moses Lyon; 1872, E. 
M. Mills, for six months; 1873, P. J. Bull ; 1874, 



304 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



O. N. Hinman ; 1875. J. O. Jarman ; 1876. C. W. 

Lane ; 1877, L. Northway ; 1878, J. C. Nichols, 
present pastor. 

Number of members. 53 : Sunday School, 41 ; 
average attendance, 24. 

VILLAGE OF JORDAN. 

Jordan is situated in the northwest part of the 
town of Elbridge on the Erie Canal and the Direct 
New York Central Railroad. It is the most im- 
portant commercial village in the town. The 
impulse was given to settlement here by the open- 
ing of the Erie Canal, although some improvements 
had been made prior to that event. The first mill 
(a saw mill) was built in the year 1800. The mill 
known as the " White Mill " was erected in 1812, 
and the "Red Mill" in 1824. The act incorpora- 
ting the village was passed May 2, 1835 ; it was 
amended May 3, 1847, March 2, 1857, and January 
25, 1861. The village records up to 1845 3''^ 
missing, but we have been able to obtain the names 
of the officers for the year preceding (1844). They 
are as follows: Erastus Baker, Jr., President ; 
Lyman II. Mason, F. L. Sheldon, H. W. Chad- 
wick, James McClure, Jr., and F. S. Hover. Trus- 
tees. 

The Presidents of the village from 1846 to 1858, 
were as follows: Lyman H. Mason, i846-'47 • 
M. T. Spcrry, 1848; Alonzo Case, 1849; R. T.' 
I'aine, 1850; Wni. H. Boardman, 1851 ; Lyman H. 
Mason, i852-'54 ; E. Wheeler, 1855 ; James Rod- 
gers, 1856 ; R. S. Sperry, 1857 ; John Dale, 1858. 
From this date till 1874, there is another break in 
the records. Charles Kelley was President in 1874; 
Robert Van Keuren, 1875 ; Robert E. Greene, 
1876; A. D. Peck, 1877. The Trustees are : ist 
Ward, W. H. Rodgers ; 2d Ward, D. A. Sperry, 
H. Converse ; 3d Ward, C. D. Barnes. 

Banks. 

RoDiiER & Co., Private Bankers, do business in 
the old office of Wcstfall & Co. After Westfall & 
Co. failed, there was no bank in the place till 1870, 
when R. S. Sperry & Co., opened a private bank. 
They were succeeded by Rodger & Co. in 1874. 
The capital stock of this bank is $18,000. 

Graded Schools. 

The present school system of Jordan is the ordi- 
nary graded one, consisting of three departments : 
Primary, Intermediate and Academic, held in as 
many ditferent buildings. The Academic Depart- 
ment is conducted in the building of the old Jordan 
Academy, which was added to the school in 1875 by 
special act of the Legislature. 



Manufactures. 

Peck & Tracy, Foundry and Machine Shop. 
Established in 1876. Manufacture hand sleighs, 
horse powers, steam engines, etc. ; employ twenty 
workmen ; occupy ground formerly used by James 
Redfield as a blacksmith shop, afterward sold to 
Deming Boardman, who used it as a cooper shop 
and stave factory until 1866, when Mr. Peck came 
into possession and converted it to its present use. 
The business was first commenced in Jordan over 
fifty years ago by Daggett & Thatcher. The ma- 
chinery was bought by Mr. Peck in 1868, and moved 
to its present location. 

A. D. Peck, manufacturer of wheelbarrows and 
children's express wagons. Established in 1872; em- 
ploys fifteen men. Annual production about twenty 
thousand wheelbarrows and ten thousand wagons. 

JoRD.\N White Mills. Higgs & Co proprie- 
tors. Employ four hands. Capacity of mill one 
hundred barrels per day besides custom work ; four 
run of stones. Mill was built in 18 12. 

Sperry & Rockwell, manufacturers of wheel- 
barrows, hand sleds and skates. Established about 
1850. Old building burnt in 1870 and present 
building erected the same year. Employ forty-five 
hands, and produce about thirty thousand wheel- 
barrows per annum. 

Garrison & Taylor, Bedstead Manufacturers; 
were established in 1871, and give employment to 
ten hands. The present capacity of the works will 
allow them to manufacture four thousand bedsteads 
per annum. The present building is located on the 
site of the old " Red Mill" that was built in 1824. 

Hakdv & Putnam, Proprietors Saw Mill and 
manufacturers of straw board. Established during 
1865. Employ twelve hands. The straw board 
manufactory is run only during the summer months. 
Production one hundred and ninety tons. Works 
are located on canal feeder. Mill street, which gives 
them an excellent water-power. 

I. O. O. F. 

Jordan Lodge No. 230 was instituted the 30th 
of June 1846, with the following officers: W. T. 
Graves. N. G. ; C. W. Upham, V. G. ; George W. 
Green, Secretary ; H. T. Sheldon, Treasurer. 
From about April 13th, 1859, until June 30, 1869, 
the lodge was discontinued. At the latter date, 
however, it was reorganized as Jordan Lodge No. 
215, with the following officers : P. Drake, N. G.; 
E. S. Drake, V. G. ; W. C. Orcutt, Secretary ; 
A. F. Tracy, Treasurer. The present officers are 
A. F. Tracy, N. G. ; L. B. Snow, V. G. ; H. L. 
Haskins, Treasurer ; W. Baker, Secretary. 




I'boto. Iiy W. V. Ranger, SjracUBe. 



M^A 



Preserved Wright, son of Solomon Wright, was born at Wil- 
braham, Mass., in 1770. He married Jemima King in 1793, by 
whom he liad seven sons and five danghtcrs. One daughter died 
in infaney, the others all lived to mature age. Truman King 
Wright, the subject of this sketch, and his twin brother Norman, 
were the youngest of the twelve children. They were born March 
27, 1815, in Ruiiert, Vt., to which place their father had removed 
from Manchester, Vt., in 1805. 

Their father died when they were eight years old. The mother 
kept a home for the family for about four years. At that time it 
seemed best that the two young boys should go to work on a farm ; 
and a life opened to them which would have ajipalled less cour- 
ageous hearts. But with sturdy bodies and determined wills they 
performed hard labor on a New England farm for three years, at 
a compensation of four, five, and six dollars a month. Although 
often weary, lonely, and homesick, they toiled on without com- 
plaint, hoping for something better in the future. At fifteen, they 
obtained a more desirable situation, which gave them an oppor- 
tunity of attending school one term, at Washington academy,' 
Salem, N.Y. 

This was the beginning of their efforts for a liberal education. 
Through the kindness of a friend, Truman K. obtained a chance 
to work his way for eight months, at lioyaltmi academy, Vt. 

In 1833 he entered Burr seminary, tlien a flourishing school at 
Manchester, Vt. Here, alternately teaching two winters in his 
old district and once in an adjoining one, and attending school, he 
tilted for college. At the age of twenty he entered Middlebury 
college. The following winter he taught at Rupert, walking, for 
the purpose of economy, from Middlebury to his school, the dis- 
tance of forty-five miles, in one day, — something of a feat in those 
days, when i>rofessional walkers were unknown. 

The next winter he taught the district school at West Rutland, 
and during the winters of his junior and senior years he taught 
the academy in that place. His snmmer vacations were spent in 
working on the farm. Throughout his college course, he excelled 
in all games and pastimes requiring strength of body and presence 
of mind. He graduated in 1839, among the first in his class. 

In the following autumn a request came to the president of 
Middlebury college, from the trustees of New London (N. H.) 
academy, an institution just established, for a first-class teacher. 
The choice lay between him and his twin brother, who had grad- 
uated at the same time, and was decided by casting lots. The lot 
fell to Truman. He remained principal of this academy four 
years. He always referred to his connection with the academy as 
a bright spot in his life. 

Owing to causes growing out of the anti-slavery agitation, he 
left New London, and went to Durham, N. H., whose academy he 
taught successfully for three years. 

Among valued acquaintances here made was that of Judge Valen- 
tine Smith, a man whom he came to love for his many virtues and 



admire for his high moral principles. President of the board of 
trustees, he proved a valuable friend and adviser. Although 
numbering more than his three-score years and ten, his words 
were wise in council, and his cheerful humor had the freshness of 
youth. His facetious rendering of the legend of Scylla and 
Charybdis, by the terms Skilla and Caribogus, could never be 
forgotten by one who heard it. 

in 1846, T. K. Wright was married to Martha Bridgman, of 
Hanover, N. H., an associate teacher at Durham, and through the 
influence of his brother. Dr. Rial Wright, of Syracuse, removed 
with his wife to Pompev Hill, and became principal of the acad- 
emv at that place. He there remained six years, and, as in all 
other places where he had lived, he found warm friends and 
hearty co-operators among his trustees, among whom were Vic- 
tory Birdseye, Daniel Gott, Horace Wheaton, Levi and Asa H. 

Wells. . • , r T 1 A 

In the spring of 1853 he engaged as principal of Jordan acad- 
emy, where he taught five years, as was sometimes jokingly said, 
" to the satisfaction of himself and the terror of the surrounding 

COU77 ivXt 

His success at Jordan led the trustees of the Munro Collegiate 
Institute to invite him to come to Elhridge and take charge of 
their academy, which for some years had been on the wane. He 
accepted the invitation, and began his work there April 1 1858, 
and succeeded in so establishing the reputation of the .school that, 
in a few terms, the number of the students was increased nearly 
four-fold The fund, which in 1858 was but i!;iO,000, increased in 
the next ten years to $15,000. The chapel also was flnished at an 
expense of $1100, and all things pertaining to the school moved 
successfully forward until the close of 1865, when the reaction all 
over the country was felt by this in common with other institutions 
of learning. The number' of pupils steadily decreased for a num- 
ber of veafs. It was also financially embarrassed through the loss 
of a part of its fund. But in 1874 the tide turned once more, and 
since that time the school has steadily advanced. 

If inheriting no wealth but an honest name; if conquering 
rough fortune by sheer pluck and resolute will; if working ones 
way through an academic and collegiate course of study by hard 
hand-work as well as by hard head-work, and obtaining promi- 
nence in a chosen profession, are marks of self-made men, then is 
Truman K Wright such an one. For nearly forty years he has 
been connected with prominent educational institutions,-over 
thirty of them in Onondaga County, and twenty ot them in h.\- 
bridie, where he is now teaching. That his work as a teacher lias 
been a success is easily proved by the love and high regard in 
which he is held by all who have ever been his pupils While he 
does not fear to review his work and meet its "-e^sults he bears 
willing and grateful testinu.ny to the fact that in Elbridge, as in 
all other places where he has taught, he attributes much^of his 
success to an able, well-united, and reliable board of trustees. 




I'iKilo. bjf Geuk DjfKort, JonUn, N. V. 



.101 IN A STKVKNS. 



Tlio Hubjoct uf° tliU Hki'tc-h IH u <;raiiil.siiii of ('apt. Williain 
SUsvciLS, wlio wiiH ail officur in the llcviiliiliiinary war, and oiiu 
of tliat liiMtoric jiarly wlm tlircw tlic lea ovorhDarii in ISoston 
harbor, lie sorved with marked ability ihroujjli the war, and 
at tlio close settled in Colcminc, Miuvs., where ho en^ij^cd in 
Iiicreaiitile pursuits. 

In IT'.IU or M'M he emigrated to Oiiondapi County, the 
government havin<; pven him, in eonsidenition of hi.s services in 
the Continental army, thirty-.six hiinilri'd acre.s of land. This 
land wa.s divided into nix hiiiidrt'd aere lutn, all of whieh was 
located in Unondiipi County, excepting two lots. Captain Stevens 
wa.-< evidently a man of cuhure and rcGneiin'iit and marked liusi- 
nitss ability, lie l<iok an active pari in all town ami county inat- 
t4.TS, and, in appreeiatiun of his services, his feUow-townsinen 
made him nia^.strate of the town the ywir succoedinj; his 
arrival. From that time on he wilm re<pirdcd ils one of the most 
prominent men in the county, und his mime is eonspieuous in 
the early judicial history of the county, he havin;; been one of 
the first jud;;es of the court of common pleas. 

lie ilid miii-h towards developing the siilt interest, and was 
the first su|)erintendent of the works, the pn>|>erty at this time 
boiiig in the pos.-u«)*ion of the State. 

Captain SteviMis wa.s nn h]ii;.;lishnian by birth, and came to this 
country in company with his two brothers, the eldest of whom 
ntturned to Hnt;land, and the youn^^cst diL>d S4M)n ul\er their 
arrival. 

Captain Stevens died in Salina, Feb. 28, 1801, leavinj; 
the followin<; children, — HelMcy, William, Henry, ll4)bcrt, 
ThomiLs, and John, the latter beinj; the father of our .subject. 



lie was born in Coleraine, Milss., and came to Ononda^i County 
when thirteen ycjirs of age. lie lived in KIbridgc village nnd 
Was eiiLT'iged in milling. He inheritetl from his father an 
aptitude lor military matters. He .served during the war of 
1H12 as colonel of the IGth Regiment New York Infantry. 
At the close of the war be returned to KIbridge, where he re- 
sided until hi.s death, which occurred Octolier, 180(5. 

He married Miss Anna Tyler, daughter of one of the pioneers 
of the county. He had four sons, nnd our .subject was the 
third child and was born in KIbridge, Jan. lis, isnj. He 
Jived with hU father until he was thirty-one years of ago, and 
was a.ssoeiated in busiiuvs with him. In ISO" he bought the 
heirs' interest in the farm imw owned by him, and upon which 
he has since lived. 

In 1S:M he marrietl Mi.ss Catharine Fornerook, of CbarlcMlon, 
Montgomery Co., N. Y.. where she was born July 1-1, 1811. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have been blessed with ten children, 
all of whom are living but one, John 0., who. in the sen ice of 
his country, lost his life in the battle of Har|)er'8 Ferry. 

Another son, Develois, wxs a member of the 1 22d Ui"_'iment 
New York Infantry; William K. and Cyrcnus F. are residents 
of KIbridge village, und are the proprietors of the Munro 
IIoii.se. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have pa.s8cd with honor through all 
the vicissitudes of life, and have lived to sec the county of Onon- 
daga develop from almost a wildenicss into one of the finest 
agricultural di.striet^ in the State. They have been successful 
in life, and are enjoying in their old ago a com|)ctcncy, the re- 
sult of a long life of indii.stry, economy, and honorable dciiling. 




EZEKIEL SKINNER. 



This venerable pioneer was born in the town of Marshfield, 
Washington county, Vermont, January 12, 18t)l. He was 
the son of Giles Skinner and Sally Chapman, and in a family of 
seven was the fourth child. The elder Skinner moved into 
Washington county at an early day, and became one of its prom- 
inent citizens. The boyhood days of our subject were spent 
upon his father's farm, sharing the hardships and privations of 
a pioneer family, and receiving as good an education as the in- 
ferior schools of that day afforded. When twenty-one years of 
age he left his home, and with his pack upon his back came to 
the village of Elbridge. He first engaged in teaching in what 
is now district No. 11, town of Elbridge, at eight dollars 
per month, and among his pupils were James Rodger, of 
Jordan, Calvin Mclntyre, and John Cory. Upon the termina- 



tion of his engagement he went to work in a pail factory, and he 
afterwards carried on the business for himself, and, in fact, has 
since been engaged in some mechanical pursuit. 

In 1822, Mr. Skinner was united in marriage with Miss 
Huldah Huntington, daughter of Luther Huntington, Esq., of 
Elbridge, one of the town's first settlers. The result of this 
union was four children, three daughters, and one son who died 
in infancy: Sarah, now Mrs. Rogers, of Syracu.se; Mary L., wife 
of E. M. Powell, a prominent lumberman of Bay City, Michi- 
gan ; and Julia, wife of James Lankten, Esq., of Elbridge. 

In June, 1857, Mrs. Skinner died, and, in 1858, Mr. Skinner 
was again married to Miss Esther J. Case, of Fulton, Oswego 
county, N. Y. She was born in Bridgeport, Vt., October, 
1803, and is a worthy partner of her estimable husband. 





UKAI'ON ISAAC IIII.I.. 



1 UmUm. by \V. V. ILiiipT, Sjrnu-UBtf. 



MKS. MAKV Mil. 



DEACON ISAAC 1II1,L. 



The Bubjcct of tliiH skololi was born in tlio lutrth of Ireland, 
in the county of Anna;;li, Febniary 4, 1781. Ili.s fatlicr wa.s 
a farnicr, ami at the ago of (burtccn Isaac was a|>prenticed to 
the incrcaiitilc hiwinc^t. As he f;rcw to manhood he longed for 
a larger freedom, both civil and rcligioun, than was enjoyed in 
the land of his birth. IliM thought.s naturally turned to Anierica. 
Accordingly he left the city of Armagh, where ho resided, and 
came to New York in IWIS, and engaged in trade. He re- 
mained in New York about one year, when he came to Kl- 
bridgi', where nonie of hi« friends had already settled, and 
puruhaseil a sniali ijuanlity of land, lleturning to New York 
he eli»H'd his busiiKso*. and in the spring of IHlO came on with 
his family, lie lirmiL'hl witli him a small ijuantity of goods 
and established a .imail stort>, which wim the second in the town. 
lie continued in the busincw until 1.^25, when he removed to 
Memphis, then calle<l ('union, where he did businews until 
LHSt), when he retired and removed to Syracuse to spend the 
remainder of his days, and where he died, December 12, 
18G8, a good old man, and full of years. As a busineia raao, 
Mr. Hill was eminently successful. Socially genial and court«onK, 
winning and retaining the reganl of all with wlxmi he came in 
contact. 

In l.'^i:!, Mr. Hill uniUnl with the Baptist church in KIbridge, 
and WHS one of it.s mo.-'t prominent memlxTs for many years, 



and to all objeet.s of denominational benevolence he was a regular 
and liberal contributor. 

Before coming to this country, Mr. Hill wa.s married to Miss 
Mary Walker. The rc-iult of this union was nine children, 
six of whom grew to maturity, and four of whom are now living: 
Mrs. v.. .M. .Vusiin, .Mrs. Samuel McClelland, Mrs. John Bat)*, 
and Thomas \V. 

Thomas W. was born on the old homestead, where he now 
resides (a view of which, in connection with |Hirtraits of him- 
self and wife, and father and mother, may be seen elsewherc in 
this work), September 21, 1810. He lived with his father 
until he was twenty-five years of age, when he returned to the 
old place, upon which he has since rc8ide<l. Mr. Hill has always 
been engaged in farming, and in his chosen calling has been 
eminently successful, and is ranked among the prominent farmers 
and sucecNsful business men of the county. Mr. Hill is an 
earnest friend of education, and hits made liberal donations to 
varioiLs eilucational institutions, among which are the Ilochcstcr 
theological seminary and the Madison university. 

On December 24, 1834, Mr. Hill was married to Miss 8a- 
maiitha Muiiro, daughter of David Munro, who was a son of 
Deacon S<|uire Munro, one of the original settlers of the town. 
On September 13, 1S38, she died, and im May 15, 1839, Mr. 
Hill was ag;iin marriixl to Mary A. Munro. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



305 



F. & A. M. 

'■ Jordan Lodge No. 386, instituted July 14, 1856. 
John G. Webster, M. ; Jas. McClure, S. W. ; Alonzo 
Case, J. W. Present membership 142. Present 
officers : J. W. Dye, M. ; A. W. Spinning, S. W. ; 
E. C Nicholson, J. W. Meets first and third 
Mondays in each month in Rodger Block. 

Churches. 

Christ Church, Jordan. — In the years 1838 
and '39, an occasional service of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church was held in the Presbyterian 
Church at Jordan by Rev. Joseph T. Clark, Rector 
of St. James Church, Skaneateles, and Rev. Dr. 
Baldwin of Auburn. At this time there were a 
few ladies who were communicants of the Episcopal 
Church residing in Jordan and vicinity. In March, 
1840, Mr. Cyrus Andrews, a member of St. John's 
Church, Marcellus, removed to Jordan, and through 
his efforts and those of the ladies above referred to, 
Rev. Thaddeus Leavenworth commenced services 
in the school house, where, on the 30th of Novem- 
ber, 1840, a parish was organized under the name 
of "The Rector, Wardens and Vestry of Christ 
Church, Jordan." James Riggs and Cyrus Andrews 
were elected Wardens, and Lemuel B. Raymond, 
William Porter, Jr , David Pierson, Samuel Tucker, 
Holland W. Chadwick, Daniel K. Green, Alonzo 
Wood and George A. Mason. Vestrymen. 

The next clergyman was Rev. Isaac Swart, in 
1842 ; under his ministry one hundred dollars were 
raised towards a church, and on his retirement, 
deposited with the Treasurer of the Diocese to the 
credit of the parish. Occasional services were 
held from this time by Rev. Mason Gallagher and 
Rev. O. P. Holcomb, till the spring of 1845, at 
which time Rev, Beardsley Northrop, from the 
Diocese of Ohio, located in Jordan, and held services 
here and at St. John's, Marcellus, on alternate 
Sundays. About this time Mr. and Mrs. Henry 
Daboll, who had recently settled in Van Buren, 
about five miles from Jordan, became members of 
the church, being baptized by Rev. Mr. Northrop, 
July 27, 1845, the first adult persons baptized in 
the parish. 

During the latter part of the summer and fall of 
that year, a sufficient sum was pledged to warrant 
the Vestry in proceeding to erect a church edifice ; 
and on the 23d of December, 1845, t^he contract 
was let to William Gibson for the sum of g 1,1 5 7. 
The building was nearly enclosed, when, on the 
nth of July, 1846, it was blown down. However, 
by the addition of one hundred dollars, Mr. Gibson 
was induced to go on, and the building was com- 
46* 



pleted and consecrated January 20, 1847, by Bishop 
DeLancy. 

Rev. Mr. Northrop resigned the rectorship July 
I, 1847, and lay services were held by Spencer M. 
Rice till March 19, 1848. Mr. Rice, being advanced 
to the Diaconate, was appointed by the Bishop- 
missionary at Jordan and Marcellus. He ministered 
at Jordan on each alternate Sunday till July 21, 
1850, and was succeeded by Rev. Loren Russ, 
missionary at Jordan and Port Byron, December i, 
1850, who remained till Easter, 1853. His suc- 
cessor was Rev. J. G. Webster, in January, 1854, 
officiating also half the time at Port Byron. Under 
his ministry the parish increased in numbers and 
pecuniary strength. 

On the 3d day of July, 1862, the Vestry took intO' 
consideration the erection of a new church ; and at 
a special meeting, held January 1st, 1863, Harry 
Weed, A. H. Tracy and Henry Daboll were ap- 
pointed a committee to procure plans for a brick 
church, to be located on the south west corner of 
Main and Delhi streets. The committee, to whom 
Rev. J. G. Webster was afterwards added and made 
chairman, adopted the plan of H. N. White, archi- 
tect, let the job to Messrs. Gibson, Bruce and 
Pierce ; the church was completed and occupied for 
the first time on Christmas eve, 1863, and on the 
29th of December was consecrated by Bishop De- 
Lancy. 

Rev. Mr. Webster resigned on account of feeble 
health, October 8, 1864, and was succeeded, until 
February i, 1866, by Rev. Robert C. Wall. 
March 4, 1866, Rev. Albert Danker became Rector,, 
remainingin charge till Christmas of the same year. 
Rev. S. K. Miller assumed charge January 13, 
1867, and remained till March 4th, 1872. During 
his ministry the free-seat system was adopted and a 
small residence purchased for the Rector. Occa- 
sional supplies were obtained till August 4th, 1872, 
from which date the rectorship was filled by Rev. 
S. H. Phillips, till June i, 1875. During this sum- 
mer the church was thoroughly renovated and re- 
painted, the parish being meantime supplied by 
Rev. Joel Davis, Rev. J. M. Benedict and Rev. 
William A. Ely, the latter of whom, after fainting 
while engaged in the service and being carried from 
the chancel, died at at Watertovvn, N. Y., March 
13, 1877. Rev. Joel Davis, the present Rector, 
entered upon his duties September 5, 1875. 

The Rectory opposite the church, corner of Main 
and Delhi streets, was purchased December 13, 
1875, for the sum of $2,600, and occupied by the 
Rector April i, 1876. 

Since the organization of the parish two hun- 



306 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



II 



dred infants have been baptized, eighty adults, and 
one hundred and eighty persons confirmed : forty- 
four families are identified with the church, and 
there are one hundred and ten communicants, ten 
teachers and fifty scholars in the Sunday school. 

First Pkesbvterian Chi;kch of Jordan. — 
During the years from 1S24 to 1826, the pastors 
of the Congregational society of Elbridge, Rev. 
Stephen I'orter and Rev. Timothy Stowe, preached 
in Jordan once a Sabbath, at intervals of three or 
four weeks. From 1826 to 1828, preaching was 
had by theological students from Auburn^Messrs. 
Crab and Kent. The first meeting to organize a 
society was held in the brick school house on the 
south east corner of the Academy lot, now occupied 
by Nicholas Craner as a dwelling, June 9, 1829. 
Dr. Aaron Pitney presided ; Lemuel H. Raymont, 
Secretary. Five Trustees were elected, viz : 
Herman Jenkyns, Aaron Pitney, Fben More- 
house. James \V. Redfickl, Fdmund W. Hotsford, 
and Sidney M. Norton, Clerk. They arc all 
deceased. 

At the meeting of the Cayuga Presbytery in 
1829, a request was made by the members of the 
Congregational church of Hlbridge, residing in Jor- 
dan, to be set oft' in a separate church organization. 
The request was granted and Rev. Levi Parsons, 
Justus Hough and Elder Smith of Brutus, were 
appointed a committee to organize a church at Jor- 
dan. These, with Rev. Mr. Stowe and Rev. Mr. 
IngersoU, proceeded to organize a church, July 2, 
1829, consisting of eighteen members, eight men 
and ten women. The members who were trans- 
ferred from the Elbridge Congregational church to 
form this Presbyterian church of Jordan were Ed- 
mund W. Hotslord, Alva D. I'otsford, Delana Uots- 
ford, Mary Botsford, (wife of Edmund W ,) Thomas 
L. Carson, William Newell, Elizabeth, (wife of Her- 
man Jenkyns,) Delatus Frary, Sally, (wife of Elihu 
Frary.i Sara Coonley, (now Otis,) William Nickcr- 
son, Matilda Stevens, (wife of Robert Stevens,) 
Thomas Stevens, John Stevens, and Elenor, (wife 
of John Stevens ) To these were added from Jor- 
dan and vicinity, Jane Carson, (now Ward,) Eben- 
e/er Daggett and Mary P , his wife, Salmon Greene 
and Amy, his wife, Eliza Bell, Nancy McKissick, 
(now Blakeslie, ) Ebenezer Morehouse and wife, 
Pomeroy Tobey and wife, and others. 

The first session, elected July 2, 1829. consisted 
of six elders : Alva D. Botsford, Ebenezer Dag- 
gett, Salmon Greene, Pomeroy Tobey, William 
Newell, and Ebenezer Morehouse ; all deceased. 

Rev. John IngersoU, a Congregationalist min- 
ister, appointed by the American Home Missionary 



Society, preached during the time of the church 
organization, and was succeeded by Rev. William 
Page, also an appointee of the American Home 
Missionary Society, at the end of whose service in 
1831 missionary aid to the chuich ceased. 

The church was received into the Cayuga Pres- 
bytery, January 20, 1831. 

The first church edifice was built during the 
years i830-'3i, at a cost of ^4,000, and was dedi- 
cated June 30, 1831, by a .meeting of the Cayuga 
Presbytery, one of the Professors of the Auburn 
Seminary preaching the sermon. The church was 
altered and repaired in its present form at an addi- 
tional expense of $4,000 in 1863. 

The following are the names and terms of ser- 
vice of the several ministers and pastors: 

Rev. John IngersoU, 1829; Rev. William Page, 
8 1 30 ; Rev. George Warner, 1 83 1 ; Rev John Covert, 
1832; Rev. Washington Thatcher, January, 1833 to 
November, 1841 ; Rev. Huntington Lyman, Nov- 
ember, 184!, to March, 1843; Rev. Aaron Judson, 
October. 1843,10 May, 1848; Rev. H. B. Hosford. 
November 1848, to November, 1849; Rev. Calvin 
V\'atcrbury, November. 1849, to May. 1851; Rev. 
R. B. Welch, June, 1851, to May, 1852; Rev. Im- 
mer N. Crittenden, October, 1852, to October, 
1855 ; Rev. William Wakeman, July, 1856, to July, 
1857 : Rev. Judson Aspinwall, June. 1857. to 
June, 1858 ; Rev. Richard Dunning, May, 1858, to 
July, 1863; Rev. Richard Proctor, August, 1863, 
to September, 1864 ; Rev. J. V. C. Nellis. May, 
1865, to October. 1867; Rev. Cyrus M. Perry, 
February, 1868. to May, 1872 ; Rev. I. O. Fill- 
more, D. D., July, 1873, to October, 1874 ; Rev. J. 
Edward Close, present pastor, assumed charge 
May, 1875. 

Since its organization this church has received 
about six hundred members. Present number 
ninety-five. The Sunday School was organized in 
1824, Alva D. Botsford. Superintendent. 

MhTHODiST Episcopal Church of Jordan, 
located on the coiner of Church and Mechanic 
streets. The present edifice is of wood and is the 
only house of worship ever erected by this society 
in Jordan. It was built in 1832 at a cost of about 
33,000, but improvements and additions from time 
to lime are supposed to have doubled the value of 
the property. There is a comfortable parsonage 
costing with its furniture, about gi,8oo, on the ad- 
joining lot. 

Previous to the erection of the church, meetings 
were held in school houses, in and around the vil- 
lage and a class is believed to have been organized 
as early as 1820, and was included in one of the 
large circuits. Services by Rev. Seth Mattison 
over half a century ago. 

Father Purdy and Rev. Herman Judson, and 





Photos, by W. V. Ranger, Syracuse. 



JACOB HALSTEU. 



MRS. J. HALSTED. 



JACOB HALSTED. 



The subject of this sketch was born in Newburg, Orange Co., 
N. Y., July 22, 1795, and is undoubtedly the oldest living settler 
in the town of Elbridge. His father, Abraham Halsted, was also 
a native of Orange county, where he was born in the year 1770. 
The Halsted family may well be proud of the many virtues of their 
ancestors, who were noted for their patriotism and sterling qualities 
as citizens. Jacob and John Halsted, the paternal uncles of our 
subject, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, as were also many 
others from different branches of the family. Abraham Halsted 
was a farmer, and in the early part of his life in straitened cir- 
cumstances, and per consequence he and bis family had their full 
share of the trials and privations of pioneer life. In 1806 he sold 
his farm in Orange county, and removed with his family to Elbridge, 
then known as the town of Camillus, where he purchased one 
hundred and sixty-three acres of wild land of Judge Foreman. 
The land was heavily timbered, and the construction of a farm was 
the work of years ; but by degrees field after field was added, and 
industry and perseverance were rewarded. It was on this farm 
that his children were reared, and where our subject has since 
resided. Among the privations of those da^'s were lack of educa- 
tional advantages. This Mr. Halsted felt severely, as he was deter- 
mined to have an education ; and the homely adage, " that where 
there's a will there's a way," was exemplitied in his case. He at- 
tended school one winter at Ionia, boarding at home and walking 
the entire distance morning and night, breaking his road through 
the woods. He completed his education at the Onondaga academy, 
and his energy and zeal is shown in the fact that, for a portion of 
the time, he lived on bread and sweetened water, not having the 
means to obtain a more liberal diet. He succeeded in obtaining a 
good English education, which he made practically useful to him- 
self and others by teaching. Mr. Halsted's whole life has been 
devoted to the cares of his farm and family, although in his jTiuth 
he desired to lead ''a life on the ocean wave." He studied naviga- 
tion and made other preparations, which were thwarted by the death 
of his only brother, which left him the sole prop of his father's de- 



clining years, and at his request he abandoned the idea of going to 
sea, settled down as a farmer, in which occupation he has been 
eminently successful, and his long life has been characterized by 
industry, integrity, and honorable dealing. When starting out for 
himself he composed the following stanza as his motto, and to those 
who know him it will be unnecessary to say that it has been the 
rule of his life : 

" I'll get my liviug by the sweat of my face. 
Anil bear good-will to the human race, 
I'll pay my debts as soon as due, 
And wear my old clothes till I ran make new." 

By economy, industry, and perseverance he has made life a suc- 
cess, and stands foremost among the substantial men of his town. 
He has been called by his fellow-townsmen to fill several positions 
of trust, — commissioner of deeds, assessor, and justice of the peace, — 
all of which he filled with credit to himself and to the entire satis- 
faction of his constituents. 

Mr. Halsted has been married three times. First, in 1819, to Miss 
Cynthia Hobart; the result of this union were five daughters, 
three of whom are now living, namely, Mary, wife of Dr Good- 
hue, of Iowa ; Eliza, now Mrs. Abram H. Jones ; and Margaret 
Ann, wife of Wm. K. Pickerd, Esq., of Elbridge. 

May 27, 1841, Mrs. Halsted was "called home," and in 1843 
he was again married to Miss Caroline Symonds. She died May 
21, 1845; and Nov. 17, 1850, he was married to Mrs. Catharine 
Parker, of Marcellus, daughter of George and Rebecca Crysler, 
who were among the pioneers of that town. In his political and 
religious ideas he is a Baptist and a stanch Republican. Liberal to 
a fault, every worthy enterprise finds in him a generous patron 
and supporter. 

Mr. Halsted is a self-made man. Early in life he learned that 
the way leading to success was no royal road, but was open li> 
strong hands and willing hearts. 

," Honor and fame from no condition rise. 
.\ct well your imrt, there all the honor lies." 




MARVIN W. HARDY. 



The Mubjcct of tliui sketch was born July 25, 1820, at Man- 
lii:iiii, Hcrkiincr Co., N. Y. He was the eldest child in the 
family of Juel and Ilepsibuh Ilnrdy, whu were farmore. lie 
aci|uirc<l a pH)d amiinun-schotii vducutiun, and remained with 
bin [inrcnts until he was twenty-two yearn of aj;e, when ovincinj; 
an ii|>ti(tiile for mechanical puntuitM, he went to Little Falls, 
.N. Y.. where he learned the trade ol' a carpenter, which he 
followed alxmt thret> years. From Little Falls he removed to 
Montgomery county, and cnpigcd in the manufacture uf ])aper 
for C'hauncvy North until his removal to Jordan in 18(>4, where 
he purchased a fann and cttlablisheil him.<*elf in the manufacture 
of |Ni|M!r. In February, 1S13, Mr. Hardy was marrieU to 
France*, daugbtt-r of riiaunccy North and Abigail (iri.swold, of 
Herkimer county. Mr. and Mrs. North were originally from 
I'onnccticut, and emigrat<-4l In Fondabnsh, Montgomery county, 
where Mrs. Hiirdy wiis Ikihi Dec. 18, 1815. Mr. and .^lr>. 
Hardy have had eighl children Ihihi t4) them, and iiame<l in the 



order of their ages as follows: Abigail, bom Nov. 13, 1843; 
Chauncey, bom Nov. 6, 1845; Mary, bom Aug. 26, 1847; 
Frances, bora Sept. 29, 1849 (deceased); Adelia and Amelia, 
born July 29, 1852; Samuel 0., born Oct. 22, 1S54 ; Kmma 
Ida, born Feb. 22, 1858. 

Mr. Hardy was an ambitious and successful businesH man. 
Hy industry, perseverance, and honorable dealing he ac(|uircd a 
competence, and at Iiis death was considered to be one of the 
8ul>!*(untial business men of Jordan. Possowcd of many of the 
virtuct) and but few of the faults of mankind, he was highly 
ostccmed by all who knew him for his moral worth. In his 
religious ideas he was a Methodist, and in the churt-h tiMik a 
prominent part as class-leader. All in all, Mr. Hardy was a 
man of sound judgment, high character, and integrity, and an 
aid in building up and advancing the best interests of society, 
— a ni:ui of liroud charity, generous libcnility, and manly 
honor. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



307 



afterward a Rev. Mr. Barnes and Rev. Mr. Harris 
— local preachers — were among the early laborers 
previous to the erection of the church. While the 
church was being erected, but before it was dedi- 
cated, Rev. Roswell Parker was appointed to Jordan 
circuit. Jordan then first appeared in the minutes 
of the Oneida Conference as a separate charge. 

The following is believed to be a correct list of 
the pastors and their terms of service since the 
church came to be a regular appointment in this 
conference, viz : 

Revs. Roswell Parker, 1832 ; Isaac S. Wright, 
1834 ; Charles Giles, 1835 '< Benjamin Phillips, 
1836; John Loveys, 1837 ; Harvey Chapin, 1839; 
the year 1840 was partially supplied by Rev. 
J. N. Murdock; B. I. Diefendorf, 1841 ; Ebe- 
nezer Arnold 1842; P. D. Gorrie, 1843; Royal 
Houghton, 1845 ; G. G. Hapgood, 1847; Rev. 
Charles H. Austin, 1848; D. Simons, 1850; B. 
Holmes, 1852; O. C. Cole, 1853; Byron Alden, 
1855 ; W. L. Tisdale 1857 ; E. W. Jones, 1859 ; 
S. B. Crozier, i860; S. Dewey, 1861 ; Hiram 
Church, 1863 ; W. Dempster Chase, 1864; F. J. 
Whitney, 1865 ; A. Bramley, 1866; L. B. Wells, 
1868 ; Charles T. Moss, 1871; A. B. Gregg, 1873 ; 
O. L. Gibson, 1876, who is at present in the second 
year of his pastorate here. 

Among the earliest names in this society were 
those of Luther Huntington, Father Rhinus, Daniel 
Pickard, Benjamin Rider, Mrs. Barr, Grandmother 
Graves, Rev. Nathaniel Saulsbury and his sister, 
Mrs. Eunice Sands, Mrs. Goodrich, Mr. Miner, 
Mrs. Maria Bates, Sarah Holway, Father Crysler, 
Benjamin H. Brown, Hollis Knowlton, Henry 
Allen, Simon Converse, Michael Oglesbie, Jared 
Whiting, Mrs. James Rodgers, and their families. 

Several ministers have been raised up in this 
church, among whom may be named Rev. Wm. 
Searles and Rev. P. H. Wiles, of the Central New 
York Conference ; Rev. L. D. White and Rev. 
Hiram Nichols, of the Northern New York Con- 
ference, and Rev. A. F. Wright, late of the Illinois 
Conference. 

The present membership of this church is two 
hundred and fifty, including probationers. There 
are over one hundred and sixty Sunday School 
scholars, with an average attendance of one hundred 
and twenty. The church is united and prosperous. 

The Baptist Church of Jordan was constituted 
November 10, 1835, from about thirty-three mem- 
bers dismissed from the church at Elbridge for the 
purpose. The number was very soon increased to 
fifty-four by the addition of others, gathered by 
the labors of Rev. D. D. Chittenden at Cold Spring. 
The first Deacons were Tobias Clements and A. 
Case. 



The labors of Rev. E. D. Hubbell had already 
been secured as pastor, and measures were immedi- 
ately taken to build a house of worship. In 1836, the 
church was received into the Cayuga Baptist Asso- 
ciation, and in October, 1S37, the church edifice 
was dedicated. 

The pastorate of Mr. Hubbell was a successful 
one, and many were gathered to the church. After 
a service of three years he was succeeded by Rev. 
Henry Davis, who labored very successfully for 
four years. In 1842, he was succeeded by Rev. H. 
J. Eddy, who served the church about seven years. 
During his pastorate, the church reached a mem- 
bership of about 275. He was succeeded by A. M. 
Beebe, who was ordained and served one year, when 
he resigned to assume the duties of a professor- 
ship in Madison University. He was succeeded 
by Rev. W. R. Webb, who labored three years, or 
until July 15, 1853. 

From this time the church gradually declined 
under the labors of three different pastors and 
various supplies. Serious difficulties divided and 
scattered its members until 1867 or '68, when Rev. 
F. D. Fenner became pastor. His labors were a 
great blessing to the church, and during his pas- 
torate the membership was increased and encour- 
aged. The house of worship was also repaired at 
a cost of about $1,500. He was followed in 1871 
by supplies, among whom was Rev. Ross Matthews, 
who served one year, until 1875, when Rev. D. B. 
Pope was called to the pastorate, and still serves. 

The present membership numbers eighty. The 
church is nearly free of debt and in fair working 
condition. Its property is valued at $6,000, and a 
salary of $700 is paid for the support of preaching. 
During the present pastorate about twenty have 
been added to the church. 

Methodist Episcopal Church of Peru. — The 
society was organized about 1850. Previous to 
that time there had been preaching in the vicinity 
in accordance with the Methodist circuit system. 
In 1852, the present church edifice was erected at 
a cost of about $1,500; but since that time improve- 
ments have been made so that the church property 
is now estimated to be worth $2,000. It is situated 
in the village of Peru. The early church records 
have been lost ; just where the first organization 
took place, and what the number of original mem- 
bers was cannot be definitely stated. Doubtless 
the membership was quite small. Among the 
prominent members in its early history were Wm. 
Prior, Alanson Barnes, George Stickles, and their 
wives. As near as can be told the following named 
persons have served as pastors : 



3o8 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Charles H. Austin, 1852 ; 



Lewis. 1853 



one of the years i854-'56 were served by A. M. 
Fredenburgh; L. B. Wells. 1857; J. Smedley. 
1858; David Stone, 1859 "60; Charles Baldwin, 
1861 ; I. Hall. 1863; the year 1863 not known; 
Royal Houghton, 1864-66: A. L. Smalicy, 1867- 
■69; E. D. Thurston, 1870: Moses Lyons, 1871 ; 
E. M. Mills, six months, 1872; William Colden, 
1873-74; }■ C. Nichols. 1875 ; C. W. Lane, 1876; 
L. Northway. 1877 ; J. C. Nichols, present pastor. 

Present membership forty. 

The Jack's Reefs Cheese Factorv was estab- 
lished in 1872, by Dighton R. Marvin. In 1874, 
it was rebuilt 1 having been destroyed by fire by the 
Jack's Reefs Cheese Factory Association, a joint 



stock company incorporated in that year. The 
building is of wood, and cost, including fixtures, 
$1,450. The milk of about 200 cows is here made 
into cheese. The principal stock-holders are Henry 
Daboll, Elihu Parry, Nathaniel Somes, Joseph 
Somes, Philip Drake and Russell F'oster. Philip 
Drake, President ; Edwin McDowell, Secretary ; 
Henry Daboll, Treasurer. 

On Carpenter Brook, near Jack's Reefs is the 
saw-mill owned by Philip Drake, built by him in 
1843. The first mill was built here as early as 
1808. In i8i5,Zenas Wright and Hollis Knowlton 
owned a mill on the same site. Mr. Knowlton is 
still living at Jordan, nearly 90 years of age. 



CAMILLUS. 



Camii.lus was originally Township Number 
Five of the Military Tract. At the organization 
of the county it was included in the town of Mar- 
cellus, from which it was formed into a separate 
town March 8, 1799. A part of Onondaga was 
annexed to it in 1834. 

The first town meeting was directed by law to 
be held at the house of Mcdad Curtis, who was 
elected Supervisor, and Daniel Vail, Town Clerk. 
The early records of this town were destroyed by 
fire some time prior to 1829, which is the earliest 
date to which any records now extant reach back. 
The first white settler was Captain Isaac Lintlsay, 
about the year 1790, and directly after, his brothers, 
James, William and Elijah Lindsay. Their land 
was lot No. 80, on which the northern portion of 
the village of Camillus is situated, and which they 
purchased for twcnty-Jhc cents an acre. Nicholas 
Lamberson settled in the town in 1793, William 
Reed, Selden Leonard, Mordecai Ellis, a family 
named White, and David Hinsdell and others, 
previous to 1806. Squire Munro settled on lot 81, 
now in the town of Elbridge, in 1799. His sons, 
John, David, Nathan and Philip A. Munro, were 
then young men, and have since been known 
throughout the county for their enterprise, industry, 
intelligence and wealth. Thomas Corey, who was 
killed by a fall from a wagon, was an early settler 
in this town, as well as Isaac Brown, Nathaniel 
Richman, Jacob Chandler, John Hess, John Pad- 
dock, and two others by the name of McCracken. 
David Munro settled at Camillus village, where his 
son, David A. Munro, now resides, in 1808. The 



settlers at that period, although engaged in the 
hard work of clearing land, seem to have had in 
many respects a " jolly time," for the heavy labor 
was principally performed by the kind of cooperation 
known as " bees," to which a general invitation was 
extended to all the able-bodied men in town. Chop- 
ping bees, logging bees, husking bees, &c., were the 
" order of the day " among the early settlers, and 
they usually ended in a dance and frolic at night. 

Isaac Lindsay erected the first frame house on 
Lot 80, in 1795. In 1808, the village of Camillus 
contained but two frame houses. David Munro 
erected a substantial frame house in 1810. The 
White family and Captain Kimberly erected houses 
about the same time at Amboy. East and west, 
no houses had been erected at this time, except at 
Camillus village, between Elbridge and Judge 
Geddes', at Fairmount. The first school house, a 
log building, was erected in 1808, and was followed 
by a frame building in 181 3. 

Isaac Lindsay kept the first tavern in the village 
in 1793; Thomas Corey in 1801. John Tomlin- 
son opened the first store in the town, at the village, 
in 1808 ; Munro & Benedict followed in 1810, and 
were followed by Gould & Hess, Hoar & Wheeler, 
William A Cook, John C. Ellis, and others. 

James R. Lawrence opened the first law office in 
181 5 ; Grove Lawrence another in 1821. Other 
early lawyers were Samuel Hammond, Daniel 
Pratt, D. D. Hillis and others. 

Dr. Isaac Magoon established himself as a physi- 
cian at the village of Camillus in 1808, and was 
succeeded by Dr. Richards. 




IMiutu. by W. V. Riinger, Syniciise. 



The Inwnsliip of Camillus, embracing the present towns of El- 
bridge and Van Buren, was peopled mostly with settlers from 
New England. 

Among these, in the year 1790, only nine years later than the 
first white resident of the town, came David Mnnro, then a lad 
fonrteen years old, born December 8, 1784, and fifth in the line 
of descent from John Munro, who emigrated from Scotland, and 
settled in Massachusetts at an early period. 

David accompanied his father, Squire Munro, who had been a 
soldier in the Revolutionary war, and who then in the prime of 
life, being forty-two years of age, came from New England, 
bringing with him his four sons, John, David, Nathan, and 
Philip A., all of them since well known throughout the county 
and settled near where the vilhigc of Elbridge now stands. 

As Daniel grew up to manhood he developed into a large and 
powerful man, fully marked with the characteristic family traits 
of enterprise, untiring industry, economy, and self-reliance. 

In 1807 he was married to Abigail Carpenter, of the same town, 
and in 1808 he purchased a farm on lot number eighty, Camillus, 
and settled where Camillus Village now stands, where only two 
frame houses were then erected. 

The country was then covered with forests, and Mr. Munro 
cleared up his farm, which was heavily timbered, doing much of 
the labor with his own hands. 

Here he resided for fifty-eight years, enlarging his farm by the 
purchase of adjacent lands from time to time. He died May 10, 
186fi, being over eighty years of age at the time of his decease. 
His wife wa.s six years younger than himself, having been born 
December 3, 1790, and she survived him nearly two years. 

There were eight children born of the marriage, of whom six 
still survive, viz. : John C. Munro, born October 17, 1809 ; James 
M. Munro, born November 13, 1813 ; David A. Munro, born 
August 17, 1818 ; Mary A., wife of Thomas W. Hill, of Eldridge ; 



Hannah, wife of Payn Bigelow, of Baldwinsville ; and LydiaH., 
wife of David Porter, of Lysander. 

Mr. Munro carried on a large and very successful business in 
farming all the earlier portion of his life, but the necessity of find- 
ing investments for the constantly increasing results of his fore- 
sight, energy, and economy occupied the most of his attention in 
later years. He was the first postmaster in Camillus Village, 
holding the office from 1811 to 1824, when he was succeeded by 
James R. Lawrence. He held the office of justice of the jteace 
many years, and was also one of the associate judges of the court 
of common pleas for a long time, becoming familiarly known to 
the people of the county as Judge Munro, by which title he was 
commonly called. He was a member of the State legislature in 
1818, 1810, 1822, 1830, 1841, and again in 1842. 

He was also a member of the convention which framed the 
third constitution of the State in 1846. He was a leading director 
in, and for a long time president of, the old bank of Salina an 
excellent portrait of him being engraved on the bills issued by 
that bank. He was also an influential director in the Salt Spring 
Bank from its incorporation to the time of his decease. There 
was no business enterprise with which he was connected which he 
did not inspire with the spirit of success. He was constantly in 
contact with the leading minds of the county, and although his 
early education was limited, his strong native sense, natural dignity 
of presence, and the innate force of his character, never failed to 
make due impression on every one he met. 

In person he was tall, of full hahit, and corpulent in later life, 
hardy to the last degree, riding or driving bare-banded in the 
coldest weather, and he never postponed a business engagement 
on account of storms or railroads. 

Mr. Munro's manner of address was courteous but impre-ssive, 
and his knowledge of the men and events of the day was unsur- 




Jul IN C. MUNUO, KSQ. 



Photij. 1p> Bool* k Curtia, gjrmcuM. 



Jolin ('. Munni, mm oC the late Jud-^e David Muiiro and 
Abipiil ('ar|itnt.r. wa.s Wm in tlio town of Cainilliid, Onon- 
dapi ("iiuiit^', on ()cU)btr 17, 1809. IIo waa broufjlit up on n 
farm and cducntod at the cnminon kcIiooIm, and at the age of 
manhood enpifripd in rarmin); for himxclf, which pursuit he huH 
fdilowinJ uiiremitlin^^ly all his life. 

(»n March 'JL', 1H32, he settled on a farm at Belle Fiilc, in 
the town of ('umilluH, where he huilt a larp; huuiie and re- 
sided till January, 1K53, when, on aceouut of the cnlar);uinent 
of the ejinal, he removed to where he now reaidi-s. having pur- 
ehaMMl the land in 183(1. Thejie adjoining farnu* now contttitute 
an eKtatc of three hundred and Hcvcnty acres. Mr. Munro hoK 
taken great pride and pIcMurc in the pursuit of hiji chosen oc- 
cupation of farming, and his taHt« for WK-ial and nicntnl culture 
fiiiil.H ^n°atificAtion in hw comfortable and well-furnished home. 

lie was niarrie*]. August 18, lH.'t2, to Miss Emily Bennett, 



daughter of James Bennett, ao early settler, by whom he has 
had five children, viz.. : David Bennett, Ixirn August 0, 1833 
(accidentally killed, August 2'J, 1818); Henry Smith, bom 
Doceniber 29, 1835 ; Sarah Saraantha, born January 14, l&JD 
(Mr«. E. U. Hale, of Elbridgc) ; Emily B., bom November 22, 
1842 (deceased) ; John C, Jr., born May 9, 1849, and resiiling 
at the home on the farm. 

Mr. Munro has always been a Democrat in {Hilitics, ond has 
steadily adhered to the principles of that party. He has served 
hi.'* town six years as member of the board of supervisors, and 
for si.xtoen years has held the oflSce of justice of the jieace. He 
is a member of the Presbytt-rian church ut Amboy, of which 
he has been many years an elder. 

Mrs. Munro is also a member of the same church, and has 
been in fellowship with the church at .\mboy, and of that at 
Camillus, for fifty years. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



309 



A postoffice was first established in Camillus in 
181 1, and David Munro was appointed Postmaster. 
James R. Lawrence was postmaster in 1824, and 
was succeeded by Grove Lawrence and Robert 
Dickey. 

The first surplus grain raised for market was in 
1805, when it was carried to Albany on sleighs. 
Thousands of bushels of wheat were annually trans- 
ported to Albany from this town by sleighs and 
wagons, previous to the construction of the Erie 
Canal. 

The north branch of the Seneca Turnpike was 
incorporated in 1806. In 1 807-8, Squire Munro 
and his sons built so much of this road as passed 
through the town of Camillus, about eleven miles. 

Judge James Geddes. — We have already had 
occasion to refer to the eminent services and dis- 
tinguished character of Hon. James Geddes, in his 
connection with the explorations and survey of that 
great State enterprise, the Erie Canal. His name 
stands not less conspicuously before the country 
than that of any other early citizen of Onondaga 
County. Mr. Geddes was born near Carlisle, Penn- 
sylvania, on the 22d of July, 1763. His father and 
mother were of Scotch descent, and, like Robert 
Burns, Mr. Geddes, in his youthful days, followed the 
plow, and carried a book in his pocket which he 
perused every time his team stopped to rest. Thus 
ardent was he in the pursuit of knowledge. A Mr. 
Oliver, a thoroughly educated teacher, was his 
instructor in mathematics. He studied languages 
without a teacher, and became a belles lettres scholar 
of the first order. His knowledge of the English 
language has been rarely excelled. 

At an early age Mr. Geddes visited Kentucky, 
and also portions of Virginia, as appears from notes 
in his journal made upon a subsequent visit in 
1792, the year preceding the selection of his salt 
works at Geddes. From these notes, now in the pos- 
session of his son, Hon. George Geddes, it appears 
that he spent the entire summer of 1792 in travel, 
looking for a place of future residence. He des- 
cribes many places of interest in Virginia, Maryland, 
Pennsylvania, and the interior regions of New York, 
then almost an entirely unsettled wilderness, and 
gives dates, distances, measurements of water- 
falls, &c.,with the minuteness of a topographical 
survey. 

In all the observations made upon this trip, we 
see the indications of the future engineer. The 
most interesting part of his journey is that where 
he visits the Genesee Falls, and speaks of them as 
" spoiling the navigation" of the river. He thought 
that the farmers who were just then beginning to 
47 



cultivate the Genesee Valley would have to export 
their wheat " down the Newtown Creek." In sixteen 
years he is again at the Falls of the Genesee, with 
his level, marking out the route of the Canal, which 
was to carry wheat, not via Newtown Creek, as he 
first guessed, but east to the sea. 

These notes of Mr. Geddes show that his mind 
was occupied with the subject of internal navigation 
during his explorations upon this visit in 1792, more 
than a decade before the Erie Canal had been 
thought of Under the head of " Particulars Re- 
specting the Lake Country," in the notes referred 
to, bespeaks of" such a navigation as will bring much 
European goods on such terms as will tempt people 
to depend on them more than they ought." And 
again : " such an inland navigation as may bring 
salt, sugar, or whatever the country produces, to 
people's doors, in a manner." 

Mr. Geddes having completed his examinations 
of the country, returned home determined to settle 
at the Salt Springs. The following year he came 
to Onondaga and selected his location at the head 
of the lake, on ground now occupied by a portion 
of the village of Geddes. He returned and organ- 
ized a company at Carlisle, Pa., for the purpose of 
manufacturing salt, and in 1794 came by the way 
of Seneca Lake with the necessary equipments for 
engaging in that business. The other members of 
the company came on in the month of June follow- 
ing. Mr. Geddes lived at " Geddes Salt Works " 
about four years. In 1798, he removed to lands 
which he had purchased of the State, at Fairmount, 
in the town of Camillus, where he lived the remain- 
der of his life. In May, 1799, he married Miss 
Lucy Jerome, daughter of Timothy Jerome, Esq , of 
Fabius. 

The services of Mr. Geddes were required immedi- 
ately upon coming into the county, to fill important 
stations of trust and responsibility. He was ap- 
pointed by the Council of Appointment Justice of 
the Peace in 1800, and in 1804 was elected a mem- 
ber of the Legislature. But it was as an engineer 
that he became best known to the public. Soon 
after coming into the country, he was employed by 
the Surveyor-General as one of his assistants, and 
he devoted himself to the profession of surveying 
and engineering until age disqualified him for the 
fatigue of out-door labor. His maps, plats and 
field-books, deposited in the Surveyor-General's 
Office, show him to have been a man of great accu- 
racy, and his accompanying remarks reveal the 
sagacity and penetration of his mind. 

The project of connecting Lake Erie with the 
Hudson River became an important one. Mr. 



3IO 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



Weston, a celebrated engineer from England had 
examined the Oswego River and other water-courses, 
with a view to improving their navigation, and 
among men of enlarged views the scheme became 
an engrossing topic. Mr. Geddes, at an early 
period, enlisted in the matter and commenced with 
ardor the gathering of facts.' In 1804, the Surveyor- 
General said to him that Gouvcrncur Morris had 
suggested the project of "tapping Lake Erie." The 
Surveyor-General considered this a "romantic 
thing," but not so the man to whom he communi- 
cated the crude, undigested thought. Mr. Geddes 
knew that Mr Weston had reported the Oswego 
River from the Falls to Lake Ontario as " hardly 
susceptible of improvement by means of canal- 
ing," and if there was a way that the waters 
of the upper lakes could be led across the 
country without going down to the level of On- 
tario and then rising to the summit again at 
Rome, that vast results must follow from it, and at 
once his untiring energy and industry were put in 
requisition. Maps were examined, surveyors were 
en(|uircd of, and every means within his reach 
resorted to, to ascertain the topography of the 
country through which has since been constructed 
the Erie Canal. 

In 1807, Judge Joshua Fotman was elected to the 
Legislature from this county upon the express under- 
standing that he would try to provide the necessary 
appropriation of money to make examinations of the 
country. No man could have been better qualified 
than was Judge Forman to succeed. A man of 
eloquence, ardent and peculiarly fitted to make men 
think as he himself thought upon any subject, he 
did succeed, and as was understood, the Surveyor- 
General, who had the selection of the man to make 
the surveys, if he did not himself do it, appointed 
Mr. Geddes. He " entered with enthusiasm upon 
the work assigned him by the Surveyor-General," 
and made surveys not only of the Oneida and Os- 
wego Rivers, and around the l*'alls of Niagara, but 
he reported a route which, in the language of the 
Surveyor-General in his letter to Mr. Darby, of 
February 25, 1822, - was almost precisely in the line 
which, after repeated elaborate and expensive exam- 
inations, has been finally adopted." 

The report made by Mr. Geddes made such an 
impression upon the Legislature that, in spite of the 
prejudice and opi)osition from different sources, 
that body was induced, in 1810, to organize a Board 
of Canal Commissioners, with powers and means to 
prosecute the work. His survey furnished the 
necessary information to justify prudent men in 
committing themselves in favor of a canal. And 



Mr. Clinton, grasping with his powerful intellect at 
once the vast advantages of the scheme, embarked 
in it with uncompromising zeal, and by his elevated 
position in the State, was enabled to render such 
assistance as ensured success. 

In 1816 the Commissioners appointed five prin- 
cipal engineers, placing Mr. Geddes at the head of 
the list, who. throughout the progress of the work, 
maintained a high standing as a civil engineer, and 
whose labors and opinions the Commissioners most 
favorably estimated, as shown in various instances 
in their reports. 

In 1822. the State authorities of Ohio applied to 
Gov DcWitt Clinton toselectaproperpersontomake 
the necessary explorations for their canal from the 
Ohio River to Lake Erie, and he, in the most com- 
plimentary manner, recommended Mr Geddes as 
the most competent man in the service of the 
State. Mr. Geddes accepted the proposals from 
Ohio and assumed the responsibility of Chief En- 
gineer of the Ohio Canal. This duty he discharged 
to the perfect satisfaction of the authorities of the 
State of Ohio. In 1827 Mr. Geddes was employed 
by the General Government (associated with Mr. 
Roberts,! in locating the Chesapeake and Ohio 
Canal. In 1828 he was engaged in locating the 
Pennsylvania Canals, and in the same year was ap- 
pointed by the General Government to examine the 
country with reference to the connection of the 
waters of the Tennessee and Altamaha Rivers, in 
the States of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. 
'This appointment he declined, ,on account of dis- 
tance from home and his advanced age. 

In civil and political aflairs Mr. Geddes also held 
a prominent position. In 1809 he was appointed 
an Associate Justice, and in 18 12 a Judge of On- 
ondaga County Common Pleas. In 1813 he was 
elected a Member of the Xlllth Congress, and in 
1821, was again elected a Member of the State 
Legislature. 

The infirmities of age crept upon him apace, and 
during the last year of his life, his constitution gave 
way rapidly, and he closed his earthly career at his 
residence, in the town of Camillus on the 19th of 
August, 1838, being a little over seventy-five years 
of age. He was the father of seven children, all of 
whom arc deceased except his son, Hon. George 
Geddes, of P'airmount. Says his biographer, Mr. 
Clark : 

" Perhaps it is safe to say that no man who had 
been so much in public life and who had come in 
contact with so great and conflicting interests, repre- 
sented by men so liiflerent in capacity and character, 
ever died having fewer enemies. His reputation for 
integrity was probably never questioned by those 





MRS. ROBERT UOPKINS. 



ROBERT HOPKINS. 



Robert Hopkins was born in Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., 
February 10, 1789. His parents, Samuel and Mary Hopkins, 
came with their family, in the month of March, 1807, to 
Camillas, Onondaga Co., N. Y., where they purcha.sed a farm, 
and at once began to combat with the stern realities of fron- 
tier life. Of course, under such circumstances, the educational 
and social advantages of Mr. Hopkins were very limited. But, 
notwithstanding, his determination to get an education over- 
came all obstacles. By faithfully improving his leisure hours 
at home, he obtained a good practical business education, which 
proved of immense importance to him in later life, when called 
to positions of trust requiring an accurate and thorough 
knowledge. When he attained his majority his father kindly 
consented to allow him to cultivate a portion of the farm. In 
the capacity of lessee, he remained until twenty-eight years of 
age, when he had acquired, by judicious management, a sum 
large enough to purchase a fine farm in Camillus. To grace 
and adorn his new home, he married, January 9, 1816, Pru- 
dence Wells. All of their children living, viz., Harlow W., born 
March 29, 1818, Emeline, born May 1, 1824, and Edwin, 
born December 4, 1833, have received good educations, and are 
pleasantly domiciled in the old homestead where they were 
born. 

Mr. Hopkins devoted his attention throughout life principally 



to agricultural pursuits. He kept himselt well informed 
on agricultural topics, and aimed to conduct his farm on the 
latest scientific principles. Like Cincinnatus, he was frequently 
called from the plough-share to enter the sanctuary of public 
ofiice. 

As justice of the peace for twenty-four years, he proved one 
of the most equitable and rigidly honest dispensers of public 
justice that the town of Camillus ever had. None ever dared 
to taint his ermine with any proposal to compromise justice. 
Unlike many, he always endeavored, in a Christian spirit, to 
reconcile litigants coming before him before having recourse to 
law, and in this way he remarkably lessened that bad spirit in 
many to go to law for every imagined injury or irritation. 
Also as assessor for six years, one of the most delicate and 
unthankful town offices, he gave equal acceptance. For over 
thirty years he was a prominent and influential member of the 
Presbyterian church of Camillus, and endeavored to exemplify 
in every-day life the morals taught in the Book of books. 

Politically, although a Democrat, yet he did not allow party 
feelint^ to mar a pleasant and social intercourse with all men. 
August 7, 1859, he died, leaving to his children an irreproach- 
able name and life. His wife followed him September 27, 
1864. Few men were more missed by the town of Camillus, 
or more highly respected than Mr. Hopkins. 





KN08 PKCK. 



MR8. KN08 I'ECK. 



ENOS PECK. 



All (.■xiiiiipli' (if uiiliriii^' iiuliiNtn', ii piorn-or of Onondapi 
Couiitv, aiij II |iri>sont cilir.('ii of must liniiMrahli- stiiruliii;;, Ls 
Kiio« I'cck, (if Ciiinillu.s. Ho wils ln)rii in tin- l.iwii nC New 
Haven, ViTiiKint, Auj:. 1"), 17tt(l, and was tliu sixth child of 
Kniw Pivk, whi) wiu a very parW settler in Vennont. In 1795, 
Mr. Pitk r«inoVfd with lii.s family to the town of I'onipey, 
Uiiondiipi Coiinty, when- ihey remained until the year 1806, 
when they removed to (,'ato, Cayuga county. At the ajre of 
iwonty-oiio yarn n^^ll ) our subject branclu'd out in life for 
hini.'H'lf an u fanner, tjikiu}; hi.s father's farm on shares for a 
l<-nn of five yrars. and, with the jierHcvcrinf.' energy of the New 
Kn'_'land fanner, sol to work elwiring away the don.se forest and 
thii-ki't. and hrinirin;: the then inipmvi-d |H)rti(iMS to a higher 
Klalf of ciiltivalioii, which I'omiH'iisate*! hint well for his labor, as 
at the<'X|iimtion of his lease he had savi>d five hundretl dollars. 

At the age of fweniy-fivc ho marrie<l Annis Hopkins, 
daughter of Nathan Hopkins, of Camillus. and t4i them were 
Ixirn four rliildren. viz , .V. H., Isaac M., Jane, now .Nlrs. Wm. 
Mack, of Koehc.Mter, N. Y., and Edwin Feck. Soon after his 
marriage he removed to Camillus, where he purchased ninety-six 
acres of land, and in due time er<-ct«^I his house in the woimIs, 
which were so den.ic that one C4iuld lixik out of the chimney 
and see the tree to{>s. H<r«' Mr. I'cck has .spent his days, making 
additional purchanet. of land to the extent of some four hundred 



ami twenty acres, and now, at the ;ige •<( eighly-.seven, lives 
with his .son. A. H.. in the hou.sc crecteil by himself 

Puring the war nf Islii he volunteered with his company 
al)out a month previous to its close. He has always manifested 
a strong interest in church and educational matters, and wils one 
of the founders of the Presbyterian church of ramillus. In 
politics is a Republican, and has never missed a fkll deetioD. 

He is one of the old(«t and most highly esteemed citiieiis of 
the county, and has ulwa3's Itcen found arrayed on the side of 
justice and truth. 

Mrs. Peck died June 'J I. l^T-t, having atlaini-d the ripe ago 
of seventy-nine years. She wils born in the town of Salem, 
Wa-shington Co., Vt., in the year 17!U, and with her parents 
removed to the town of Camillus at an early day. For nioro 
than fifty-seven years she was a faithful and loving companion, 
and wa.s a woman of rare moral exeellenoc, and genuine Christian 
worth. She possessed much force of character, clear and 
conscientious views of truth and duly, and unswcr\'iiig loyalty 
to that which she believed was right ; was habitually reserved 
and undemonstrative in manner, but excelled by none in deeds of 
kindness, which she love<I .S4) well to perform. For many years 
she was a member of the Presbyterian church, and in all the 
years of her Christian course she "adorned the doctrine of 
• iod, our Saviour, in all things." 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



311 



whose opinions differed from his own. His name 
will ever be associated with the noblest work of the 
age and his fame will descend with admiration to 
those who shall succeed him." 

VILLAGE OF CAMILLUS. 

This village is situated in a picturesque spot in 
the valley of Nine-Mile Creek. It is on the " Old 
Road," or Auburn branch of the New York Cen- 
tral Railroad, distant nine miles from the city of 
Syracuse. A " side cut " or " feeder " of the Erie 
' Canal extends to the village, and the Nine-Mile 
Creek supplies an excellent water power, which at- 
tracted settlers and began to be utilized for mill 
purposes at an early period. In 1 806 the first mills of 
importance were erected in the village — grist and 
saw mill — by a company of which William Wheeler 
and Samuel Powers were members. Abraham 
Drake built a carding and cloth-dressing mill about 
eighty rods up the stream from the bridge in 1812. 
The year following he removed from Aurelius, Cay- 
uga county, with his family and settled in the vil- 
lage, where he resided till his death, December 10, 
1832. His son, Philip Drake, now residing at 
Jack's Reefs, in the town of Elbridge, erected the 
present flouring mill in 1835-36, and sold to Phares 
Gould of Skaneateles, in 1836. The mill is now 
owned by Munro & Patterson, doing merchant and 
custom flouring. 

The race conveying the water to the mills, a dis- 
tance of about two and a half miles, was constructed 
in 1832 by James R. Lawrence, Grove Lawrence, 
Philip Drake and others. 

The Woolen Factory of Walter F. Keefer was 
built on the race in 1834. The business of this 
mill at the present is the manufacture of cloth and 
stocking yarn. 

In 1848, the " Novelty Mills " were completed 
by Weston & Dill, and were driven by steam. Sub- 
sequently there was also a large steam saw- mill in 
operation, lath mills, turning lathe, &c. 

James G. Fergus has a saw mill at the village, 
built by James M. Munro in i860. 

Camillus village was the earliest settled of any 
portion of the town. The northern part of it, on 
Lot 80, became the home of Capt. Isaac Lindsay 
in 1790. In 1793, Capt. Lindsay kept the first 
tavern, and erected the first frame house in 1795. 
The first school house (of logs) was erected in 
1808, and was followed by a frame building in 18 13. 
Thomas Corey kept a tavern here in 1801. 

Incorporation. 
The village of Camillus was incorporated in 1852, 



with the following Board of Trustees : Samuel B. 
Rowe, David A. Munro, Charles Land, Ira Saffbrd ; 
Gaylord N. Sherwood, President ; Crayton B. 
Wheeler, Clerk. 

The following have served as Presidents of the 
Village Board for the years named : Gaylord N. 
Sherwood, 1853 ; William H. Lee, i854-'s7 ; Hiram 
A. Mungear, 1858; Eliakim E. Veeder, 1859-61 ; 
Gaylord N. Sherwood, 1862 ; E. E. Veeder, 1863 ; 
James G. Fergus, 1864; Samuel B. Rowe, 1865 ; 
Theodore Briggs, i?,66-'67 ) James G. Fergus, 
1868-70; Charles J. Sherwood, 1871 ; James G. 
Fergus, 1872; Henry W. Drake, 1873; J. O. 
Slocum, M. D., 1874; J. H. Hitchcock, 1875 ; E- 
W. Cook, 1^76- 77. 

The present officers of the village (1878) are, 
Henry G. Chapman, President ; Edwin R. Harmon, 
Vice-President ; David Lyboult, Julius Noble, 
William Jones, Trustees ; J. Harry Lyboult, Clerk ; 
E. E. Veeder, Police Justice ; Sumner T. Darling, 
Constable ; James Paltan, Treasurer ; John O. 
Slocum, Frederick Loomis, William R. George, 
Assessors ; William B. Bucklin, Collector. 

Benjamin Brown, present Postmaster. 

Camillus contains four churches, viz : Presby- 
terian, Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, and Roman 
Catholic ; one store of general merchandise, E. 
Duane Sherwood ; one grocery, provision and notion 
store, Sidney H. Cook, Jr. ; one hotel, kept by 
Philo Bromley ; two groceries and meat markets, 
kept respectively by Abram Otman and Messrs. 
Gee & Thompson ; two drug stores, James Pattan's 
and C. F. Safford's ; the former has been in the 
drug business since 1845 ; harness and shoe shop. 
There is one physician in the village, John O. 
Slocum, M. D., brother of Major-General H. W. 
Slocum. He was a surgeon in the army during the 
late war, and has been many years a resident of 
the village. 

Sidney H. Cook, Esq., has held the ofUce of 
Justice of the Peace over thirty years. E. E. 
Veeder, Esq , is also Justice, and has held the 
office about six years. 

The oldest settlers now residing in the village 
are David A. and James M. Munro, who were born 
here ; Samuel B. Rowe, who became a resident 
about 1827; Charles Land, 1820; William R. 
George, David Lyboult, Ambrose Kelsey, A. N. 
Glynn, G. C. Parsons, James Pattan, Sidney H. 
Cook and E. Duane Sherwood. 

Chapman & Green have an establishment in the 
village for the manufacture of clay smoking pipes. 
It is doing quite an extensive business, giving 
employment to from twenty to twenty-five persons. 



3>2 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Camillas Graded School. 

School District No. 3 of Camillus furnished for 
many years the educational facilities of the village. 
The progress was gradual from a log school house, 
in the primitive settlement, to a frame building, 
which, in turn, was superceded by a brick structure, 
and finally gave place to the present commodious 
brick graded school building which occupies the old 
site. The first action for the erection of the present 
building was taken at a special meeting of the 
Board of Trustees held on the 15th of May, 1868. 
J. O. Slocum, E. K. Harmon and A. E. Smith 
were appointed a building committee. The house 
was completed in 1869, at a cost of $7,304.58. It 
is a handsome brick structure, situated upon an 
elevated and beautiful site. 

The school is graded in three departments, under 
the efficient management of Prof. C E. White, 
Principal, and two teachers. Mr. White has been 
Principal most of the time for nine years past. E. 
W. Cook, Trustee. 

Masonic. 

During the summer and fall of 1875, a few breth- 
ren of the Masonic Order interested themselves in 
the formation of a Lodge of Free and Accepted 
Masons in this village. After the usual formalities, 
a dispensation was granted by Grand Master, Elwood 
E. Thorne, which was delivered on December 31, 
1875 ; a charter was granted by the Grand Lodge 
on the 13th of June, 1876, and Sapphire Lodge No. 
768 was formed with twenty-one charter members, 
as follows : 

C. S. Safford, J. H. Lyboult, W. B. Bucklin, S. 
H. Cook, Jr., T. A. Fish, J. H. Paddock, E. R. 
Glynn, J. O. Slocum, T. V. Owens, Lafayette Hur- 
dick, S. L. Hopkins, Merril Skinner, A. L. Hins- 
dale, A, R. Hopkins, T. H. Shocns, E. C Skinner, 
Cyrus Sweet, E. D. Sherwood, E. D. Larkin, H. D. 
Burdick, J. Paddock. 

First officers: T. H. Shoens. W. M.; J. H. 
Lyboult. S. W.; T. A. Fish. J. W. : E. D. Sher- 
wood. Treasurer ; C S. SafTbrd, Secretary ; C. E. 
White, S. D.: W. B. Bucklin, J. D.; H. D. Corwin, 
Tiler. 

The Lodge have nicely furnished rooms in the 
third story of the Harmon Block, fitted up at an 
e.xpenscof nearly Si.oooand are in a prosperous con- 
dition, the membership having increased from 
twenty-one in 1876, to forty-five at the present 
time. 

Officers for 1878: J. Harvey Lyboult, W. M.; 
C. E. White, S. W.; C. W. Darling, J. W.; E. E. 
Veeder, Treasurer ; C. S. Safford, Secretary; W. 
B. Bucklin. 1. D.; H. Abrams, J. D ; G. T. Dow- 



ner, S. M. C; L. Richmond, Jr., J. M. C; H. T. 
Corwin, Tiler. Trustees: M. L. Hay, E. D. Sher- 
wood, J. O. Slocum. 

Churches. 

The First Baptist Church of Camillus. 
— This church is located in Camillus village. The 
first meetings were held in the neighborhood of 
Hewlett Hill, at which place the church was organ- 
ized under the name of the " First Baptist Church 
of Onondaga, in January. 1804 The original mem- 
bers numbered thirteen, si.x males and seven 
females. The first house of worship, built at How- 
lett Hill, was dedicated in 1821. The present edi- 
fice at Camillus village was dedicated January 
8. 185 I. 

From 1 804- "06, Rev. Ebenezer Harrington offici- 
ated as pastor, after which five years elapsed with- 
out any settled minister. Then the pastors served 
in the order following: 

Rev. Peter Warren, (licentiate,) i8ii-'i4; Rev. 
Joseph Moore. 1814 ; Rev. Eben Tucker, 1821*28 ; 
Rev. S. Spaulding, i829-'30; Rev. John P. Parsons 
(supply I from December, 1830, pastor ten months 
later, continuing till 1832; Rev. S M. Plumb, 1833; 
Rev. John Holladay, (licentiate,) 1835 ; Rev. Levi 
Farnsworth. 1S36, ordained September, 1836 ; Rev. 

Graham, 1838; Rev. Hall Taylor, 1840; 

Rev. Thos. Fisher, 1S41, ordained June. 1841 ; Rev. 
Henry Brown, 1844 '47 ; Rev. A. Smith, 1848 '51 ; 
Rev. Chas. Elliott, 1852 ; Rev. A. L. Freeman, 1853, 
ordained August 23, 1853, pastor till 1858; Rev. D. 
McFarland, 1859 '62 ; Rev. E. P. Bingham, part of 
i8r)2 ; Rev. D. McFarland, 1862 '65 ; Rev. H. B. 
Burdick. 186C; Rev. W. E. Lockhart. 1868; Rev. 
H. B. Waring, 1872 '71 ; Rev. D. D. Brown, 1874 ; 
Rev. G. F. Genung, 1875, ordained November 3, 
1875. present pastor. 

The present membership is ninety-three ; attend- 
ance at the Sunday School about sixty five. The 
church has taken measures for the erection of a new 
house of worship, which will be undertaken in the 
spring of 1878. 

The First Preshyteria.n Church of Camillus 
was organized on the 4th day of August, 18 17, in a 
hotel on the site of the house where Mr. John Lar- 
kins now lives, corner of Green and Main streets, 
and directly opposite where the church now stands. 
Meetings had previously been held in Nine-Mile 
Creek School House, and in an old distillery where 
now stands the carriage shop of James Fergus. 
The number of original members was fifty-two. six- 
teen men and thirty-si.x women. 

The first church edifice was a wooden building 
erected at a cost of ^1,200 in 1822. The following 
pastors and others have officiated and supplied the 
pulpit: Revs. Jabez Spicer, i8i7-'i9; Jabez 




t^J* 




Q/^C^fyj^ <f^, ~(c>C>^-tr/Cy 



The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Marcellus, 
Onondaga Co., N. Y., Aug. 31, 1806, and was the eldest child 
of Lyman Cook (whose family consisted of fourteen children), 
who was born in Wallingford, Conn., in the year 1780, and 
Mary Norton, who was born in Martha's Vineyard, in the year 
1782. At the age of sixteen Lyman Cook came to Marcellus, 
and was employed as a farm laborer during the summers, and 
as teacher in the winters. At the age of twenty-five he married, 
and, having acquired some means, started in the wool-carding 
and fulling-mill business ; subsequently became a distiller and 
farmer. He died in the town of Van Buren, June 30, 1837. 
Our subject remained on the farm with his father until twenty- 
one years of age, attending school winters until nineteen, when 
he began teaching, which vocation he followed some seven or 
eight winters. Mr. Cook was married, Dec. 2, 1827, to Lois 
Mansfield, daughter of Josiah Mansfield. The result of this 
union was ten children, viz., Dr. George W., Mary Eliza, Morris 
A., Emily H., Mansfield J., Orange L., C. Janette, Sidney H., 
Jr., present supervisor of Camillus, and Samuel D., and Fran- 



ces A., — seven of whom are living. In the year 1829 our sub- 
ject was elected constable in Marcellus, and subsequently collec- 
tor. He also served with distinction in the military line, was 
elected corporal upon the organization of the independent rifle 
company belonging to the 159th Regiment, and was promoted 
until he attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1841 he 
moved to Camillus, where he entered into the storage and for- 
warding business; five years later, at Camillus village, he com- 
menced purchasing grain, which business he followed until 1866. 
In 1843 was elected supervisor, which oflBce he held three terms. 
Was elected justice of the peace in 1846, and, with the excep- 
tion of one year, has held the office up to the present time, and 
was recently elected for a full term of four years ; has also been 
justice of sessions seven or eight times. Mr. Cook, in politics, 
is a Democrat of the true type. 

Mr. Cook's brothers. Revs. William B., Theodore T., and 
James M. Cook, were talented ministers of the Universalist 
church. The first and the last named are deceased. Rev. T. T. 
Cook is still in the ministry, and resides in Utica. 




ou^^-naZ/y'^'^^^^^^^^ 



Daniel Bennett was born in the town of Ridgefield, Fairfield Co., Cunn., 
Oct. 21, 1786. His ancestors came from England as early as the sixteenth 
century. 

Nathan Bennett, his father, at the age of fourteen, entered the Kevolu- 
tionary army, took part in the battle of Monmouth, was taken prisoner, 
put on board of a prison-ship, and, after severe and intense suftering, ex- 
changed as a prisoner of war. Continuing in the service of his country 
till the close of the war, he received a pension, which continued until his 
death, in 1830, at the age of seventy-five. He was a man of good educa- 
tion, good memory, and in comfortable circumstances as a farmer. During 
his life he held many public offices. 

Huldah Barlow, wife of Nathan Bennett, was the mother of thirteen 
children, of whom Daniel Bennett was the fifth. Two of her brothers 
were in the Revolutionary army. One, Joel Barlow, a graduate of Yale 
college in 1778, and a classmate of Noah Webster, entered the army as a 
volunteer, hut soon became chaplain, Not long jifter the close of the war 
he went to Paris, where, during seventeen years of business life, he accu- 
mulated a fortune, with which he returned to America. He went to 
Washington, built a palace of marble not far from the city, and named it 
" Kalarama." In 1811 he was appointed minister plenipotentiary to the 
French government. Besides being a diplomatist, he was a man of literary 
taste, and published several of his productions. Among his most noted 
writings is *' The Columbiad." while of his shorter poems, and perhaps 
the most popular, is one entitled "The Hasty Pudding." The other 
brother was killed at the battle of Quebec. She herself died at the age 
of forty-nine. 

In 1789, when Daniel Bennett was only three years of age, his father 
migrated to the town of Malta, Saratoga Co., N. Y., which place is only 
seven miles distant from Saratoga Springs. This migration proved to be 
greatly to the advantage of the family. 

In 1S09, at the age of twenty-two, he was married to Hannah Crawford, 
of Saratoga. Having spent four years of married life in Saratoga county, 
they resolved to leave their home and try the privations of a pioneer's 
life. They started westward and came to Camillus, through forests which 
nearly all the way lined their journey. It was in the winter of 1813 that 
they made the tedious journey, consuming six days. Where now stands 
the city of Syracuse they found but a few unattractive houses. The 
swampy, marshy country around them did not look inviting, nor prophetic 
of a large and busy city. 

Not having the means to purchase land, he waited for nearly a year and 
a half before making any financial investment; and then the investment 
could hardly be called financial, inasmuch as the first payment upon a 



farm of fifty acres was made by means of fi yoke of cattle, which he bor- 
roioed from a friend for the occasion. The cattle were valued at only 
thirty-five dollars. From time to time he enlarged his farm by adding 
fifty-four and twenty-five and thirty acres, until he possessed nearly two 
hundred and eighty acres. But nearly all this time he was in debt, not 
fairly freeing himself from one indebtedness before assuming another. 
This made perseverance, industry, and economy necessary. And no one 
can fully know, except those who have passed through the same privations, 
the nature and extent of the hardships of a pioneer's H!e. 

Of a large family of ten children, — six daughters and four sons, — all 
except one lived to mature life. 

Mrs. Hannah Bennett united with the Congregational church in El- 
bridge, N. Y., in February, 1821, and her husband, Daniel Bennett, during 
the following April. At the request and desire of Mr. Bennett, he was 
baptized by immersion. In 1850, June 15, he was elected a deacon of the 
Congregational church, and, although now in the ninety-second year of 
his age, still holds this same office, and continues to faithfully discharge its 
duties. For more than fifty years he has taken a religious newspaper. 

It has been Deacon Bennett's custom and delight to attend the meetings 
of presbytery and synod, and during a period of twenty years hardly a 
meeting was held in which he did not represent the church. In 18G3 he 
was elected to the general assembly, held that year in Philadelphia. At 
that gathering he became well acquainted with Uev. Albert Barnes. Last 
autumn, while in his ninety-first year, he represented the church at the 
meeting of synod, held in the Fourth Presbyterian church of Syracuse. 
While Mr. Bennett has always been greatly interested in religion and 
education, he has never sought positions of public trust. 

Much of his life's success was no doubt due to the assistance rendered by 
his wife, who possessed great executive ability. Persevering, energetic, 
and economizing by nature, she toiled early and late in order to assist and 
teach her children. Though small of stature, yet she was large hearted. 
Her province was home, and her sceptre was love. When she died in 
1864, at the age of seventy-five, all but one of her children were living. 

At the present time Deacon Daniel Bennett is living near the old home- 
stead, in the town of Camillus, and possesses, to a remarkable degree, his 
powers of body and mind. He is now "only waiting" for that neio home 
"not made with hands." 

The following are the names of his children who are living: Miss 
Huldah B. Bennett, Camillus, N, X.; Mrs. Rhoa B. Hinsdell, Camillus, 
N. Y.; Mrs. Harriet Brown, Geneseo, 111.: Mrs. Mary Jane Hofll", Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.; Mr. Joel Barlow Bennett, Camillus, N. Y.; Mrs. Ann Eliza 
Sweet, Elbridge, N. Y. : and Mrs. Emma 0. Rice, Elbridge, N. Y. 




Phulo. by W. V. B>0(*r, SyracUM. 



JONATHAN WIIITK. 



Ill IHOI, .)i»H,-|ih Wliite, II llevoliititinary soiKlii-r, fiiiiu' witti 
li'iH fiiinily fn»iii Wcjtt Spriiiiificlil, Miinh., t<i ('aiii'illu.s, and 
lMiti);lil a fanii jii.sl iiorlli of tlio briilj:f over Nim- Mile crt'ok, 
at tliu villn;;i- of Aiiiboy. Tlii'V wxm liiiilt a Kiiw-iiiill and 
fulliii;; and dyi-ing wurkii, wliii-li, in (Ikkso da^H of lioiiK'S|iiin, 
did a floiiridhiii^ biiMiiu**. JtJM'pli Wliito viof a Hurvi-yor, 
and, wliili- (i|M'nini; a lii;;li\vay, ri'ccivcd an injury frtnii a fallin-^ 
tn-v, wliicli partially ]ianily/AHl liini and niiiGiii'd liiin to tliu 
houM! for wvumi ycnm, until lii.s dcutli in IH^itl, nj^nl ui);lity- 
oiic yearn. His wife, I'hebe C, died in 1829, ajit'd scvonty- 
wvi-n yt>ars. His h4>iin filled (inmiinrnt |ila<'t's in town. Klijali 
was u Mirvi-yiir. and Hamld a ni:i:;istrali- and in('nilH.T of !Lss4-m- 
bly. Ill the Wnrof 1812 the luttt'r wan first lirulenaiit, and was 
Ktationed in the fort at Oswego. He ninrried, in IS27, Marietta 
Morloy, of Wi«t Sprin^zfield, Ma.ss., and died in ls;{2, aged 
forty -8ix. Klijali died iiiiniarried in 1K:!<), ageil fitly-fcmr. 
Two of Harold's children grew uji, — Qcorgo C, now living in 
I'lattsburgh, N. Y., and Harold M., who graduated at Union 
eoUege, in 1S5G, was adiiiilt<-d to thi^ bar in IH.VJ, removed 
lu Iowa ill 18G(>, volunteered in 18lil,aiid diiti in the army 
in Duccuibor, 18G2, aged thirty yejirs. 

In 1812, Aurun White followed his brother, Jiis«>ph, from 
Ma.ssaehii.'<etl.s with his family, and Imught a part of l/it '.i, 
Onondugii re.servution, siiiee held by his dcKcendant^. lie died 



in 18:JM, aged eighty-six. His widow, Liiey Kellogg. die«l in 
1818, agiil eighty-eight. Of their eliildreii. only Jonallian 
loeat4tl |H-rmaiiently in (.'aiuillus. He walke<l from Ma.ssachu- 
setts when eighteen years old, and heliRil to clear the farm on 
which he alVerwanls liveil. In 18i:j he marched with the 
militia to Sinilli's Mills to defend the frontier. In 182- he 
joined the Presbyterian church at (.'ainillus, and in 1845, with 
others, liel|)cd to or^mizc the Pri'sbyterian church at Aniboy. 
He .Hervi-d as an elder in these churches nearly fifty years. 
lie wiLs active in siist«iniiig Sunday-schools and neighborh<Nid 
mcelings in the eastern part of the town, and kept o|K-n house 
for all clinicid or lay brethren who needed entertainment. He 
was a man of strict integrity, and wji.-* frii|ueiitly intrusted 
with town officii. In politics, he was u DeiutK-rut up to 1848; 
thereafter a Frec-soilor and Kepubliciin. 

In 18:{8 he married Marietta White, widow of his cousin 
Harold, and hud one son, Jonathan li., now living in Caioillus. 
He died in 1874, aged eighty, and his wife in 1855, oged 
sixty-one years. 

Jonathan White was a man of many ]ieeuliaritius ; his form 
was slender and stooping ; his movements were quick and ner- 
vous ; his disposition kind ; his speech and temper hasty. 
Karnest in whatever he undertook, and with decidiil opinions, 
he cured little who was for or against hiui. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



313 



Chadwick, i82i-'25 ; Hutchins Taylor, i826-'28 ; 
E. H. Adams, i829-'3i ; B. B. Stockton, i83i-'33; 
Moody Harrington, i834-'39; Josiah Ward, 1840- 
'46. Rev. Mr. Kingsley supplied the church dur- 
ing the year 1847, and was succeeeed by Rev. 
William W. Williams from 1 848-' 5 3. 

From i853-'6o, the pulpit was supplied from the 
Theological Seminary at Auburn. Rev. E. R. 
Davis was pastor from i86o-'66. From i866-'68, 
the pulpit was supplied by Messrs. Grosvenor, 
Hopkins and Kneeland. During this period a new 
church was built, and Rev. Mr. Muer occupied the 
pulpit two years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. S. 
Root, who remained from 1^7 y' 77 ; since his 
departure the pulpit has been supplied mainly from 
the Auburn Theological Seminary. 

The present membership of the church is fifty- 
one ; Sunday School, eighty-eight ; teachers, nine ; 
infant class, sixteen. Greenville Gayiord, Superin- 
tendent. 

Methodist Episcop.^l Church of Camillus. 
— In 1827 Camillus was a "preaching place" in 
the Marcellus circuit, there being a small society 
organized there at that time. Meetings were held in 
private houses and school houses. The Presiding 
Elder at that time was Rev. George Gary, and 
Revs Zenas Jones, Orrin Doolittle and Morgan 
Sherman circuit preachers. A church was built at 
Camillus in 1830. Presiding Elder, Rev. John 
Dempster ; Circuit Preachers, Revs. Isaac Puffer 
and G. W. Dinsmore. In 1836, Camillus was made 
a " station " with Rev. Z. Paddock, Presiding Elder ; 
and Rev. Ross Clark, Station Preacher. 

The society at present numbers eighty-eight 
members ; the average attendance at Sunday 
School, forty. Church property is valued at about 
$5,000, and the parsonage at $1,500. Rev. D. W. 
Bristol, D. D., is Presiding Elder, and Rev. F. H. 
Stanton, who has held this charge for three years, 
Pastor at the present time. 

AMBOY, 

On Nine-Mile Creek, three miles below Camillus 
Village, was first settled by Joseph White, who built 
a fulling mill here in 1801, and sawmill in 1806. 
The place now contains a saw and stave mill, flour- 
ing mill and cider mill. The large flouring mill 
was erected by Nathan Paddock in 1826-27, and is 
now owned by Lafayette Burdick, who has been in 
possession of the property since 1861. 

There is also a tannery here, conducted by D. B. 
Paddock ; a Presbyterian church and a Methodist 
class connected with the charge at Belle Isle. 

Amboy has two physicians — Dr. L. C. Skinner, 



a graduate of Hobart College in 1840, and a prac- 
titioner here since the same year ; and his son, 
Dr. E. C. Skinner, who graduated at the Medical 
College of the University of New York in 1874. 

The Presbyterian Church of Amboy. — This 
is the first and only religious organization of the 
place. The records show that a meeting was held 
December 23, 1845, in the new meeting house 
erected the same year at a probable cost of $3,000 
and in present use, at which Rev's Thos. Castleton, 
J. J. Ward, J. W. Adams, A. L. Otis, J. E. Meyers, 
A. C. Lathrop ; and Ruling Elders, T. R. Porter and 
J. Skinner, were present as the Committee of the 
Onondaga Presbytery (^since, with the Oswego and 
Mohawk Presbyteries, merged into the Presbytery 
of Syracuse,) to constitute the church ; which was 
duly organized with forty-nine communicants, all 
received by certificate from the Congregational 
church at Van Buren Center and from the Presby- 
terian church at Camillus. 

The church building was then dedicated, followed 
by the election of Heman Warner, J. Skinner, 
Jonathan White, and William Reed, Elders ; Tru- 
man Skinner, Henry L. Warner, and Pardee Ladd, 
Deacons. Of these all, excepting Pardee Ladd, 
had elsewhere held the same offices 

The first settled minister of the church was Rev. 
Alfred C. Lathrop, 1845-47; Rev. Norman B. 
Sherwood, i848-'49 ; Rev. D. H. Kingsley, 1849- 
'50 ; Rev. R. J. Cone, i850-'52 ; Rev. Edward S. 
Lacy, 1852-53; Rev. Hubert P. Herrick, 1853; 
Rev. Richard Dunning, i854-'58; Rev. Lucius E. 
Barnard, i859-'6o ; Rev. John S. Bacon, 1862-70; 
Rev. Frederick Hebard, i870-'72 ; Rev. A. J. 
Quick, 1872-75, and Rev. Benjamin B. Dayton, 
June I, 1876, the present pastor. 

Since the organization of the church the roll of 
membership has included two hundred and eighty- 
two names. Of this number seventy-three have 
been dismissed to other churches, fifty-five have 
gone from earth, and eight have been suspended, 
leaving the present membership, (January, 1878,) 
one hundred and forty-six. The membership of the 
Sabbath School is one hundred and fifty-three. 

BELLE ISLE 

Is a post-hamlet on the Erie Canal in the eastern 
part of the town of Camillus. Thomas Machan has 
been Postmaster since i860, and Justice of the 
Peace since 1868. William Ecker was Justice of 
the Peace from 1864 to 1868. The place contains 
one store, wagon and blacksmith shops. The store 
is kept by M. L. Hay. 

The M. E. Church at this place was erected in 
185 1 ; Jaben Armstrong, Henry Safford, John C. 



3«4 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Hatton, first Trustees and principal contributors to 
the church building. Rev. Mr. Coop was the first 
pastor ; present pastor, C. VV. Rowley. 

Robert Martin owns the present saw mill north 
of Belle Isle, known as the " Corwin Mills," rebuilt 
at a cost of 5r,200. with an additional cost of $750 
for cider press, and one run of stones for grain. In 
1876, he manufactured two hundred barrels of 
cider, and is now doing a general business, working 
his farm of twenty-five acres in connection with his 
milling. 



BiOGiiAPHic^L Sketch 



BKNNETT BROTHERS. 

Among the representative farmers of Onondaga 
county for nearly forty years, were the Bennett 
Brothers, of Camillus. Their business relationship, 
commencing in 1 836, was continued until the death of 
Mr. Lewis Bradley Bennett. in 1874; and, remarkable 
as it may seem, all transactions were planned and 
carried out without resorting to any written con- 
tract between them They lived, toiled and labored 
together as brothers, each trying to out-vie the 
other in the amount of work done. Yearly all 
accounts were examined and adjusted. In this, no 
doubt, lay one clement of success. 

These brothers, Lewis Bradley and Joel Barlow, 
in 184c, purchased one hundred acres of land, and 
during the twenty years which followed, added to 
that amount, until in i860, their estate numbered 
nearly si.\ hundred acres, at an average cost of si.xty 
dollars per acre During the financial depressions 
of the country they prosperously, yet slowly, pushed 
forward. With energy, patience and industry they 
improved their entire estate, with respect to fences 
and buildini;s ; enriched the soil by means of stock, 
plaster and clover, until a high state of cultivation 
was reached. The strength and fertility of the 
soil, a sandy loam mixed with clay, placed their 
large farm among the very first in productiveness 
in Onondaga County. 

Tht kind of farming followed was chiefly grain 
and stock raising. During ten successive years 
the average sown yearly was nearly two hundred 
acres, or one-third of the entire estate, while often 
a herd of eighty cattle could be seen, with flocks of 
sheep numbering eight hundred. The largest 
product of grain in one year was si.\ thousand 
bushels -of wheat, barley, oats and corn — while in 
1864. the highest price for produce was obtained. 



fifteen hundred bushels of wheat being marketed 
for three dollars and a half per bushel. The nec- 
essary meadow land, yearly, was not far from eighty 
to a hundred acres. The winter season during 
fifteen years was spent in clearing wood land, until 
one hundred acres had been rendered arable. Thus 
their winter's harvests were nearly as profitable as 
those of summer. 

With a large and productive farm, finely located, 
gently sloping to the south ; with large and well 
arranged fields ; with barns of great dimensions, 
one of which for nearly twenty years was a model 
for the surrounding country; with the latest and 
most improved machinery, which they took great 
pleasure in introducing : with all these something 
else seemed necessary in order to have contentment. 
Each wished for a better house, and they planned 
to erect a dwelling for each which would be satis- 
factory. Mr. Lewis Bradley Bennett succeeded in 
finishing a structure, of beautiful exterior, whose 
interior arrangement and finish can not well be 
surpassed for a farmer's use. Containing, as it 
does, large and conveniently arranged rooms, with 
the modern improvements of bath rooms and 
furnace, one looks upon it with feelings of pleasure 
and almost pride. Soon after the completion of 
this beautiful structure its builder died, having 
occupied it only a few months. 

Not long after his brother's death, Mr. Joel 
Barlow Bennett took possession of this house, where 
with his wife. Rosanna S.. he now lives, carrying 
on a farm of two hundred and forty acres, which 
remains from the original estate. Through the 
taste and patience of a nephew, Mr. Charles B. 
Brown, the grounds have been tastefully laid out, 
and a lawn neatly and carefully made, and to-day 
the landscape gardening of this residence attracts 
and merits universal attention. 

Mr. Joel Barlow Bennett was born in Camillus, 
Onondaga County. N. Y. July 22d. 1815. His 
brother. Lewis Bradley Bennett, was born in Camil- 
lus, September 29th. 1813, and married Mary War- 
ing, of Saratoga. Saratoga County, N. Y.. February 
I5lh. 1842. He died December 22d, 1874. in the 
sixty-second year of his age. At the time of his 
death he was a member of the Congregational 
Church in Elbridge, and one of the Board of 
Trustees of the churth. and also of the Munro 
Collegiate Institute In June. 1874, he made a legacy 
to the church of which he was a member of ^1,000. 
to be used for its support. At the same time he 
bequeathed large amounts of property to his imme- 
diate relatives. He lelt a widow, 1 ul i «i children. 
He was of mild disp«ibilion, yielding, yet firm and 





Rib or J B BENNETT , Cawiii 




Onondaga County, New York. 




s 






6g 
to 

Ci 



-^ 






HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



315 



persevering. While he was energetic in business 
affairs, he was peaceable in the community in which 
he lived. He did not love public positions and only 
accepted them when urged upon him. The com- 



munity in which he lived, his employes and family 
friends only knew his true worth. Among the 
many monuments he left, none are so good as those 
of friendship and affection. 



LYSANDER 



Lysander was formerly Township number one 
of the Military Tract, and became one of the eleven 
original towns of Onondaga County at its organiza- 
tion in 1794. It then embraced the townships of 
Lysander, Hannibal and Cicero. The first town 
meeting was directed by law to be held at the house 
of Ryal Bingham, Esq., then residing at Three 
River Point. Hannibal, now in Oswego County, 
was taken from it in 1806 and Cicero in 1807. In 
18 16, when the county of Oswego was organized, 
thirty-three lots of the township of Lysander were 
included in the county of Oswego and town of 
Granby, which leaves but sixty-seven lots in the town 
of Lysander. This town is situated in the north- 
west corner of the county. It is of a peculiar 
shape, owing to the crookedness of the Seneca 
River which forms the boundary between this town 
and Elbridge, Van Buren, Geddes, Salina and Clay. 
One little lake, viz : Mud or Beaver Lake, exists 
within its boundaries. The soil is good, and com- 
pares favorably with any portion of the county for 
agricultural purposes. 

Of the earliest settlers in this town the following 
is a partial list : Ryal Bingham, near Three River 
Point, in 1793 ; Jonathan Palmer, near the center 
of the town, the same year ; Adam Emerick, Elijah 
and Solomon Hall, Col. Thomas Farrington, Elijah 
Mann, Ebenezer Wells, James Cowan, Abner and 
Manly Vickery, Job Loomis and John P. Schuyler, 
all came in about the year 1800, or some of them a 
year or two previous. Jacobus DePuy cleared off 
about fifty acres in 1805 and 1806 on the north 
side of the river at Baldwinsville and put it into 
wheat. 

This town was at first considered unhealthy and 
settlements were somewhat retarded in consequence, 
but the clearing of the land and bringing it under 
cultivation produced a great change, and as im- 
provements extended its settlements increased with 
great rapidity. By cultivation and drainage the soil 
has become dry and free from stagnant surface wa- 
ter, so that the town of Lysander is now as healthy 



and productive a locality as can be found in this 
portion of the State. 

The town of Lysander was not fully organized 
till 1798, when the Supervisor, Mr. Asa Rice, who 
lived near Oswego, reported for the town, including 
the townships of Lysander, Hannibal and Cicero, 
the number of " fifteen inhabitants," and the valua- 
tion of taxable property for the town was estimated 
at fifteen hundred dollars. Mr. Rice was Super- 
visor till Hannibal was formed into a town by itself 
The old records of the town are not to be found, 
those now in the Clerk's office going no farther 
back than 1808, at which time we find some of the 
principal officers as follows : Elijah Snow, Super- 
visor ; James Adams, Town Clerk ; William Wil- 
son, and James Clark, Assessors. In i 809, Elijah 
Snow was Supervisor, and Cyrus Baldwin, Town 
Clerk. 

BALDWINSVILLE. 

This important manufacturing village is situated 
in the towns of Lysander and Van Buren on both 
sides of the Seneca River, five miles west of the 
outlet of Onondaga Lake and twelve miles north- 
west of Syracuse. Its name is derived from its 
founder. Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin, who commenced 
improvements here in the spring of 1807. The 
place was then called " Columbia" and bore this 
name till the establishment of a postoffice here 
in 18 17, when the Postmaster General, in conse- 
quence of there being another Post Town of the 
same name in the State, changed it to "Baldwins 
Bridge." But the name of Baldwinsville being pre- 
ferred by the inhabitants, it was substituted by the 
Postoffice Department, and has since continued to 
be the name of the village. 

Dr. Baldwin had purchased a place at Ovid, 
Seneca County, and was moving there with his fam- 
ily in 1799. Mrs. Baldwin having left her com- 
fortable home at Little Falls with regret, was assured 
by her husband that he would purchase the first 
place on their route that she might select. Upon 



3>6 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



their arrival at the site of Baldwinsville, where they 
remained over night, Mrs. Baldwin was delighted 
with the place and remarked to her husband, " If 
our property lay here, remote from settlement and 
lonely as it is, I should be willing to stop and take 
up my residence for life." The result was that 
both were satisfied with the selection of this charm- 
ing spot for their future home. 

The following night they lodged with John Mc- 
Harrie who had settled on the south bank of the 
river some forty rods above where the dam now 
joins that shore. From Mr. McHarrie Dr. Bald- 
win learned who was the owner of the favorite lot 
on the other side of the river. The following year 
(1798) he went to Philadelphia to the owner and 
purchased it. After residing a few years at Ovid 
he sold his property there and came to Onondaga. 

In the meantime settlers had located in different 
parts of the town of Lysander and the north part 
of Camilhis, now Van Buren, and finding themselves 
in need of mills, and knowing " McHarrie's Rifts " 
to be an excellent water-power, these scattering set- 
tlers assembled, drew up a memorial and sent it on 
by a strong delegation, in the spring of 1807, to 
Dr. Baldwin, then residing at Onondaga, urging him 
in the strongest terms to improve the water-power 
in the erection of mills upon those rapids. He had 
contemplated doing this at some future period, but 
not so soon by five or six years. Finally, yielding 
to entreaty, he resolved forthwith to enter upon the 
work. On account of sickness among the work- 
men and other hindrances, it was not till late in the 
autumn of the second year that Dr. Baldwin got 
his mill in successful operation. Desirable as this 
object was, it did not compensate for the personal 
sacrifices already made. 

Although but the second year since the first 
blow had been struck, the settlement assumed the 
appearance of a " log town in the wilderness." For 
many succeeding years the local fevers prevailed, 
vitiating the healthfulness of this favorite spot and 
bringing many to premature graves. 

The Seneca River being a public highway, and 
much used as such, it became immediately neces- 
sary to provide for the passage of boats around the 
dam. Dr. Baldwin therefore constructed a canal 
and lock for that purpose. In 1808 he petitioned 
the Legislature for permission to construct a dam, 
locks and canal at that point. But the State hav- 
ing previously transferred its title to the " Inland 
Lock Navigation Company," could not with pro- 
priety grant privileges to Dr. Baldwin. He there- 
upon purchased of said company their right and 
interest in all the waters between the outlet of 



Oneida River and Cayuga Lake. In 1809, the 
Legislature granted his petition for such erections 
and improvements. This right was granted to Dr. 
Baldwin and his assigns for twenty years. The 
collection of certain tolls was authorized upon all 
boats passing through said canal and locks. At 
first the amount collected was small, but with the 
increase of business it became considerable, and in 
time would have repaid the outlay, had not the 
State changed its policy and taken the entire sub- 
ject of internal navigation and improvement under 
its own control. The completion of the middle sec- 
tion of the Erie canal rendered nugatory the busi- 
ness of the original route, since which this canal 
and locks have been of comparatively little import- 
ance. In 1809, the dam across the river was swept 
away by a heavy spring freshet, and such was the 
nature of the damage sustained that it became 
necessary to erect a new dam, which was not com- 
pleted till the following year. He this year erected 
a toll bridge across the river under provisions 
made by law, upon the site occupied by the pres- 
ent bridge. At the same time a new mill, of 
enlarged dimensions was erected by Dr. Baldwin. 
It was afterwards converted into a woolen factory 
and subsequently burnt down. He used his efforts 
sucessfully to procure the laying out of a State road 
between Onondaga Hill and Oswego, and also pro- 
cured the passage of an act authorizing the con- 
struction of a turnpike from Westmoreland to Sodus 
Bay. 

The village continued prosperous and flourishing 
till 1819, when the diversion of the business usually 
(lone on the Seneca river to the Erie canal seemed 
for a time to paralyze every interest. The growth 
of the surrounding country, however, in time ren- 
dered its water-power valuable, and new energies 
and investments of capital awakened a new spirit of 
progress. From this era its growth was steady and 
rapid. 

" After 1807, saw mills were erected almost with- 
out number. In 1808, Dr. Baldwin erected one with 
six saws and carriages. In 1824, Messrs. Start & 
Mott erected a mill with two saws and carriages. 
In 1826, Mr. James Johnson built a mill with four 
saws and carriages, and Messrs. Stephen and 
Harvey Baldwin, a mill with a gang of fifteen saws. 
Start & Mott's mill burned down in 1834, and was 
rebuilt in 1847 by Richard M. Beach. In 1839 
Thomas P. Campbell erected a mill with two saws 
and carriages. In 1848 Howard & Cook built a 
mill with two saws and carriages. 

"Several grist mills were erected from time to 
time, and among others the noted mill erected by 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



317 



Sanford C. Parker in 1836-7. This mill was 60 by 
100 feet in dimensions, four stories besides base- 
ment, and capable of manufacturing 200 barrels of 
flour daily, besides custom grinding."* This mill 
was burnt in 1861, and rebuilt by Johnson, Cook & 
Co., in 1862. (See Baldwinsville Manufacturers.) 

Early Merchants. 

Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin opened a store at Baldwins- 
ville in 1807, and continued till 1813. In 1813, 
Judge Otis Bigelow commenced selling goods in the 
village and continued till 1863, a period of fifty 
years. Judge Bigelow was a prominent and leading 
citizen, father of the present Col. Payne Bigelow, 
and was born in Worcester County, Mass. , February 
I, 1785. He died June 21, 1864, aged eighty years. 

John Hamill opened a store in 1816; Jonas C. 
Brewster, in 1821 ; Luther Badger, in 1823 ; Robins 
& Wells, in 1832; Sanford C. Parker, in 1835; 
John Tomlinson & Co., in 1838; D. C. Lusk & 
Co , in 1846. 

Bar of Baldwinsville. 
Reuben S. Orvis, Esq., was the first lawyer in 
the village. He commenced the practice of law 
here in 1816. Samuel H. Hammond, Esq., began 
as an attorney in 1S26; and afterwards Cornelius 
Pugsley, Esq., and others established themselves 
as members of the Baldwinsville bar. Colonel I. 
T. Minard came here in 1833, and D. C. Green- 
field, Esq., in 1848. Present attorneys : DeWitt 
C. Greenfield, George Hall, N. M. White, Isaac T. 
Minard, F. A. Marvin, J. R. Shea and C. M. West. 

Physicians. 

Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin, on his first arrival at 
Baldwinsville, practiced medicine when necessary 
till other physicians arrived. In 18 14, Dr. Cyrus 
Baldwin established himself as a regular physician, 
and Dr. Silas Wallace in 1816. Dr. Phillip Sharp 
settled about a mile and a half west of the village 
as early as 1823. Later, Dr. H. J. Shumway, Dr. 
Farnsworth, and Dr. Lee settled as physicians in 
the village, and were followed by Dr. Elijah Law- 
rence, Dr. John Briggs and others. The present 
physicians are Henry B. Allen, J. V. Kendall, J. C. 
B. Wallace, J. F. Wells, A. H. Marks and L. V. 

Flint. 

Postmasters. 

A postoffice was first established at Baldwins- 
ville in 1817, Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin, Postmaster. 
He was succeeded by Stephen W. Baldwin, Otis 
Bigelow, Austin Baldwin, Dr. L. B. Hall, Dr. 
Daniel T. Jones, E. B. Wigent, Irvin Williams, 

* Clark's Onondaga. 
49 



David S. Wilkins and W. W. Perkins, the present 
Postmaster (1878.) 

Prior to 18 17 mail matter was obtained from the 
postoffice at Onondaga Hollow and by boats from 
Salina. Any citizen who visited the Hollow would 
go to the postoffice and bring the mail for his neigh- 
bors. Col. Payne Bigelow relates that his father. 
Judge Bigelow, in 18 16, used to get his mail at 
Three River Point, where it was brought by boat- 
men from Salina and deposited with a Mr. Sweet, 
who kept a log tavern on the Lysander side of the 
river. 

After the postoffice was established in 1817, the 
mails were for some time carried on horse back. 
More than forty years ago, Walter D. Herrick, who 
kept a hotel in the present American Hotel build- 
ing, put on a line of stages running from Baldwins- 
ville to Syracuse, for the purpose of carrying the 
mail, passengers and freight. The road usually 
taken was through " HardscraBle," Belle Isle and 
Fairmount, to Syracuse. 

At one time Col. Stephen W. Baldwin ran a 
small steamboat to and from Syracuse by way of 
the river, outlet and Onondaga Lake, for the ac- 
comodation of passengers, and it was not till the 
completion of the Oswego and Syracuse Railroad, 
in October, 1848, that Baldwinsville enjoyed full and 
speedy communication with all other sections of 
the country. 

A tow-path on the north bank of the Senecai 
River extending from Mud Lock to Baldwinsville, 
connects the village with the Oswego Canal. Sen- 
eca River, with a fall of eight feet, furnishes one of 
the best sites for hydraulic works in this section of 
the State, and being surrounded by a country of 
great fertility and beauty, it must ever be a village 
of considerable activity and importance. 

Incorporation. 

The village was incorporated with the name of 
Baldwinsville under the provisions of the general 
incorporating act June 3, 1848. A new charter 
was obtained in 1868, and a law passed April 21, 
1868, dividing the village into three wards. 

The following were the first municipal officers, 
elected in 1848 : 

President, LeRoy Morgan. Trustees, E. A. 
Baldwin, Elisha Hickok, Irvin Williams, Almon 
Farr. Clerk, E. B. Wigent. 

Presidents of the village from 1849 to 187S, in- 
clusive : 

1849-51, Henry Case, Jr.; 1852, Samuel Bisdee; 
1853-54, Sanford C. Parker ; 1855, E. B. Wigent; 
1856, John Boley ; 1857, D. D. Norton ; 1858, 



3«8 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Sam'l Avery; 1859, D. C. Greenfield ; i860. Stephen 
\V. Haldwin ; 1861, Jas. Hamill ; 1862, J. O. Slocum; 
1863, Eli Perry ; 1864-65. \V. W. I'erkins ; 1866, 
L. H. Cheney; 1867. J. P. Shumway ; 1868-70, 
J. J. Kaulback ; 1871 *7-. ^^^llace Tappan ; 1873, 
I. M. Haldwin ; 1874, J L. Voorhccs ; 1875, Erwin 
Fairbanks; 1 876-78, Wm. F. Morris. 

The present village officers (1878) are as follows : 
Wm r. Morris, President; Horace J. Frazee, 
Clerk ; James R. Blanchard, Treasurer ; Oliver 
Strong. Police Constable ; R. D. Pettit, H. Tappan, 
C N. Hliss, J. E. Hilts. S. J. E. Paul, C. M. West. 
Trustees ; Bradford Chase. S. H. Alden and Erwin 
Fairbanks, Assessors. 

Manufactukes. 

The leading manufacturing interest of Baldwins- 
ville is the production of flour, there being five 
large mills in constant o])cration whose daily capac- 
ity aggregates over one thousand barrels. We 
shall pass each of these mills in brief review and 
then notice some of the minor manufacturing in- 
terests. 

James Fka/ee & Co.— This firm has a mill fifty 
by one hundred feet, four stories, including base- 
ment, erected in i859-'6o. The proprietors are 
James Frazee and E P. Schoonmaker. 

Jacob Amos & Sons —The mills are under the 
management of Jacob Amos. Jr. They were erected 
by the head of the firm in 1868, the building and 
machinery costing about §100.000. On this site 
stood the " Old Red Mill," erected by James John- 
son in 183s or thereabouts, which was burned with 
the woolen factory in 1842. 

G. H. & A. T. HoTAi.iNt; occupy the stone mill 
erected by Sanford C. Parker in 1836, and which 
was rebuilt by Johnson, Cook & Co., in 1862. In 
1870 this firm commenced business. They have 
changed the mill into what is known as a " New 
Process" mill, and otherwise improved it. Its 
present capacity is two hundred barrels of merchant 
flour per day. The Hotalings are natives of this 
county, born in the town of Pompey. and were for- 
merly in the milling business at Jamesville. 

D. & G. Morris.— The mill occupied by this 
firm stands on the "second privilege," and was 
known for a long time as the " Farmer's Mill of 
Van Buren." 

W. L. Wii.KiNS, Flour and Feed Mills, entirely 
custom work. Mr. Wilkins built his mill in 1854 
and has run it constantly ever since. It has four 
run of stones and does a prosperous business. Mr. 
Wilkins is a native of Saratoga County and came 
here in 1846. 



W. L. Frazee owns and operates the only saw 
mill in Baldwinsville. 

J. C. Miller & Co's Hosiery Mills were estab- 
lished in 1876. 

White, Clark & Co., Centrifugal Pump Works, 
established in June, 1876. The building occupied 
by this firm was formerly the Ax Factory, and has 
been fitted up not only as a Pump Factor)', but as 
a machine shop, where work of all kinds in that 
line is done. The shops have facilities for the em- 
ployment of eight regular workmen. 

Schoonmaker & Co. — Paper Mill. Started in 
December. 1874. Manufactures Straw Wrapping 
Paper, 4,500 pounds per day. The partners are 
Andrew S Schoonmaker, Theodore Haines and 
Jacob C. Kenyon. The building was formerly 
erected by Johnson, Cook & Co , in 1862, and used 
as a distillery in connection with the Stone Mill 
now owned by the Messrs. Hotaling — built by San- 
ford C. Parker in 1836, burnt in 1861, rebuilt in 
1862. 

Jamks R. Blanchard furnishes the village and 
surrounding country with Granite and Marble 
Monuments of every required description. This is 
the only shop of the kind in the village, and has 
been in operation fifteen years. 

Fuller & Bliss, Planing Mill, Sash, Door and 
Blind Factory. The business of this firm was 
established by the present proprietors in 1866, and 
is one of the prosperous enterprises of the village. 
The proprietors are William L. Fuller and C. N. 
Bliss. An extensive lumber yard is kept in con- 
nection with the mill, and the business gives em- 
ployment to about twenty men. 

John M. Young's Fork and Rake Factory is 

an enterprise recently started. The works are 

located in a portion of what was formerly the " Ax 

Factory." 

Banks of Baldwinsville. 

First National Bank. — Organized p-ebruary 
2, 1864. — First officers — James Frazee, President; 
D. C. Greenfield, Vice-President ; Irvin Williams, 
Cashier. The bank commenced business in the 
building known as " The Stone Office," on Canal 
street. The present Bank Building was erected in 
1866, at a cost including fixtures of ^S.OOO. The 
First National Bank has a capital of ? 140,000 ; sur- 
plus, $30,000; loans and discounts, $165,000 ; cir- 
culation, $126,000. 

Present officers— James Frazee, President; A. 
K. Clark, Vice President ; W. F. Morris, Cashier. 

Succeeding Mr. Williams and preceding Mr. W. 
F. Morris, Mr. P. L. Ferine was Cashier. 




7^.7^ t:^^^ 



Bciijiiiiiin Baird Schenck, M.D., was bi>rii in Cliarlfstoii, 
Montfe'omery Co., N. Y., July 20, 1809. His father, UuK.f 
Schenck, was of illustriou.s German descent. He »ettle<l in the 
northwest cornir of this county, then a wil(lornes.s, in 1815. 

Henjaniin wils the fifth child and second son. Ills early 
advantafrt^s for education were limited, his hoyhood days being 
.•*pcnt on a farm and in clearinj; land. At the age of twenty- 
three, his health failing, ho CDt«rod the private school of T. W. 
Allis, at Skaneateles, where he remained eighteen months, with 
the exception of a short jicriod spent in teaching district school. 
In 1831 he attended one term at Homer academy, and the fol- 
lowing spring begun the study of niedieine, under Joseph H. 
.Skinner, of I'luinville, attending his first course of lecturvs at 
the medical college, Fairfield, N. Y., in 1835 and 183G. His 
final course was taken at Geneva college, where he graduated 
Feb. 10, 1838. The sjime year ho began pnictice in IMainvillo. 
In 184 1 he united with the Christian church of that place, and 
four years subsequently was ordiun«Kl a minister by aconfcn-nee 
of that body, and continued to preach till 1852. The confer- 
ence that year, on account of his lilvnd interpretation of the 
Scrijituros, det^lared him " out of hanuoiiy with the church." 

Meanwhile he had cumuienccd an examinatiim of honia>o|v 
athy, by reading Hahnemann's " Organon," and Hartmanirs 



'' Acute and Chronic Diseases." Continuing his investigations 
patiently through 1849 and 1850, he, early in 1851, adopted 
homtjeopathy as his mode of practice, carrying with him into 
the new school all but two of hLs former patrons. In 1852 he 
took his brother-in-law, who for three years had been his student, 
into partnership with him, and in two years resigned in his 
favor. 

Dr. Schenck then entered into mercantile business, but the 
crash of 1857 and the war of the rebellion seriously embarrassed 
him, so that he was induced to renew his practioo, which since 
then has steadily increased. 

In June, 1838, he married Harriot, daughter of Capt. R. 
Sullivan, of Seneca county. He held a lieutenant's commission 
in the State militia four years, and a eaptiiin's seven years, and 
was hononibly discharged. 

In IS(!) he was appointed p<istnia.stcr at Plainville, held the 
office till 1853, was rcap|><iint(Hl in 1863, and still holds the 
office. 

When young the doctor was prominent in church masic, and 
only left the choir when ho entered the pulpit, in June, 1846. 
He has had an unbroken residence in the school di.strict 
when! he resides since 1815, and was the first to start and 
teach u select school in the place. 



'■'■3'!^^''^-} i^ - '?^"^r^'-'T^ 




F?£SiDENCE OF Dr. B.B. SCHENCK, Flaihvilll, Onondaga County. H.Y 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



319 



Baldwinsville State Bank. — Organized at 
Baldwinsville, N. Y., May, 1875, with a capital of 
5650,000. The Directors are George Hawley, Payne 
Bigelow, D. C. Greenfield, S. S. Quivey, G. A. 
Bigelovv, John T. Skinner and Otis M. Bigelow. 
George Hawley, President ; G. A. Bigelow, Vice- 
President ; S. S. Quivey, Cashier. The following 
is the quarterly statement, 22d of September, 

1877: 

Resources. 

Loans and Discounts §107,521 21 

Over Drafts 34 97 

U. S. Bonds 5,000 00 

Furniture and Fixtures 1,100 00 

Taxes Paid 371 80 

Premiums Paid 180 00 

Due from State and National Banks.. 4,944 83 

Currency and Specie 380 96 

Expenses 439 35 

Stocks 2,450 00 

122,423 12 
Liabilities. 

Capital Stock $ 50,000 00 

Undivided Profits 4,214 62 

Due Depositors 61,172 50 

Due State and National Banks 36 00 

Due Individuals 2,000 00 

Re-Discounts 5,000 00 



122,423 12 
The Industrial Association of Northwest- 
ern Onondaga, which has for its object the advance- 
ment of agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, the 
mechanic arts and household industry, was organ- 
ized April 29, 1873. The oflficers for 1877 were as 
follows : Abel H. Toll, President ; Hiram Bow- 
man, Vice-President ; D. C. Greenfield, Secretary ; 
W. F. Morris, Treasurer. Directors — James 
Sears, A. Van Alstine, D. C Toll, E. M. Babcock, 
Russell Bentley, W. W. Perkins. 

The Baldwinsville Gazette. 

This weekly newspaper is published at Baldwins- 
ville and is the successor of the Baldwinsville 
Republican, founded in 1844 by Samuel B. West. 
In October, 1846, it became the property of C. M. 
Hosmer, who changed the name to the Onondaga 
Gazette. Mr. J. M. Clark succeeded Mr. Hosmer 
for many years as editor and proprietor, and sold to 
J. B. Davis. He afterwards repurchased it, and in 
1869 sold to X. Haywood, who enlarged the paper. 
In 1 87 1, Mr. George S. Clark purchased it, 
and has since remained its editor and proprie- 
tor. On the first of January, 1878, Mr. Clark 
changed it to the Baldwinsville Gazette. It is a 
well conducted paper, enjoying a reputation for 



local matter unsurpassed by any weekly publication ' 
in the State. 

Baldwinsville Union Free School, 

By act of the Legislature, (Chapter 94, Laws of 
1864) District No. 2 in Lysander, and District No. 
18 in Van Buren, were consolidated into one dis- 
trict under the corporate name of the Baldwinsville 
Union Free School District. The act appointed 
the first Board of Education in the words followins : 

" The following named persons, to-wit : James 
Frazee, John P. Shumway, Abel H. Toll, Henry 
Y. Allen, Silas H. Nichols, Payne Bigelow, and 
their successors, to be chosen as hereinafter pro- 
vided, are hereby constituted a corporation by the 
name of the Board of Education for the Baldwins- 
ville Academy and Union Free School." 

The schools organized under this charter are 
three — two primary and one academic, the latter 
the Baldwinsville Free Academy. It is subject 
to the visitation of the Regents of the State Uni- 
versity, and draws its annual proportion of the 
Literature Fund. There are three buildings, two 
of brick and one of wood, the Academy building 
being a fine structure, occupying sightly and well 
ornamented grounds. It was erected in 1865, and 
cost, including site, about ^25,000. The lot con- 
tains 800 square rods. The lots of the three 
schools are valued at $10,000, and the buildings at 
g 2 1,000. 

There are eleven teachers located as follows : 
R. J. Round, A. M., Principal ; Miss J. L. Wright, 
Miss Olivia Bigelow and Miss Sarah A. Barber, 
teachers in the Academy ; Miss Mary Hannan, 
Miss Mary Wetherby and Miss Hattie Peet, teachers 
on the north side; Miss Marian McClenthen, Miss 
Ellen Lusk and Miss Jennie Frazee, teachers on 
the south side. The aggregate teachers' salaries 
for the year ending October i, 1877, were {85,267; 
the highest salary, $140 per month ; the lowest, 
$24. Average attendance, 444 ; money expended 
during the school year, $8,304.84. 

Board of Education : S. C. Suydam, President ; 
W. F. Morris, C. N. Bliss, William L. Wilkins, A. 
K. Clark, M. Donovan. 

Churches. 

First Presbyterian Church, Baldwinsville. 
— Religious meetings were first held in the town of 
Lysander under the auspices of an Eastern Asso- 
ciation of the Presbyterian Church, which sent out 
as a missionary Rev. Ebenezer Lazelle. Mr. 
Lazelle held his first service in a barn near Squire 
Munro's corner, July 13, 1813. A hogshead was 
made to answer for a pulpit, while the hay and 
roush boards served for seats. The Red School 



320 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



House was built soon after, where the gravel bed 
now is on West Oneida street, and furnished the 
only place of worship for many years. 

The church was organized by Rev. Mr. Lazelle 
July 13, 1813, and consisted of the following four- 
teen members, most of whom were from the region 
towards New Bridge : Cyrus and Susan Baldwin ; 
Thomas and Betsey Farrington ; George and Mary 
White ; Eunice, Sarah and Lucy Porter ; Levi 
Manasseh and Levi Manasseh, Jr. ; Mary Calkins 
and William Van Fleet. Cyrus Baldwin, Thomas 
Farrington and George White were elected Elders, 
November 12, 1813. 

The first church edifice was a wooden building 
erected at a cost of $3,000 in 1830. In 1865 the 
present brick church on the corner of Oswego and 
Elizabeth streets was built, costing about §20,000. 
The Pastors of this church have been as follows : 

Rev. John Davenport, first Moderator of Onon- 
daga Presbytery in 1810, pastor five years — died 
here in 1821 ; Rev. E. C. Beach, afterwards at 
Lysandcr Church ; Rev Dr. Kellogg, afterwards 
President of Kno.\ College ; Rev. Townsend Walker, 
184- -'5 1 : Rev. J. R. Young, i852-'57 ; Rev. J. F. 
Kendall, D. D., 1859 "68 ; Rev. E. B. Parsons, 
present pastor since 1868. 

Rev. RoUin Porter, missionary to Africa ; Rev. 
Edwin Adams, missionary to Wisconsin at an early 
day, and Rev. E. R. Davis, city missionary in 
Chicago* were from this church 

Present membership, three hundred and thirty- 
five ; Sunday School, three hundred and fifteen. 

Present officers of the church and society : Rev. 
Eben Burt Parsons, Pastor ; Hezekiah R. Dow, 
Isaac Harrington, Warner D. Wells, James Frazee, 
E. Kirby West, Warren S. White, James Selleck, 
James G. Smith and Edwin E. Wells, Elders ; 
George M. Angler, Hiram Bowman, D. B. Gid- 
dings and John T. Skinner, Deacons; James G. 
Smith, Jonas M. Talmagc, James L. Voorhees, 
Payne Bigclow, Garrett H. Hotaling, DeW. C. 
Turner, Charles N. Bliss, Hiram Bowman and John 
T. Skinner, Trustees. 

Balpwinsvillk Baptist Ciiurch. — In 1815 
meetings were held by Rev. Dudley Lamb in the 
Cold Spring settlement, town of Lysander. As a 
result of his labors three were baptized November 
19, 181 5, and two December 17, 181 5. In June, 
1818, si.v more were added, and on the 23d of the 
month, after the consent of a neighboring Baptist 
Church had been obtained, the eleven were organ- 
ized under the name of the " Second Baptist Church 
of Christ in Lysander." Services were held occa- 
sionally in a school house, but little progress was 
made as a church for several years. In 1840 the 



church was removed to Baldwinsville, and on the 
3d of October of that year its name was changed 
to " Baldwinsville Baptist Church." 

The first church edifice was built in Baldwins- 
ville and dedicated January 31, 1841. The present 
church is a handsome brick structure costing ^i8,- 
000, and was dedicated in December, 1871. 

The following have been pastors of the church 
for the years named : 

Dudley Lamb, 1815; Peter Witt, l823-'33 ; 
Augustus Warren, 1833 ; Peter Witt, i833-'39; S. 
Davidson, i839-'4i ; I. Butterfield, 1841-42 ; O. 
Beckwith, 1842-43 ; H. Stillwell, 1843-44; Ira 
Bennet. 1845 '48 ; Ira Dudley, 1S48 '49 ; A. Wells, 
1849 '50; K- VVinegar, i8si-'52;C. E. Elliot, 
'8S3-'54; A. Hall, Jr., i8s5-'56; J. P. Simmons, 
1857-61 ; J. S. Goodell, i86i-'64; S. P. Merrill, 
i864-'69: B. O. True, 1870 '72; J. N. Tolman, 
•872-'73; Charles Ayer, i874-'7S : J. F. Genung, 
1875 78. 

Present membership one hundred and six. 

Grace Church (Episcopal) Baldwinsville. 
— Organized July 27, 1835, Rev. Richard Salmon, 
of Geddes, presiding. James D. Wallace and 
Norman Kellogg were elected Wardens ; Stephen 
W. Baldwin, Clarence S. Bayley, Nehemiah B. 
Northrop, Benjamin C. Jeffries, Isaac T. Minard, 
Horace Baldwin, E. Austin Baldwin and Walter 
D. Hcrrick, Vestrymen. The first services were 
held in the latter part of 1 S33. by Rev. R. Salmon, of 
Geddes, and were continued by him on the third 
Sunday of each month in the Union Church, now 
Herrick's Hall. Mr. Salmon's removal interrupted 
the services which were almost given up for three 
years. Rev. George B. Engle became missionary 
in 1838, holding services on alternate Sundays. 
There were then but three communicants, one of 
them Mrs. Eliza M. Baldwin, to whom the parish 
afterwards was very much indebted. Services 
were held in a small school house belonging to her, 
which now forms part of Mr. Isaac M. Baldwin's 
house. Here her five children, together with three 
of Morgan J. Trowbridge's, were baptized May 19, 
1839. This is the first baptism on the parish 
register. Rev. Mr. Engle removed to Indiana in 
1841 and there was no more service for five years. 
Rev. Samuel G. Appleton officiated for a little while 
in 1846, and then the only services till 1850 were 
three visitations by Bishop DeLancy. That year 
Rev. Theodore M. Bishop, of Fulton, held frequent 
Sunday afternoon services in a hall on the south 
side of the river and continued them till 1854. 

The corner stone of the present church edifice 
was laid in August, 1853, but owing to the blowing 
down of the frame and other discouragements, the 




Vhoto. by W. V. Ranger, Syracuse. 



LYMAN NORTON. 



Lyman Norton was born in Hartford, Washington Co., N. Y., 1 
Dec. 3, 1809. His fother was Jabez Norton, and his mother's j 
maiden name Abigail Buck. The Norton family came originally 
from France, in September, lOOG, and settled in England ; their 
descendants emigrated to America about the year 1630, and 
settled on Martha's Vineyard, in Maine, and near Boston, Mass. 
His great-grandfather, Jabez Norton, born on Blartha's Vine- 
yard, was a farmer, and died at Mattapoisett ; his wife was 
Elizabeth Allen, of Salisbury, a near relative of Gen. Ethan 
Allen, of Revolutionary memory. His grandfather, Aaron Nor- 
ton, of Martha's Vineyard, married Abigail Norton (of the 
Maine branch). Jabez Norton, father of Lyman Norton, was 
born July 11, 1777, and married Abigail Buck, daughter of 
Col. John Buck and Abigail Arnold, of New Haven, Conn. 
Col. Buck was an ardent patriot, serving in the Revolutionary 
army from Bunker Hill to Yorktown. 

The family consisted of five children, — three sons and two 
daughters. Lyman received a common-school education, and 
in 1826 entered the store of Harlow C. Wetherell, at Hartford, 
as clerk. He engaged to go with his uncle, John Buck, at 
Snow's Bridge, near Jack's Reef; he arrived at that place Oct. 
10, 1826, and was employed as clerk and assistant, superintend- 
ing disbursements attending the work of excavating the State 
drain at Jack's Reef, then in course of construction. In 1830, in 
company with his uncle, John Buck, he built a store at Plain- 
ville, which was occupied by them Nov. 1, 1830, in conducting 
a mercantile business. 

Jan. 20, 1836, he married Ann Maria, daughter of Aaron 
F. Vedder and Nancy Allen, formerly of Schenectady, N. Y. 
They have a family of three children, all of whom are living, 



viz., Jabez H., who succeeded to the business, and is by profes- 
sion an attorney-at-law ; he is now justice of the peace, and 
was chairman of the Democratic county committee in 1876. 
John v., who resides at Memphis, N. Y., a graduate of Union 
college, and a civil engineer by profession ; he has been engaged 
on important works in Peru, South America, and in New York. 
Sarah Ella, now residing with her father. 

In 1830 he was elected school inspector; in 1836 justice of 
the peace, and for twenty-four consecutive years held that po.si- 
tion; for several terms he was supervisor of his town. In 1851 
he was elected member of the assembly. For many years he 
was postmaster, and iilled other local offices. He was one of 
the first inspectors of the Onondaga County penitentiary, which 
position he held five years, and organized the workings of the 
prison. In politics he is a Democrat, of the Jefferson and 
Jackson school. 

He was a skillful marksman, a keen hunter, a favorite, and 
held in high estimation among the hardy backwoodsmen of the 
county. 

From his early savings he located land warrants in the west, 
the proceeds of which constitute his property. 

As a merchant he w;is lenient in business ; the poor man was 
never forced for payment, but was often assisted, and his books 
show hundreds of outlawed and unpaid debts standing in the 
name of men whose descendants are now flourishing business 
men of the west. 

As a public officer he was found never to encourage litigation, 
but his efforts were directed to settle legal difliculties. A large 
portion of his time was devoted to settling up the estates of his 
neighbors. 




.•i$^ 



PlioUt. \-y W. V. Hanger, S>ircum>. 



UK. 



HILTS. 



Dr. J. E. Ililtfl will* born in Jamasvillo, Onondopi County, 
I )i'<?onil)cr 2, 1813, the fourth child of .Janu<s and Mar^iiri't 
lliltfl. The father died in 1874; the mother la still livliii;. in 
Hrundon, Wisconsin. Their children were as follows ; Kniily, 
Hiram 0., Caroline C, James Kdward, subject of this sketch, 
anil .\d:i .M. The sisters are all married. Hinini (J., the 
brother, was born December lil, IH.'l."), in l)c Widvillo. Vol- 
unteered 08 a private in Co. C, 122d l^>>;iment New York Vol- 
unteers, and wiLs killed in the battle of (iettysbunr, July 3, 1863. 

Dr. Hilts received his early education in the district schools 
of his native town. At about eighteen years of age he began 
to learn the sash-making trade, and followed the business two 
yisirs in Jamesville. For the next tlire*' years, or thereabouts, 
lie engaged in jobbing in gypsum quarries. Went to Fond du 
liHC, Wisconsin, where for two or three years he wos foreman 
in a sa-sh and blind factory. On the 2-Uli of September, 18G8, 



he eomnienced the study of dentistry in Berlin, Wisconsin, 
under the instructions of Dr. P. H. Wightman. a celebrated 
dentist of that place, and continued with him for two years 
up to 1870. After practice and study of the profession for a 
period of five years, he took a course of study in the Philadel- 
phia dental college, from which he took a diploma, February 2H, 
1874. In the fall of the same year he loaitcd in Baldwins- 
ville, and has since followed his chosen profcHsion in that place. 
A thorough student, a skillful operator, though young compara- 
tively in years, few have attained a higher standing in his pro- 
fc<ssion than htui Dr. HilLs. 

He was married, April 2, 1871, to Kllen F. Weller, daughter 
of Thomas and Susan Weller, of I^afayctte, Onondaga County. 
They have one son. Hinini Iv. born January 24, 1S72 In 
politics he is a llepublican. Is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, being a Past Master of Seneca Uiver liodge, Nn. UW. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



321 



building was not finished till iS6o. It was con- 
secrated November 13, i860. Till 1864, services 
were held by Rev. Henry Gregory, D. D., of Syra- 
cuse. On the first of July, 1865, Rev. W. M. 
Beauchamp became Rector and has continued such 
up to the present time. In i860, there were twenty- 
three communicants ; the present number is one 
hundred and seventeen. The church lot was a 
gift of Mrs. Eliza M. Baldwin, who died August S, 
1 87 1. Her worth and services are commemorated 
by a beautiful memorial window in the church. 

St. Mary's (Catholic) Church, Baldwins- 
viLLE. — Prior to the erection of St. Mary's Church, 
Rev. Michael Hackett and Rev. Joseph Guerdet 
had labored as missionaries in Baldwinsville. But 
chiefly through the indefatigable efforts of Rev. 
Samuel Mulloy, the church was built and conse- 
crated in 1 85 1. The church property is valued at 
$10,000, and about four hundred families are con- 
nected with the parish. 

The regular pastors here have been as follows, in 
the order named : 

Rev. Samuel Mulloy, Rev. William McCallian, 
Rev. James Smith, Rev. P. F. Smith, Rev. P. B. 
McNulty, Rev. Mr. O'Keiffe, Rev. G. S. Lynch, 
and Rev. F. Fransus, the present pastor. 

First Methodist Episcopal Church. — From 
data furnished by the late Rev, A. B. Gregg, we trace 
the history of Methodism in Baldwinsville back to the 
year 1 821, when James Baldwin, an exhorter, held 
meetings in a log school house nearly a mile out of 
the village on the south side of the river. He soon 
formed a class of seven members, viz ; James 
Baldwin, Eliza Linsday, Miriam Linsday, Abraham 
Gillett, Polly Gillett, Samuel Wigent and Cynthia 
Wigent. Through the active labors of this class 
an extensive revival ensued. The first traveling 
preachers were Manly Tooker and Nathaniel Salis- 
bury. 

Baldwinsville was then a part of Marcellus 
Circuit and Chenango District in the Old Genesee 
Conference. In 1828, Baldwinsville was transferred 
to the old Cayuga District and included in Lysander 
Circuit. Rev. George Gary was Presiding Elder of 
the district. 

In 1829 Baldwinsville and Lysander Circuit were 
transferred to Oneida Conference, Rev. John Demp- 
ster, Presiding Elder. In 1836, Baldwinsville and 
Lysander appear in the Oswego District of said 
Conference. 

In 1S38 there were twenty-five members in the 

Baldwinsville class. In 1839 meetings were held 

in a school house on the north side of the river. In 

1840 Baldwinsville was transferred from Lysander 

50* 



to Clay Circuit, and in 1843 became a station with 
forty-five members, but without a dollar of church 
property. Worship was then held in the old red 
school house, now a dwelling house. August 29, 

1843, at a meeting called for the purpose, E. Hickok, 

A. Dayton, B. Nichols, T. Nichols and D. Derby- 
shire were elected Trustees of the First Methodist 
Church. A lot was bought of the Baldwin estate 
and a neat wooden church edifice erected, which was 
dedicated by Rev. Gardner Baker in December, 

1844. In June, 1869, ^ resolution was passed for 
the erection of a new church, the society having 
outgrown the capacity of the old one. The new 
building was finished and dedicated October 20. 
1870. It has a seating capacity for about 650, and 
cost, including lot and furniture, $32,500. It is a 
fine brick structure and occupies a very central and 
beautiful site in the village. The present member- 
ship is three hundred and thirty and the Sunday 
School about two hundred. 

The pastors of this church have served in the 
following order : Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, two 
years; Rev. H. E. Chapin, one year; Rev. R. M. 
West, one year ; Rev. B. Phillips, one year ; Rev. 

B. Alden, two years ; Rev. L. D. White, two 
years; Rev. A. S. Wightman, one year; Rev. R. 
N. Barber, one year ; Rev. E. W. Jones, one year; 
Rev. W. A. Nichols, one year ; Rev. H. Skeel, 
two years ; Rev. W. Jones, two years ; Rev. A. T. 
Copeland, one year ; Rev. R. Redhead, two years ; 
Rev. D. W. Rooney, two years ; Rev. H. M. 
Church, Rev. A. Rowe, two years ; Rev. O. H. 
Warren, Rev. William Manning, two years ; Rev. 
O. A. Houghton, one year ; Rev. A. B. Gregg, 
(died March 31, 1878,) two years. 

Masonic. 

The petition for a lodge at Lysander, Onondaga 
Co , by the name of Pleiades No. 354, was dated 
October 18, 1822, and is signed by Silas Wallace 
and others. December 4, 1822 the prayer was 
granted and warrant issued December 7, 1822. 
Zadock Washburn, M. ; Asa Preston, S. W. ; and 
James Wells, J. W. 

No return of any kind was ever subsequently 
made to Grand Lodge, either for payment of dues 
or election of officers ; nor was the warrant, subse- 
quently forfeited, ever returned to the Grand Lodge. 

Seneca River Lodge, No. 160, was formed by 
dispensation February 12, 1850, on the petition of 
the following named brethren, viz : Sanford C. 
Parker, M. ; Heber Wetherby, S. W. ; John Lakin, 
J. W. ; Squire Munro, Wm. A. Wilson, Joseph 
Tyler, Elida Wilson, Elisha Clark, Wilson Bates, 
John Buck, L. L. Worcester, Zadock Washburn, 
Asahel Dolbar, J. L. Fenner, Horace J. Shumway. 
The warrant was issued June 6, 1850. 



/ 



322 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



The following have been Masters of the Lodge : 

Sanford C. Parker, 1851 : Hebcr VVctherby, 
1852; Sanford C. Parker, 1853; Payne Higelow, 
1854; J. Barker Frisbie, 1855, I. M. Baldwin, 
1856; J. Barker Frisbie. 1857-58 ; Wni. H. Slau- 
son, 1859; John H. Morgan, i860; Henry Y. 
Allen, 1861 '66 ; J. P. Shumway. 1867-71 ; Horace 
J. Frazee. i872-'75 ; H. B. Allen, 1876; J. E. 
Hilts, 1877. 

Present membership, one hundred and twenty- 
five. 

On the 29lh of March, 1873, the lodge room and 
furniture were consumed by fire, involving an entire 
loss, except $600 insurance. The lodge charter 
was renewed after the fire. 

Hon. Payne Bigelow was the first member initi- 
ated in the Seneca River Lodge in 1850. 

Mr. George Hawley is the oldest mason in this 
part of the county, he having been initiated in 
Washington Lodge in 1820. 

Riverside Chapter No. 260 was organized in 
February, 1871, under a dispensation from the 
Grand Chapter of the State of New York. Char- 
ter Members— D. M. Rankin, H. F. Hawley, N. 
H. Husted, D. Gould, H. Y. Allen. J. B. Frisbie, 
John Harvey, Lewis Smith, John S. Kenyon and 
T. Chase A charter was granted in February, 
1872. March 29, 1873, the lodge rooms were 
burned, involving a complete loss of furniture and 
fi.xtures. The present membership is 84. 

High Priests since the organization : 

D. M. Rankin, i87i-'72; H. F. Hawley, 1873- 
'75 ; S. C. Suydam. 1876 ; James L. Voorhees, 
1877; F. A. Marvin, 1878. 

After the fire the Chapter was rechartered at the 
same lime as Seneca River Lodge. 

OnO-FELLOWSlllP. 

In the year 1S45, Hon. Daniel T. Jones, O. B. 
Ilerrick, Charles 11. Weed, John W. Smith and 
William A. Wilson, qualified themselves to organize 
Mohegan Lodge, No. 129, I. O. O. F. The 
lodge was organized with the following officers : 

Daniel T. Jones, N. G. ; Charles H. Weed. V. G 
John W. Smith, Secretary ; William A. Wilson, 
Treasurer. 

The first meetings were held in a room in the 
old Seneca Hotel ; afterwards suitable rooms were 
fitted u|) in the "old brick store," which were 
occupied till 1874, in which year the hall in the 
Union Hall Block was fitted up. The new lodge 
room was dedicated by the Rt. Worthy Grand 
Master, John W. Stebbins. assisted by Hon. 
Schuyler Colfa.v. 

In 1S50. the Lodge was renumbered 33. Later 
the Lodge received its present number. 29. The 



original Lodge consisted of six, who were all 
charter members. There have been received by 
initiations and otherwise 433 members, and its 
present membership is 95. 

The names of the present officers are as follows : 
John McGonegal, N. G. ; Miles Smith, V. G. ; 
R. Richardson. Treas.; John F. Genung, Sec'y ; 
James Bolton. Perm. Secy. 

Judge Otis Bigelow was born in Worcester, 
Mass , Feb. i. 1785. His father. Asahel Bigelow. 
was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. 

Judge Bigelow graduated at Balston Spa Acad- 
emy, in Saratoga County, at an early age, and soon 
after commenced the study of law. At the break- 
ing out of the last war with England in 181 2, young 
Bigelow joined the volunteer militia of Saratoga 
county and vicinity, and marched to Sackett's Har- 
bor and served one year. In the spring of 1813 he 
came from there to Baldwinsville and commenced 
the business of a merchant, and continued in that 
business successfully until 1863. At that time and 
for a number of years previous, he was the oldest 
merchant in the county. 

On the 27th of December. 1S13. he was married 
to Miss Mary Payne, of Fort Miller, by whom he 
had ten children, five of whom survive him. Judge 
Bigelow was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 
March, 1 82 1 , and acted as such for many years. He 
had a clear knowledge of the principles of law — as 
a proof of which, his opinions and advice were, 
until within the last ten years previous to his death, 
very often sought by persons involved, or about to 
be involved in litigation. 

He was the third Postmaster at Baldwinsville, 
appointed in 1828. and remained such for twelve 
successive years, under the administrations of Presi- 
dents Jackson and Van Buren. In 1828 he was 
appointed Judge of Onondaga County, and held 
that oflfice ten years. In 1831, he was elected a 
member of the Assembly for this county. 

His^cAAv/ xuttfditig was duly celebrated Decem- 

cr 27, 1863. His religious views were those of 
the Presbyterian order, and he was a regular attend- 
ant of that church, although not a member, from its 
organization in Baldwinsville, until disabled by his 
final sickness, and died in the faith of the Gospel. 
As a merchant and man of business, he was remark- 
ably shrewd and successful, and was at the time of 
his decease one of the wealthiest men in the county. 
No man was more energetic, untiring and system- 
atic in business. He was a good financier, of 
sound judgment in matters of business and of strong 
common sense ; true, he was strict in exacting what 
was his due, but exceedingly lenient toward those 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



323 



who were unfortunate and unable to pay. His for- I 
tune was not acquired by speculation, nor any sudden 
investment; his gains were sure and constant. In 
short, he was an honorable man, and honored, re- 
spected and esteemed by those who knew him 
best. 

PLAINVILLE, 

Originally called Wilson's Corners, is a small 
village in the western part of the town of Lysander. 
William Wilson, Sen., was the first settler in 1806. 
Around him were settled A. B. Scofield, Silas Sco- 
field, Simon Town and David Carroll, in 18 10. In 
1813, came Peter Voorhees, who died in 1S16, and 
his son. Col. J. L. Voorhees, who became promi- 
nent in the neighborhood, and noted as a man of 
large business enterprises in Baldwinsville and Syra- 
cuse. Abram Daily, Marvin Adams, and Ruleph 
Schenck, father of Dr. B. B. Schenck, settled in the 
neighborhood in 1815, or near that date, and John 
Bratt, in 18 16. 

A postoffice was established here in 182 1. At 
that time the settlers suggested the name of " Farm- 
ersville," but there being a postofifice already of 
that name, Plainville was given by the Department. 
A weekly mail was received at that time, passing 
from the village of Camillus to Lysander and back. 
The office was at first kept by Mr. Stoddard a mile 
and a half south of Plainville. Following him as 
Postmasters were Simon Town, John Buck, Dr. 
B. B. Schenck, Lyman Norton, Esq., and Dr. B. 
B. Schenck, again, in 1862, who is present Post- 
master. 

The first schools were taught in log houses in the 
vicinity ; the first school house being erected in 
1 8 19, in which Amos Adams was the first teacher, 
and Samuel Richards his successor. The school 
is District No. 5, town of Lysander. It has now 
two departments, employing one teacher in each, 
and a brick school house which was erected in 1874. 
A second frame school house was also built for the 
district in 1841, but gave place to the new brick 
building. 

The Christian Church, Plainville, originated 
in the labors of Eld. Obediah E. Morrill, and was 
organized in 1820. Elder Morrill continued about 
twenty years to minister to his flock and was suc- 
ceeded by Eld. E. J. Reynolds for about seven or 
eight years, who was followed by Elders A. E Doty 
and John C. Waggoner; the latter died in 1852. 
The church edifice (frame) was built in 1831 ; 
burnt April, 1852 ; replaced in 1854 by present brick 
structure. For the past nine years services have 
continued uninterruptedly. Present pastor Rev. 
Ezra McAlpine. 



Dr. B. B. Schenck has controlled the medical 
practice here for thirty-nine years, up to June, 1876, 
when he gave place to Richard B. Sullivan, M. D., 
a graduate of New York Homeopathic Medical 
College. 

Plainville has one dry goods store (started in 
1830,) one blacksmith and wagon shop (1833) and 
one shoemaker's shop. 

Memoranda of the Wilson Family. — The 
present William Wilson belongs to the third gene- 
ration of William Wilsons, who have lived at 
" Wilson's Corners," now Plainville. William Wil- 
son, the grandfather, who was a Christian preacher, 
came here from Vermont in 1806, when his son, 
who was known as William Wilson, Sen., was ten 
years of age. The latter was married twice — first, 
April 14, 1 8 16, to Polly Shepherd, by whom he had 
three children who lived to maturity, two of whom 
are still living. His first wife died December, 
1825, and he married July 4, 1826, Hannah Clyne, 
for his second wife, by whom he had eight children, 
his oldest son and name-sake, William, is his suc- 
cessor on the old homestead, where he was born 
July 3, 1828, and has acquired the reputation of one 
of the most energetic and successful farmers in this 
section of country. 

Frederick W. Fenner. — Born in Pompey, N. 
Y., in 181 1 ; came to Lysander with his father's 
family when si.x years of age ; married June 26, 
1834, to Miss Ellen S. Schenck, of Lysander, 
daughter of Ruleph and Elisie Schenck, and sister 
of B. B. Schenck, M. D., of Plainville. The fruit 
of this marriage was six children, four of whom 
survive, and two are deceased — the oldest and the 
youngest child. The youngest son living remains 
on the place with his mother. One daughter is en- 
gaged in teaching in the public schools in Carroll- 
ton, 111. Sarah E. Fenner, another daughter, mar- 
ried S. A. Vedder, and resides in the same city. 
Mr. Fenner died February 24, 1875, suddenly of 
pneumonia which was epidemic at that time. He 
purchased a farm in the town of Lysander where 
he built a fine residence, and added largely to the 
amount of land and improvements, leaving behind 
him at his death one of the finest farm properties 
in this region of country, as a lasting monument to 
his industry and excellent taste. He has also left 
evidences of his moral worth, having been a promi- 
nent temperance man, and largely identified with the 
educational interests of his town. He was its first 
School Superintendent, appointed by the Governor, 
and also held the office of Town Clerk for one term. 
As a devoted, earnest advocate of reform and 
friend to the poor, Mr. Fenner had few superiors, 



3^4 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



and he has left behind him a record eminently 
worthy of emulation. 

Their eldest son, James B, resides in Delphi, 
in this county, where he is engaged in mercantile 
business 

LYSANDER. 

Lysander, a small unincorporated village situated 
on lots 43 and 44, eight miles northwest of Bald- 
winsville, and four and one-half miles west of Lam- 
son's Station on the Delaware, Lackawanna and 
Western Railroad. It was first settled about the 
year i8io-'il, and went by the name of Vickery's 
Settlement, a family or two by that name having 
located here. About the year 1817, Chauncey 
Betts, and his brother-in law, Mr. Skinner, located 
here and set up a store and built and carried on a 
small distillery, and a potash manufactory. A few 
years later his brother, Jared Betts, moved in, and 
their father, Nathan Butts, a Revolutionary pen- 
sioner, who lived to the advanced age of ninety- 
four years. At this time it began to be called 
Bett's Corners, and went by that name until a post- 
office was established ; they then gave it the name 
of Lysander, which name it retains to the present 
day. 

The village now contains about seventy dwell- 
ing houses, two churches, Methodist and Congrega- 
tional, two stores, general merchandise, kept by L. 
W. & I. E. Connell and W. C. Winchel & Co., a 
hardware store ami tin shop combined, kept by 
Britton & Wooster, a blacksmith shop, two wagon 
shops, a hotel kept by Elijah Lake, a shoe shop, 
harness shop, two millinery shops, two physicians, 
(George McCarthy, located in 1846; Leslie Martin, 
located in 1867 ;) a foundry and a churn factory. 

Among the earlier merchants was Chas. Royce, 
who held the office of Justice of the Peace ; Dr. 
George Morley, who was also a Justice of the Peace, 
later was succeeded by John Haisted ; also Jos. 
P. Hunn. Clark Berry and Richard L. Smith, who 
was elected about 1857, and has continued in office to 
the present time. Cornelius C. Hubbard moved in 
from Montgomery County at an early day, set up a 
store, and held the office of Postmaster. Among 
those that have held the office since were Chauncey 
Betts, Willard P. liump, George A. Allen, Barclay 
Wooster, H. W. Andrews, William Culun, Rich- 
ard L. Smith, Sara C. Winchel, who holds the 
office at the present time. 

Others of the earlier settlers were Richard Smith, 
Richard Lusk, Grover Buel, Abrani Van Doren, 
John Slauson, George W. Brown. Isaac and Alfred 
Smith, who were successful farmers. 



The Congregational Chukch of Lysander. 
The first church was organized here on the 19th 
of October. 1820, by the Rev. John Davenport, and 
called " The Second Presbyterian Church of 
Lysander." It then consisted of nine members : 
Wm. Townscnd, Aaron F. Vedder, Margaret Saf- 
ford, Harvey Smith, Altie Voorhees, Thos. Ambler, 
Catherine Ambler, Henry Perine and Charlotte 
Smith. Meetings were held in the school house 
and at the residences of individuals in the neigh- 
borhood. The ministers that officiated at that time 
were Rev. S. V. Barnes, Rev. Mr. Cushman, Rev. 
Horatio Lombard, Rev. Mr. Clark, Rev. Mr. Bogue, 
Rev. Asahel Bronson and Rev. E. C. Beach. 

On the first of March, 1828, the " First Protest- 
ant Reformed Dutch Church" was organized by 
the Rev. James Stevenson. Aaron F. V'^edderand 
David L. Relyea were chosen Elders, and Alonzo 
North and George Curtis, Deacons. They, to- 
gether with the Presbyterian Church, erected a 
church for their joint use and occupancy, which 
was the first church erected in this vicinity. This 
jointure did not work smoothly, and was not produc- 
tive of the results anticipated by its founders, and in 
the year 1833, the Presbyterians erected a house of 
worshipof their own, and the Rev. EbenezerC. Beach 
was settled as pastor Jan. 1, 1834. and went at the 
work zealously and cfi'ectually, until the eleventh of 
April,, 1858, when he was, through infirmity, com- 
pelled to resign, having become very deaf and totally 
blind. The church was very successful under his 
ministrations, and reached during the time a mem- 
bership of upwards of three hundred. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Joshua B. Hall, i859-'64. Rev. 
Wm. R. Powers settled in 1865 ; Rev. Samuel L. 
Merrell 1867 '75. Among the prominent members 
of the church were Chauncey Betts, Wm. Townsend, 
Justus Townsend, Sperry Bouton, Asa Benedict, 
Henry Perine, Benjamin F. Davis and Noadiah 
Hart, the latter two of whom are still living. 

During this time the Prottslant Reformed Dutch 
Church continued and was very successful. Rev. 
Aaron A. Marcellus, first pastor, i830-'3i ; Rev. 
Melancthon B. Williams, i834-'37 ; Rev. William J. 
Bradford, 1849-56; Rev. F. V. Van Vranken, 
i86i-'65; Rev. J. Henry Endus, i866-'69; Rev. J. 
F. Shaw. i869-'70; Rev.Wm. A. Wurts, i872-'76. 
Deaths and removals had so reduced the member- 
ship of both of these churches, and diflering only 
in the non-essential particular of church govern- 
ment, on the third of May, 1877, His Honor, Geo. 
A. Hardin, carried an order to be entered uniting 
and consolidating the two corporations into one, 
under the name and title of "The Congregational 




■^^t^ 



JJt^ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



325 



Church and Society of Lysander." On the i8th of 
December following, Henry T. Sell, a young man, 
graduate of Wesleyan University, class of 1873, 
Yale Theological Seminary 1877, was ordained and 
installed as pastor, and the new church now num- 
bers about one hundred and twenty-five families ; 
one hundred and sixty communicants, and a mem- 
bership of two hundred and fifty. Sunday School 
upwards of three hundred. 

Methodist Episcopal Church of Lysander. 
— In 1830 or 1831, Rev. Elijah Barnes and Rev. 
Benjamin Rider were appointed to the Lysander 
circuit which at that time embraced Amboy, War- 
ner Settlement, Cold Spring, New Bridge, Ira, Hard- 
scrabble Wellington, State Road, Palmertown, 
Horton Settlement and Oswego Bitter. Through 
the united labors of these two men a " class" was 
organized at Betts Corners, now Lysander P. O., 
which has since grown into the present flourishing 
society. Q beelicnt Slauson and wife, John Slauson 
and wife, and G. W. Brown and wife are thought to 
be the members of the first class organized. In 
later years this circuit was reduce.d to Lysander, 
Little Utica, Hull's Corners, Bowen's Corners and 
Coday's School House, but at present it embraces 
only Lysander and Little Utica. Previous to An- 
son Fuller's pastorate in 1844, the society held 
their religious services in private houses and school 
houses, but in this year a very comfortable church 
was erected which was completed and dedicated the 
following year. In 1849, a parsonage was pur- 
chased. In 1855, the church was repaired and en- 
larged, and in 1872 was again repaired and is now 
an ornament to the society. 

The following named ministers have served the 
church at different times : 

Rev. Elijah Barnes, Rev. Benj. Rider, Rev. Wm. 
Mekoon, Rev. Miles H. Gaylord, Rev. Burrows 
Holmes, Rev. J C Steward. Rev. L. L. Adkins, 
Rev. Turner Van Tassel, Rev. Allen H. Tiloton, 
Rev. Rowland Soule, Rev. J. Kilpatrick, Rev. Moses 
Lyon, Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, Rev. F. Hancock, 
Rev. L. L. Adkins, Rev. Josiah Arnold, Rev. J. 
T. Alden, Rev. Anson Fuller, Rev. Joseph Lamb, 
Rev. R. M. West, Rev. Almon Chapin, Rev. Royal 
Houghton, Rev. Harris Kinsley, Rev. John R. 
Lewis, Rev. K. M. Roe, Rev. David Stone, 
Rev. Wm. Morse. Rev. H. Skeel, Rev. I. Turney, 
Rev. Joseph Smidley, Rev. S. B. Crozier, Rev. Geo. 
C. Wood, Rev. G. W. Foster, Rev. Wm. C. Mc- 
Donald, Rev. P. H. Wiles, Rev. E J. Bush, Rev. 
J. Hond, Rev. Fred. Devit and Rev. H. B. Smith. 

The above seemingly large list of pastors is ac- 
counted for by the fact that in the early days of the 
Methodist church, it was customary for two preach- 
ers to travel together as colleagues, and this plan 
51 



was continued in this circuit during the first twelve 
years. 

The present membership of this society is about 
one hundred. 

John Halsted, Esq., son of Jonas Halsted, was 
born in Ulster County, N. Y., in 1800, He was 
brought to this county the same year on horseback 
in his mother's arms in the dead of winter. His 
father located at Geddes with the design of making 
salt ; remained till spring, and moved to Aurelius, 
Cayuga County ; thence in the spring of 180410 
Ohio, where he died, and the subject of this sketch 
began living with his grandfather, in the town of 
Lysander, whom he assisted in clearing up his 
farm from a wilderness, and with whom he remained 
till his death, at the age of eighty years. 

Mr Halsted then purchased a farm. Lot No. 53, 
town of Lysander, where he lived in a log cabin, 
and began a career which has resulted in the most 
eminent success. By industry and economy he has 
accumulated a handsome property, and was succes- 
sively elected Town Assessor and Justice of the 
Peace. In 1869 he sold his farm, and has since 
made his residence with Mrs. Van Derveer in Ly- 
sander. Although retired from active business, 
his mental faculties are still unimpaired, and he is 
living in the quiet enjoyment of the fruits of his 
industry and economy, 

John Van Dekveer was born in Montgomery 
County in 1803, and came to this county in 1825. 
In 1839 ^^ married Electa Cole, and took up a new 
farm where his widow, Mrs. Electa Van Derveer, 
now resides. He died in 1867, aged sixty-three 
years. Mrs. Van Derveer was born in Cayuga 
County in 1810, and came to Lysander in 1815. 
Since the decease of her husband she has conducted 
her home farm of one hundred and twenty-five 
acres, on which she has made valuable improve- 
ments, and has also a farm in Cayuga County. 

Harvey H. Russ was born in the town of Van- 
Buren, Onondaga County, N. Y., April 15, 1833, 
and was brought up on a farm, receiving a common 
school education. In 1858, he married Miss Ruth 
Betts, of Lysander, and has one child living. In 
1865, he purchased the place where he now resides 
— one hundred acres of rich alluvial land, as fine as 
can be found in the county — on which, in 1 867, he 
began experimenting in hop raising ; planting six- 
teen acres. Under his judicious management the 
business has proved quite successful. 

Mr. Russ, by both his paternal and maternal 
ancestors, is a descendant of some of the oldest 
families of Pompt^. His grandfather was one of 



326 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



the first settlers in that town. Polly Russ, his 
aunt, was born in Pompey in 1793. John Hatch, 
his maternal grandfather, was one of the first settlers 
at " Indian Hill," in the town of Pompey, and 
moved there from Vermont in an ox cart. 

Mr. Russ's father, Ralph Russ, settled in the 
town of Van Buren in 1827. 

LITTLE UTICA. 

The first settlers of this place were Reuben 
Coffin, John Hutler, Henjamin Rathbun, Sanford 
Dunham, John H. Lamson. James Ends, who was 
Justice of the Peace ; Elijah Fairbanks, who kept the 
first store in the place ; Peter Earll, Samuel White, 
Lucius Gunn, B. M. Ells, Nicholas and Carmi 
Harrington, Ezra Baker, who was a physician living 
one mile from the place. Dunham & Baker built a 
saw-mill on the outlet of Beaver Lake in 1825, and 
a saw mill standing on the same site is now doing 
business. A postoflfice was established in 1832, 
then called Paynesville ; Noah Payne, who then 
kept a store, was postmaster. Some ten or fifteen 
years after, the name of the postoflfice was changed 
to Little Utica. 

Little Utica has one store, two blacksmith shops, 
a hotel, a cigar factory, saw-mill, cheese factory, and 
some very good dwelling houses. 

Mltiiodist Ei-iscoi'AL CiiLkcn, Little Utica. 
— The first Methodist class of this place originated 
in the conversion of Mr. George Kellogg, through 
the instrumentality of Rev. Mr. Rundall, of Fulton, 
who paid the former a visit during an attack of ill- 
ness, and preached several times in the neighbor- 
hood. Mr. Kellogg and several others were con- 
verted ; a great revival ensued at the village of 
Lysander, in which the people of Little Utica took 
apart; a class was formed, September 24, 1832, 
called the " Palmertown Class." of which George 
Kellogg was appointed leader. The names of the 
more prominent members are as follows : George 
Kellogg and wife. Sally Coffin. Ransom Foster and 
wife, Asahel Fuller and wife, William Fanchcr and 
wife. Jonathan Palmer and wife, Zenas Curtiss and 
wife, and John Bogardus and wife. (For names of 
ministers, see Lysander M. E. Church. ) 

The conversion of William Fancher, about the 
time of the organization of this class, was an event 
of no little importance to the church. Mr. Fancher 



was a young man of promise, the son of a local 
preacher, and began at once to cvercise his gifts in 
public services. He soon became class-leader, hold- 
ing class and prayer meetings in which many were 
converted, and has continued an earnest worker 
ever since. 

The church edifice was erected in 1834, and was 
repaired in 1857, and again in 1875. It is now a 
plain, neat and comfortable church, with large and 
interested congregations and a membership of one 
hundred and twenty. Present pastor. Rev. H. B. 
Smith. 

JACKSONVILLE, 

Originally called " Palmertown," became the seat 
of a postoflfice under the administration of Jas. K. 
Polk. It was then called •' Polkville P. O." Dur- 
ing the last administiation of President Lincoln the 
postoflice was removed to Little Utica. It is a small 
hamlet at the cross-roads west of Little Utica, con- 
taining a carriage, joiner and undertaker's estab- 
lishment, conducted by Alanson Fancher & Son, a 
country store, Allen & Lewis, proprietors, a cider 
mill, boot and shoe shop of W. A. Wright, and tan- 
nery, by B. Hazard. 

Jonathan Palmer was the first settler, and built 
the first house in the place on Lot 36, which he drew 
as a bounty for his services in the Revolutionary 
war. He served through the war with six brothers, 
and was a pioneer in Lysander when the country 
was a wilderness. His brother, Nathaniel, now 
settled on part of his original land, while stationed 
on the Hudson during the Revolution, assisted in 
drawing a chain across that river to intercept the 
progress of the British. 

White Chapel of hie M. E. Chlkch, Cold 
Spring. — Mr. George White and others were the 
founders of the society about the time of the first 
settlement of the town of Lysander. Religious 
services were held here the earliest in the town, in 
a school house where the church now stands. 

The i)resent edifice was erected in 1861, being 
built by Silas Nichols, of Baldwinsville, and costing 
$1,400. The present membership is about one 
hundred ; Sunday school in summer of about fifty 
scholars. 

The present pastor. Rev. Frank Andrews, 
resides in Liverpool, with which charge White 
Chapel is connected. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



327 



VAN BUREN 



Van Buren was organized in 1829, and received 
its name from Hon. Martin Van Buren, then newly 
elected Governor of the State of New York. The 
territory embraced in it was originally part of the 
township of Camillus, of the Military Tract, and 
included in the town of Marcellus from the organi- 
'zation of the county in 1794 to the organization of 
the town of Camillus in 1799. On the 26th of 
March, 1829, it was taken from the northern part 
of Camillus and organized into the town of Van 
Buren. Gabriel Tappan was one of the Commis- 
sioners appointed to effect the formation of the new 
town. 

The surface of the town is somewhat level com- 
pared with the southern portions of the county, yet 
it is in many places beautifully undulating, and the 
land, especially the valleys of the small streams, 
rich and productive. Perhaps there is no section 
of the county, of an equal number of square miles, 
better adapted to agricultural purposes or contain- 
ing less waste land. The sandy loam chiefly pre- 
vails, alternating with clay loam, some muck and 
beds of marl and calcarious tufa, and affording a 
wide range of productions, among which wheat, 
corn, fruit and tobacco take the lead. The town 
has long been noted for its excellent crops of wheat 
and corn. The best land, perhaps, for the produc- 
tion of the latter crop is that in the vicinity of 
Jack's Reefs, while the best wheat land is that 
characterized by an outcrop of the red clay shales 
in the northwest part of the town. The proportion 
of clay soil as compared with the sandy and gravel- 
ly loam is very small. In the immediate vicinity of 
Baldwinsville the soil is chiefly sandy, while in the 
more eastern portion it is gravelly loam intermixed 
with small stones and boulders. 

A ride through the town of Van Buren will show 
a finely improved country both in respect to lands 
and buildings, the houses being neat and substan- 
tial, and the barns capacious, well underpinned with 
stone, finished outside with clapboards, painted, and 
often surmounted with cupolas or towers, which 
render them sightly and attractive. 

Early Settlement. 
The first temporary settlement was made in the 



town by John Dunn, who settled on Lot No. 12, 
about one mile south of Baldwinsville in 1789. He 
made a small clearing, and subsequently, after the 
death of his wife, left the country. John McHarrie, 
Sen., came from the State of Maryland and settled 
on the south bank of the Seneca River, (Lot No. 7) 
in the latter part of 17S9. John McHarrie, Jr., 
became a resident of the town (then included in 
Camillus) in 1794, and Mary and Lydia McHarrie 
soon after. They all rest in the Baldwinsville 
Cemetery, and were the first persons buried in that 
ground. 

David Haynes and Joseph Wilson were early 
settlers in the town, probably as early as 1790, or 
soon after, David Haynes came from Salina. His 
son. Col. Thaddeus Haynes, still lives on almost the 
same spot occupied by his father, and is now (1878) 
one of the oldest residents of Van Buren. 

Col. Gabriel Tappan settled in Van Buren Feb- 
ruary 18, 1796. He was a prominent citizen and 
father of Wallace Tappan, Esq., of Baldwinsville. 
William Lindsay, 1795 ; Jacob and Chester Molby, 
the Delanos ; Asher, John, Stephen, Abraham and 
William Tappan, about 1797 ; Reuben Smith, 1800 ; 
John and William Lakin, James and John Williams, 
and Ira Barnes, soon after 1800 ; James Wells, 
1803. 

In about 1800, or soon after, Eleazer Dunham, 
Amos, Seth and Heman Warner founded Warner's 
•Settlement, and Benjamin Bolton located at Jack's 
Reefs. The latter place, we are informed, took its 
name from a colored man known as " Jack," who 
lived near the rapids at an early day and assisted 
boatmen in transferring their freight. Gilbert 
Totten settled at Jack's Reefs, in the town of Van- 
Buren, in 1810. He subsequently owned consider- 
able land at the Reefs, and raised a large family. 

Charles H. Toll, Phineas Barnes, Isaac Earll and 
Jonathan Skinner, also settled in town about the 
year 18 10. and about 1812 Nicholas Vader, Cyrus 
H. Kingsley and Nathaniel Cornell. 

At this period the country was entirely new and 
presented few attractions for settlers, most of the 
people preferring the higher grounds of the towns 
of Camillus and Marcellus. The farmers who had 



328 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



flocks were often obliged to fold them in high 
enclosures during the night for their protection 
against the wolves which prowled around in the 
forests in great numbers, and whose savage propen- 
sities, whetted by hunger, made them very destruc- 
tive. Bears were common and deer very plenty, 
having been driven from the higher grounds south 
by the clearing up of the lands. 

The first village or hamlet founded in the town 
was at the [)oint now called Ionia, the name being 
given it by the postoffice established here in 1816 
— the first postoffice in the town, Charles H. Toll. 
Postmaster. I'hineas Harncs erected the first frame 
house here in 1808, and Isaac Earll and Charles H. 
Toll soon after erected others. Oliver and Job 
Nichols were afterwards Postmasters. The build- 
ing of the Erie Canal attracted business to Canton 
(now Memphis) and destroyed the prospects of 
Ionia. 

The first town meeting for VanBuren was held at 
the house of Eleazcr Dunham, March 26, 1829, 
at which Gabriel Tappan was elected Supervisor, 
and Abel Tryon, Town Clerk. 

The first lawyer was Theodore Popell, in 1818; 
the second, Medad Curtis, in 1829. The first 
physician. Dr. Jonathan S. liuell, settled at Ionia 
in 1812; the second. Dr. William Laughlin, at 
Canton, (now Memphis) in 1815. 

In this town, a mile and a half south of the 
river at Baldwinsville and on the left side of the 
road to Warner's, is the site of an old stockade 
fort. It is on a low, oval hill, which rises on the 
south side of a small stream flowing into Crooked 
Brook. Col. Thaddeus Haynes. Mr. J. Wells, and 
others, describe the circular line of post-holes, which 
were so close together as almost to form a ditch, 
until the ground was cleared and plowed. The 
palisades had fallen outward, and the bark of many 
still remained The circle had an opening on the 
north, with a path down the steep bank to the 
water. Charred corn, arrow-heads, stone and clay 
pipes, and pottery, were plowed up. In 1S78, every 
lodge could yet be traced. 

Generally the Indians frequented rapids which 
were important as fords and fishing stations. 
Hence the rapids along the Oneida, Oswego and 
Seneca Rivers are marked with the remains of In- 
dian town sites. There are several about the vil- 
lage of Baldwinsville : one at Float Bridge ; an- 
other on the hill north of the village ; one at the 
lock, and another a mile west, on the farm of 
C. H. Emerick, Lot No. 78, in Lysander. On 
the Van Buren side, there was one where several 
skeletons have been found, between Seneca 



and McHarrie streets ; another was far up Syra- 
cuse street towards the river ; and a large village 
may be traced at the water's edge on the southwest 
corporation line, exhibiting a few traces of Eurojiean 
intercourse. 

On the west side of Dead Creek, formerly called 
Camp Creek, from the Indian's camps, was a small 
settlement, and there are evidences of a grave yard 
near the Indian orchard, farther west. This orchard 
was in a ravine near the river on Lot No. 3, Van 
Buren, and the last trees were cut down about 

1873- 
Above the latter spot, at the foot of Bishop's Reefs 

is a curious pre-historic work, which has been over- 
flowed ever since the building of the Baldwinsville 
dam. It is a stone fish-weir, on the Van Buren 
side, and opposite U. M. Kelley's, Lot No. 75, 
Lysander. It runs down stream on the south 
shore two hundred and five feet, with a depth 
of two feet ; then returns at a sharp angle, 
three hundred and twenty-five feet up the river, 
forming an angle like the letter V. To this must 
be added twenty-five feet more, making an obtuse 
angle to the south. North of this begins another 
wall, running down one hundred and forty-five feet, 
and returning one hundred and sixty feet. These 
are rough measurements made from a boat in 1877. 
The walls are well laid, of large and small stones, 
and the south one reaches the surface only in ex- 
tremely low water ; the north one is even then 
a foot beneath the surface. The total length 
is about eight hundred and sixty feet. Several 
others, partly destroyed, are to be seen some miles 
above. 

The valley of the Seneca is rich in relics of the 
stone age. Many beautiful and characteristic pipes 
have been found, formed in many ages and 
of varying forms and materials. Many fine ar- 
ticles might be described from the valuable col- 
lections of Messrs. Bigelow and Perkins, of Bald- 
winsville, and those now in the Connecticut 
Historical Rooms. With a view to fuller preser- 
vation, about seven hundred articles have been 
drawn and described by Rev. W. M. Beauchamp, of 
Baldwinsville, with their history as far as it could 
be ascertained. 

We may add to this general enumeration, stone 
plummets and cups, sinkers, pestles, hammers, 
gouges with a cross groove on the back, pierced 
tablets of many forms, stone clubs, and other mas- 
sive things as yet unnamed. Two copper arrows 
have been found in the west part of Lysander, both 
having hafts instead of sockets. The last, which 
is very fine, was hoed up in 1S76. on Judge Voorhces' 




I'hoto. by W, V. Ranger, Syracuse. 



A. W. BINGHAM. 





I'bi>lu. b; W. V. IUn(<r, 8.T1 






^^^Y M-ayi^i^^ 



ThiH ^cntluinun Ls a liiioul dcscuiidiint ut' the Uuholl fuiiiily uf 
Coniiwticiit, who liavo been iiotod fnr over a c-ciiliir_v its iiiutlio- 
inatic-iuiis and scliolars. All ol" us wlio have lived li> fi^y years 
of age rcmenilter Dnboll's Arithmetic as among the standard 
8chou1-biH)ks of our Ixiyhood days. Natlinn Dubull, tlie author 
of this aritlimetic, was a brother of the grandfather of the sub- 
ject of this reeord. The b(W)k was revised and republished by 
Nathan Daboll, A.M., son of the author, and is still in u.sc in 
eastern Connectieul. The descendants of Nathan Daboll have 
for more than a century kept a nautieid academy, for in.struetion 
in navigation and kindred sciences, at (iroton. Conn., and liave 
published a serii-s of almanacs for the liLst liundreil yean- or more. 

Henry l)aboll is the oldest .son of Jonathan and Betsey 
(Thomas ) Daboll, and was born in Canaan, Litchfield Co., Conn., 
May C, 1812. His father and mother died in Connecticut, the 
former .\ug. "Jl, IS.'tti, the latter Oct. IS, IS.*)."), and were buried 
in the town of Canaan, Litchfield county. In e^irly life Henry 
was bred to the occupation of a mechanic, and divided liis time 
between that and teaching school till thirty years of age. He 
has been from Iniyhood of a studious and ini|uiring turn of mind, 
and moot of his education has been ac<|uircd in the school of 
experience and self-culture. 

On Nov. 9, 1841, he married Miss Charlotte Goodwin, of 
•Salisbury, Conn., and the following year came to the town of 
Van IJuren, ami settled on the farm wIutc he now lives. He 
had visited the place and pureha.«<'d the farm prior to his mar- 
riage. The ent4'rprisc of Mr. Daboll in ridding this farm of the 
pine stumps which covered it at the time of his settlement here 
is well known in the neighborhood, which was generally benefited 
by his example. He led the way to this improvement, being 
the first to inaugurate the use of the stumping-machine, that 
important benefactor of the farmers on the pine lands 



In ISi'iL', Mr. Daboll wiut elected justice of the peace, and 
held the office one term. He was eonnecteil with the Farmers' 
Joint .Slock In^uranee Company, of Meridian, N. Y.. in the 
capacity of president and director, during the period of its 
existence. It was discontinued in April. 1877. He has also 
held the office of notary public for the liLst ten or twelve 
years, and has been active in educational and church matters, 
having been for thirty years a warden of Christ church, Jordan, 
and axsistcd in building two churches in that parish. 

Mr. and Mrs. Daboll have had a family of five children, — 
two sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Henry H. I>aboll, 
is married, and lives on a farm adjoining the homestead; the 
eldest daughter, Mary, married Isaac K. Burdick, principal of 
the I'rcscott school, Syracuse. 

Mk8. Daholi, is of the ancient Goodwin family, of Saxon 
origin, who trace their lineage back to Harold (iodwin, the 
Saxon king of England. The family are ()uitc numerous in this 
country and eon.siderably Dot«d for their literary talents. Mn. 
Daboll is a ]><K't, a religious sentimentalist, and at heart a prac- 
tical Christian philanthropist, delighting in affording sympathy, 
comfort, and aid to the poor and sorrowing. She writes much, 
many of her [lieces having been publishi-il in magazines and 
neW8pap«>rs, and she will probably yet be known more widely by 
her litcntry works. The writer of this, from his knowledge of 
the writings of Mrs. Daboll, is pleased to bear this testimony 
to her literary talents and Christian character, while at the same 
time she is eminently devoted to domestic duties and the affiiirs 
of her hou.sehold. 

For many years Mr. and Mrs. Daboll have kept a record of 
each day's events, of things which have transpired within their 
knowledge and observation, and it has proven, in many instances, 
to be a collection of useful memoranda. 



^ 





IMuito". hy \V. V. Rangrr, Syrocut**. 
IIUKACK II IIINcillAM. K.MKI.INK J. KINlillAM. 



HORACE B. BINGHAM. 



Hurnuc B. Rin^linin wiis born in North Coventry, Tolland Co., 
Conn., Ajirii 10, \'W. His early life wsls K|HMit in iilternutely 
attending .'h-IuxiI iind n-ssLitin;; lii.s futhcr. He niurried, Miirch 
10, 1821, Miiw Kiueline JonuH, of Adrian, TollunJ Co., Conn. 
In 183(j, .^lr. Bin^liiiui left his ejistoni home and moved wilh 
\m fumily to Van Huren, ()niinda-;a Co., N. V., and in the 
following' year purehaMed the farm ufton which he !>(>ent the 
thirty remninin;; yeum of his life. 

DoHconded from New Kti^land ancestor?*, he |M>ssesscd in 
a high degree the industry and rigid mural elmmeteri.stics of 
that |K-o|>le. I'liriglit and eireuiux[)eet in all hix bn.tine&s tran:*- 
octiuHH, he eanii'd the esteem and i-oufidenee of hix noiHteiateM. 
He piLSficd away Nov. IK, iSlI", leaving to hiH children the 
legacy of a spollesH eharactcr and holy life. Mrs. Bingham, 
now in her Reventy-fifth year, i.s living with her only (ton, A. 
\V. Bingham, the eldest of three ehildren, who reiiidea ti|K>n 



the old homestead. He received the advanta^ of a good 
common-school education, and was at an early age culled into 
public life. 

He ha.s held a prominent po-sition in the Odd Fellow and 
Grand Ixidgca in the districts of Onondaga and ("ayuga, and 
has been connected with the lodge at BaMwinsvillo fur twenty- 
five years. 

December 18, 1877, he wa.s appointed inspector of the 
Onondaga County |)cnitontiary for a term of three yean, and 
in that capacity proves to be one of the ablest and most 
conscientious officials that could have been appointed. He has 
held many other important public positions, the duties of which 
he discharged with c<{ual acceptance. In all his busiDOOS 
transactions he endcuvors to do that which is strictly just, and 
thas far has had the good fortune to pose* thmugh life without 
a stain rusting upon his character. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



329 



farm, lot 74. The occasional polished slate arrows 
are of great interest, and seem peculiar to this re- 
gion. Broken pottery, highly ornamented, is abund- 
ant, but perfect vessels are rare. Some were four- 
teen inches in diameter, and often very thin. Others 
were of curious forms. The flint implements are 
of the usual types, mixed with some forms new to 
science. They comprise arrows of the finest and 
coarsest finish and material, lance-heads, knives, 
scrapers, drills, &c., many of which are made of the 
hornstone so abundant in our corniferous lime- 
stone. 

In 1878, Mr. Justice Stephens, of Van Buren, in 
working up a hemlock log, came to the marks of a 
cutting tool, outside of which were two hundred and 
fifty-four rings of growth. This would date back 
to 1624, a little over thirty years before the Onon- 
dagas are known to have received steel axes from 
the French. The wood is charred, according to the 
Indian custom, and the several marks correspond 
with those of stone axes. This was on Lot 2, Van 
Buren, not far from the old stone fish-weir. About 
the same time a similar cut was found in a tree in 
Lysander overgrown with two hundred and forty 
rings.* 

That part of the village of Baldwinsville which 
lies on the south side of the Seneca River, is in- 
cluded in the town of Van Buren. It was origin- 
ally called "Macksville" from the McHarries, the 
first settlers. Both " Macksville " and " Colum- 
bia," (the original village on the Lysander side 
of the river,) have long since been absorbed in 
the flourishing village of Baldwinsville. That por- 
tion of the village situated in Van Buren is well laid 
out, occupies a beautiful site, and contains some of 
the most desirable residence property within the 
corporation. 

MEMPHIS. 

This village was formerly called Canton. It is 
near the southern line of the town of Van Buren, on 
the Erie Canal and the New York Central Railroad. 
It has two churches, two hotels, one dry goods and 
grocery store, one canal grocery, two wagon and 
three blacksmith shops, four millinery shops or 
stores, a postoffice and American Express office. 

The postoffice was removed here from Ionia in 
1828. The name Canton was rejected by the de- 
partment on account of there being another Canton 
m St. Lawrence county, and gradually it was 
dropped as the name of the place, Memphis being 
now generally substituted in its stead. 

The Hotels are : Headquarters, by T. H. Wilkes, 
and Memphis House, by Lindsay & Johnson. 

*Noto^by Rev. W. M. Beauchamp, Baldwinsville, N. V. 



William Lakin was an old resident of the villa<^e 
and resided here till his death in 1864. He was 
the father of John Lakin, one of the first merchants 
of the village, and for many years a prominent man 
Wflham Lakin was Deputy Sheriff; member of As- 
sembly, and held the office of Justice of the Peace 
for a long time. 

Others of the early merchants were David Lytle 
and Isaac Hill, and of a later date, John D. Norton, 
Joseph Glass, Barrett & Brown, and Toll, Lusk 
& Co. 

Baptist Church of Memphis —This society 
was first organized at Warners in 1815, with a 
membership of about twenty, and known' as the 
Second Baptist Church of Camillus. At that time 
a large territory was embraced under this organiza- 
tion, and from 1815 to until 1834 meetings were 
held at the school houses and private houses in 
various places within the boundaries of the church. 
The earliest meetings, however, were held in the 
Warner Settlement school house. Among the 
original members may be mentioned the Warners, 
Bentleys, Weavers, Tabors and Marshalls. In 1 834 
a church edifice was built at a cost of $2,500 in 
Canton, now Memphis, and for a long period this 
society enjoyed a prosperous and flourishing con- 
dition. Among the most prominent and influential 
members who were added to the society at this time 
were the Hills, Halsteds, Auyers, Glasses and many 
others whose names we are unable to ascertain. 

^ The following pastors have served this church at 
dififerent times : 

Rev. B. Dowsit, Rev. J. P. Parsons, Rev. Ira 
Dudley, Rev. T. Brown, Rev. Erastus Miner, Rev 
John Roscoe, Rev. L. C. Bates, Rev. Johns- 
ton, Rev. J. J. Fuller, Rev. N. Camp, Rev M H 
DeWitt, Rev. Wm. A. Wells, Rev. B. Newton, Rev. 
J. Smith. Present pastor Rev. Wm. A. Wells. 

The present membership numbers twenty-seven ; 
the average attendance at Sunday School, thirty. 

The Christian Church at Memphis was 
organized in 1818 in the town of Camillus, which 
then embraced Van Buren, Elbridge, &c. It was 
formerly located at " Ionia," but was removed to 
Memphis in 1868. The number of original mem- 
bers was thirty-five, among whom Elder Elijah 
Shaw, Abraham Wood, Daniel Godfrey, John Cox 
and Stephen Daniels were prominent. The first 
house of worship was built at " Ionia," a half mile 
or near that distance north of Memphis, in 1829, at 
a cost of $1,200. The second edifice was erected in 
Memphis in 1868, and cost $2,500. 

The following named clergymen have officiated 
as pastors : 



^ \ CMg 




HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



331 



took various jobs of chopping cord wood, felling 
timber, &c., up to about the time of his marriage, 
being married December 28, 18 17, to Martha, daugh- 
ter of Elihu Peck, of Van Buren. He has had nine 
children, three sons and six daughters, seven of whom 
(three sons and four daughters) are now living. 

The story of Mr. Cornell's life may be briefly 
told. He has been a hard working, industrious, 
persevering man, having begun life without capital, 
supported and raised a large and respectable family, 
endured and overcome the privations and hardships 
of pioneer life, and through all this has maintained 
a character for honesty and integrity eminently 
worthy of the confidence and esteem in which he 
is held by all who know him. He has been for 
many years a prominent member of the Christian 
Church. 

He moved upon his farm in 1820, having then 
but twenty acres ; adding to this from time to time, 
he had finally a farm of one hundred and forty acres. 
Mrs. Cornell died in 1873. His health becoming 
impaired, and being no longer able to work his farm, 
he purchased a residence in the village of Bald- 
winsville, to which he removed in 1875, and the year 
following sold his farm, thus freeing himself from 
the cares and responsibilities of active business. 

RussEL Foster was born in the town of Pom- 
pey, July 24, 1806, and remained in that town about 
three years, removing to the town of Van Buren 
(then Camillus) with his parents, who settled a little 
east of where he now resides. Here he remained 
on his father's farm till twenty-one years of age^ 
when feeling a desire to procure a home and enter 
upon a career for himself, he purchased jointly with 
his brother Heman 220 acres of land, including 
the present homestead, then a dense forest. He 
and his brother set to work to clear the land, which 
was an undertaking of no small magnitude, requir- 
ing energy, perseverance and physical endurance, 
such as marked in an eminent degree the pioneers 
of the country. The training which Mr. Foster 
had received during his minority on his father's 
farm, and his natural energy and determination, ad- 
mirably fitted him for the work of carving out of 
the unimproved wilderness the beautiful and com- 
fortable home which now in his old age rewards 
his toil and industry. The two brothers worked to- 
gether with a common purpose and interest for nine 
years, when they divided the farm, each taking one 
hundred and ten acres. 

In December, 1827, Mr. Foster was married to 
Margaret Hall, who lived only sixteen months. He 
married Miss Lucinda Vanyea, his present wife, in 
October, 1830. 



Mr. Foster has been more successful than many, 
for by his industry and economy he has added 
largely to his original purchase of lands and erected 
fine buildings, having one of the finest grain-pro- 
ducing farms in this section of the country. He 
has held the oftice of Overseer of the Poor four 
years in his town, and enjoys in a large degree the 
confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens, among 
whom he has lived an upright and exemplary life 
from boyhood, and is now in the quiet enjoyment of 
a home in which he has spent fifty-two years of his 
life. 

Col. Gabriel Tappan was born in Morristown, 
New Jersey, June 20th, 1783. He died August 4, 
1865. He came into the county February 18, 1796. 
His life covered a period verging on eighty-three 
years. He early immigrated to Onondaga County 
and was one of its first pioneer settlers, hav- 
ing lived nearly seventy years within its limits. 
He was the first Supervisor of the town of 
Van Buren. In after years he was many times 
reelected by his neighbors to fill that position. He 
was appointed one of the commissioners ( 1829) to 
set off the town of Van Buren from the then large 
town of Camillus. He was appointed by the Legis- 
lature as commissioner to carry out many important 
trusts. He acted as arbitrator in numerous cases 
to adjust difficulties among men. He did much for 
the improvement of Onondaga County in ameliorat- 
ing the condition of its roads, building anew many 
bridges, and urging on new settlements in Van- 
Buren, which to-day are the gardens of the great 
State of New York. He conceived the idea which 
was most satisfactorily carried out of building the 
bridge across "Dead Creek" flats towards the 
northern part of the town, which in after years be- 
came of inestimable value to the farmers of the 
western portion of Van Buren. He did perhaps as 
much as any other man in building up the interests 
and improving the condition of the now thriving 
village of Baldwinsville. He was foremost in secur- 
ing and putting to good use the valuable water 
privileges which Baldwinsville now enjoj's, he hav- 
ing constructed, through the assistance of John Mc- 
Harrie and Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin, the dam across 
the Seneca River at an early day. With his own 
ax he opened nearly fifty miles of road through a 
dense wilderness, many places through swamps and 
over other barriers. In 1833, he represented the 
First Assembly District of Onondaga County in the 
Assembly ; and his record as a legislator was 
eminently satisfactory to his constituents. He 
took a very active part in the military affairs of the 
country. He was a veteran of the war of 1812. 



332 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Two hundreii of his fellow-men called him out to 
serve as their Captain in the war of J8l2 and "13. 
He served his country faithfully at Oswego and 
elsewhere as Captain of the militia. Subsequently 
he received the title of Colonel, and for many years 
was the head of a militia regiment in the county. 
His familiarity with military matters was most 
creditable, he having received a very good military 
education for the times. For a period of sixty- 
five years he was an active business man. 

He married Lydia McHarrie in about the year 
1805, by whom he had twelve children, seven of 
whom are now living. When he first came to Van- 
Buren, he located on "Dead Creek, " and occupied 
for his wilderness home a rude brush tent, and 
his bed was made of hemlock boughs laid on the 
ground. His food was salted raw pork and bread. 



His companion was his a.\. His night visitors were 
howling wolves, varied by the frequent visitations of 
panthers, bears, &c. He lived to see the close of the 
great rebellion, and no man was more gratified than 
he when Abraham Lincoln read his famous Eman- 
cipation Proclamation, announcing to forty millions 
of people that slavery was forever abolished in the 
United States. He was liberal, kind to the poor ; 
and it can be said of him that "he made the wilderness 
blossom as the rose," and kept pace with the fore- 
most men of his time in agricultural improvements, 
valuable to himself and to his neighbors as well. 

He gave to the orphans, and his home was always 
thrown open to the distressed and needy. He 
died in Syracuse, and his remains are interred in 
the Baldwinsville Cemetery— the very ground he 
had given to the village many years before. 



C LAY 



Clay was formed from Cicero April 16, 1827, 
and named in honor of the distinguished statesman, 
Henry Clay. It is the central town upon the northern 
border of the county. Its surface is quite flat, but 
little elevated above the level of Oneida Lake. 
Oneida River forms the northern, and Seneca River 
the western boundary. The soil is chiefly clay and 
light, sandy loam, with the exception of the swampy 
portion, which is covered with decayed vegetable 
matter and peat beds, the latter being to a consider- 
able extent worked for fuel. (.See Geology of the 
County. I 

Much of the early history of this town is compre- 
hended in the town of Cicero. At the time of its 
separate organization it contained less than seven 
hundred inhabitants. The first white settler in the 
town I then included in Lysander, 1 was Patrick Mc- 
Gee, at Three River Point, in 1793. In 1798 
Adam Coon settled in the northeast corner of the 
town; Simeon Baker on the Seneca River, in 1799; 
John Lynn near the center of the town, in 1808. 
Since that the town has settled somewhat rapidly. 
Joshua Kinne and family settled in the town in 
1807; Elijah Pinckney and others the same year. 

In 1793, Patrick McGee erected a log cabin, (the 
first house in town, 1 at Three River Point. The 
place had been selected by him in 1780, while a 
prisoner in the hands of the British, and on his way 
to Canada. They camped here all night, and Mr. 
McGee was very much charmed by the beauty of the 
place. It is said that he selected it while tied to a 



tree, for so the British had secured their prisoners. 
After the Revolutionary war he came here and 
spent his life, and was buried on the spot. When 
Mr. McGee first visited this place in 1780, there 
was a clearing without a shrub or tree, handsomely 
covered with grass, for a distance of more than a 
mile along the banks of the rivers. The spot had 
often been appropriated to the great councils of the 
Iroquois Confederacy, and here Dekanissora, Sade- 
kanaghte and Garangula often addressed the braves 
of the Hurons, Adirondacks and Abenaquis, and 
the French and English met in these distinguished 
chiefs, orators and diplomatists equal to themselves 
in all that pertained to sagacity and skill. 

Jacob I. Young, Ira Sheffield and his brother, 
now respectively aged eighty-five to eighty-seven 
years, were among the early settlers of the town, in 
1814. 

The first settlers, previous to clearing the lands, 
procured their breadstufls from Jackson's mills, near 
Jamesville. After they had been successful in rais- 
ing their own grain, they went there to mill, till 
the mills were erected at Syracuse. It was cus- 
tomary for men to carry a grist of a bushel or a 
bushel and a half on their backs a distance of twelve 
or fourteen miles through the woods to these mills, 
guided only by blazed trees, and they would occupy 
two or three days in the performance of the journey. 
After roads were cut through, a neighbor would take 
the grists of a whole neighborhood upon an ox sled 
or cart and carry them to the mills. By general 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



333 



arrangement and common consent this service was 
performed by rotation throughout the whole settle- 
ment. It never required less than two days to go 
to mill and back. 

Onondaga Hollow was then the postoffice at 
which letters were received and delivered, and per- 
sons visiting the postofifice brought the mail matter 
for all the neighbors. 

The first postoffice was established in the west 
part of the town and was called " West Cicero," 
about the year 1825, and Nathan Teall was appoint- 
ed Postmaster. He was suceeded by William Hale 
and James Little. Since the organization of the 
town it has been named " Clay." 

The first and most important article of trade was 
salt barrels, which were manufactured in large 
quantities and taken to the salt works. They 
brought a fair profit and in many instances proved 
a source of individual wealth. Of late years Clay 
has greatly improved in agricultural and horticul- 
tural development, and may be regarded as one of 
the richest farming sections of the county. 

A log school house, the first in the town, was 
built at Clay Corners, now Euclid, about 1808, and 
a teacher named Hall taught the first school. At 
Clay, near the river, a log school house was erected 
in 1809, and a frame one in 1812. Moses Kinne 
taught here, having previously kept a school in his 
own house. 

The first physician in town was Dr. Olcott ; the 
second. Dr. Church ; afterwards Dr. Sterling and 
Dr. Soule. 

The first town meeting for Clay was held in 
April, 1827. Andrew Johnson was chosen the first 
Supervisor, and Jacob Terrill, Town Clerk. 

The first saw mill was erected in the northeast 
part of the town by Abraham Young, on a small 
stream which affords sufficient water only in spring 
and fall. There are no streams in the town of 
sufficient capacity or fall to afford permanent water- 
power, except on the Oneida river, which forms the 
northern boundary, which has two good water- 
powers — one at Caughdenoy and one at Oak Orch- 
ard. The former of these places has been noted 
for the fish taken there, especially eels in great 
abundance and superior quality. 

At Oak Orchard Reefs, near the bank of the 
Oneida River, are evidences of an extensive In- 
dian burying ground. These reefs were a common 
fording place for the Indians and formerly were 
much resorted to by them for fishing. During the 
Revolution or the French War, there was a mas- 
sacre of the Indians at this place. We are informed 
by a resident of the town, that in 1843 he had a 
53 



conversation with an aged Indian who used to visit 
this burial-place of his ancestors and sit long there 
in musing silence, and that this Indian related to 
him the tradition of the massacre of a large num- 
ber of his tribe. The same gentleman has seen 
scores of Indian skulls exhumed, many of which 
were pierced with bullet-holes and marked with 
sabrecuts. The Indian graves here have been 
desecrated and multitudes of relics found and re- 
moved. 

Hosea Crandall became a resident of the town of 
Clay in 1822. At a family reunion held at his 
house on the fourth of September, 1872, many old 
settlers were present, and some interesting facts 
were elicited which are worth preserving in our 
history. 

" Ezra Crandall, of Sherburne, Chenango county, 
N. Y., brother of Hosea, was the oldest of his rela- 
tives present, aged eighty-four. The oldest invited 
guest, not a member of the family, was Jabez Har- 
rison, aged eighty-six. 

" The following are the names of residents of 
Clay, with their respective ages, over fifty, and their 
time of residing in town : 

Resident 32 years. Dr. Jas. F. Johnson, age 84. 

Jacob I. Young, 

Samuel N. Burleigh, 

John Lints, 

Tobias Shaver, 

William Verplank, 

A. J. Soule, 

Cornelius Mogg, 

James Little, 

Hial Crandall, 

Harlow Eno, 

" The following are the names of those who were 
not residents of Clay : 

Judge John L. Stevens, 

Resident of Cicero, N. Y., Wm. Gregor, 
do Otsego, N. Y., C. C. Warner, 

do Onondaga, Rev. J. C. Seward, 

do Lysander, P. I. Quackenbush, 

do Baldwinsville, Ira Gilchriss, 

" George Crandall, grandfather of Hosea Cran- 
dall, was 103 years old when he died. He had two 
sons that were over 100 years at the time of their 
death, and one daughter who lived to be 116 years 
old. Hosea Crandall's mother, sister of the above, 
was loi years and six months when she died. Laban 
Crandall, father of Hosea, came to this State about 
ninety years ago, and married Esther Crandall. 
Their children living are Ezra, aged eighty years, 
Hosea, eighty-three years, Ira, eighty-four years, 
George, seventy-seven years, Olive, seventy-five 
years, Tacy, seventy-one years, Sarah, sixty-nine 
years. Hosea Crandall's posterity numbered (all 
told) at the time of the first death in the family 
fifty-two persons. The first death was about ten 
years ago. Hosea Crandall is the father of eight 
children, five daughters and three sons. Through 



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334 



HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



industry and economy he became the owner of 
three hundred acres of land, all of which he gave to 
liis children, except the homestead." 

EUCLID. 

This village is situated a little west of the center 
of the town of Clay; distant from Syracuse eleven 
miles, six miles from Baldwinsvillc, and two and 
a half miles from Clay Station, on the Syracuse 
Northern Railroad. Among the old settlers still 
residing here are Hosea Crandall, John Patric, John 
Ainsley and Gideon Palmer. 

Latin Soule, grandfather of Harvey L. Soule, of 
thc'l'iatt House, in this village, was one of the first 
settlers. He was the father of Judge Nathan Soule, 
who came here from Montgomery County in 1831 and 
was one of the most prominent men for many years. 
Judge Soule had been Member of Congress from 
the Montgomery District, Judge of the County 
Court, and Representative in the Legislature. He 
represented this county in the Legislature and was 
Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. 
He died in 1858 

A postoffice was established at Luclid in 1827. 
Andrew Thompson was Postmaster till 1S32, and 
was succeeded by Nathan Soule. Jefterson Free- 
man was the first merchant in 1S31, and did the 
principal mercantile business till i860, when he 
removed to Syracuse, where he died about 1868. 
He was succeeded by his brother, Levi Freeman, 
for years Supervisor and a leading man in the town. 
He removed to Syracuse and died about 1870. 
Other carlv merchants were K. L. Soule, Blossom 
& Dyckcman, Stone & Daniels. 

The first school at the village was taught by 
Jared Pakcr in the old school house south of the 
hotel It was the only place of worship at an early 
day. A Union School has lately been organized 
by the consolidation of Districts Nos. 4 and 17 of 
Clay , Principal, Mrs. Potsford. A new building 
is soon to be erected on the site of the old school 
house. 

J. H. Parrus, Justice of the Peace at liuclid. has 
held the office for eight years. Cornelius Mogg. 
Cyrus C. Warner. Andrew Johnson, Wm. Warner. 
Japhcth Kinne and Moses Kinne, were also Justices, 
the last mentioned one of the first in the town. 

Euclid contains two Churches — Paplist and 
Methodist Episcopal ; a cheese factory, one hotel, 
three blacksmith shops, two stores, a steam mill, 
union school and postofTice. 

J. W. Coughtry. present Super\'isor of the town, 
resides at Cigarville, or Clay Station, where he is 
Postmaster. 



Methodist Episcopal Church, Euclid. — The 
church edifice was originally built by the Chris- 
tians or Unitarians about forty years ago. Dr. E. 
L. Soule, Hosea Crandall, Judge Nathan Soule, 
Moses Kinne and others being the builders. The 
church was used as a place of worship for other 
denominations til! about 1S50, when the Methodist 
society purchased it. Rev. William Morse was the 
first regular pastor and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. 
Adkins, Rev. J. D. Adams, under whose preach- 
ing the church became prosperous, and has grown 
into a large and influential organization. Among 
the prominent members were the late Daniel 
Schoolcraft. Jacob Siterley. John Flagler. Cornelius 
Cronkhite, and, during the latter years of his life, 
Judge Nathan Soule. 

Present pastor, Rev. McKendree Shaw. 

There is also connected with the Euclid charge a 
M. E. Church at Morgan Settlement, three miles 
south on the Liverpool road. It was founded about 
1835. the princijial founder being Rev. Abram 
Morgan. They have a good church edifice and 
regular services. 

Bai'Tist CiiL'Kcii AT EucLiD. — Built in 1868, 
at a cost of about $3,000. The society was or- 
ganized about 1845 by Rev. Horatio Warner, and 
subsequently held service in difi'ercnt school houses 
and at the Unitarian Church, until they erected 
their house of worship. Deacon Elijah Carter, 
Francis Carter. Hiram Leonard, W. II. Eckert, L. 
Patchin, and others, were among the early mem- 
bers. There is a parsonage connected with the 
church. Among the recent pastors have been 
Rev. S. A. Beman, Rev. Mr. Smith. Dr. James 
F. Johnson was a prominent member in the early 
organization. 

The church at ]>rc.sent is being supplied from 
Syracuse by Rev. J. W. Taggart. 

BELGIUM. 

The bridge across the Seneca Ri-ver at this point 
was first built by the Sodus Bay and Westmoreland 
Turnpike Company, erected but not completed in 
1824 The turn|)ike was not made, and Colonel J. 
L. Voorhees obtained a charter in his own name, 
and finished the bridge, which was a toll bridge till 
1843, when it was rebuilt as a free bridge. The 
State Legislature appropriated S850 towards defray- 
ing the expense, and the towns of Lysandcr and 
Clay each J 1,000, the whole cost being $2,850. 

The village is situated on both sides of the Sen- 
eca River. There were only four dwelling houses 
here in 1827. In 1848, there were twenty eight, 
and one hundred and sixty inhabitants, three dry 




:; 5 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



335 



goods stores, four grocery and provision stores, two 
hotels, three blacksmith shops, one tailor and one 
shoe shop, and the famous " Oriental Balm Pill " 
manufactor}', which employed a great part of the 
year from thirty to fifty persons. James Little's was 
the only family in 182S on the Lysander side, but 
others settled there about that time, viz , Henry S. 
McMechan, Oliver Bigsbee, Sylvanus Bigsbee, Gar- 
nett C. Sweet, Rev. Wm. M. Willett, a son of Col. 
Marin us Willett, of Revolutionary renown, who 
occupied a lot drawn by his father, which was after- 
wards transferred to John Stevens and others. Dr. 
Adams had a store here in 183S, and Phillip Far- 
rington in 1831. The first frame building was the 
Toll House on the east side of the river, erected in 

1825. Japheth Kinne erected the first dwelling 
house in 1825 ; James Little, the second in 1829. 
The first school kept here was by Perry Eno in 

1827. The first merchant was Martin Luther, in 

1828. Sylvanus Bigsbee & Co., also opened a 
stock of goods in 1828 ; Jonas C. Brewster, in 

1829. and James Little in 1830. The Wesleyan 
Methodist Society erected their house of worship 
here in 1832. The early physicians were Dr. A. 
P. Adams, Dr. Hays McKinley, Dr. James V. 
Kendall, Dr. Daniel W. Bailey, Botanic physician. 
The village, we believe, has never had a lawyer. 

It has a Union Free School, formed in 1849 from 
District, No. 10, in Lysander, and No. 11 in Clay; 
one dry goods and grocery store, two blacksmith 
shops, one wagon shop, one hotel, one harness shop, 
grocery and postofifice. 

Hon. James Little, who represented this county 
in the Assembly in 1848-50, settled here in 1830. 
He was for many years Justice of the Peace, mem- 
ber of the Board of Supervisors, and was several 
times elected Justice of Sessions. He died Jan. 
22, 1877. 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church, (Eng- 
lish,) is located near the eastern center of the town 
of Clay, about one mile north of Clay Station, about 
a quarter of a mile from Young P. O. It is the oldest 
church in the town. It was organized as early as 

1826, in this same neighborhood. The following are 
a few of the original members, viz : Jacob I. Young, 
who is still living, eighty-seven years old ; Jacob 
Ottman, Richard Hiller, John Sammers, John Ains- 
lie, also still living ; John Becker, Henry Becker 
and others. 

The church was reorganized in 1S32, by Rev. Wm. 
Ottman, and the house of worship built and dedi- 
cated between 1832 and '34. The present valua- 
tion of the property is about $3,000. 

Pastors — Rev. William Ottman, Rev. Benjamin 



Diefendorf, Rev. William Ottman, Rev. G. W. 
Hemperly, Rev. Levi Schell, Rev. D. W. Lawrence. 

The present membership is ninety-three ; attend- 
ance at Sunday School one hundred eighteen. 

The church was very neatly and tastefully re- 
paired, with modern internal improvements, and is 
is now one of the neatest and most comfortable 
country churches in this part of the county. 

During the last four years, forty-eight have been 
added to the membership, and the church is now in 
a flourishing condition. During two years, between 
1866 and 1874, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Mr. 
Emmons, of Syracuse. 

OENTERVILLE. 

This village is pleasantly situated on the plank 
road between Syracuse and Cicero. Part of it is in 
the town of Cicero and part in Clay. The first 
settler was Eli Myers about 1826. The next was 
Alfred Tilley, in 1827. John Slosson, now a resi- 
dent of the F"irst Ward of Syracuse, settled between 
this place and the Cicero Corners, in 1814. 

James Millard settled on the plains west of here 
in 1810, and burnt tar of pine knots and roots. 

Asa H. Stearns kept tho "old red hotel " for ten 
or twelve years. Charles Cotton was also one of 
the earliest hotel keepers. There are now two 
hotels in the place — Centreville Hotel, kept by J. 
H. Miles, and the Clarendon House, by D. Hol- 
lenbeck. The place contains two churches, two 
general stores, three wagon shops, two blacksmith 
shops and one physician — Dr. C. H. Whiting. Its 
first physician was L. B. Skinner, M. D. It has 
also a lodge of free and accepted Masons, a Union 
Graded School, and a neatl}' kept rural cemetery. 
The ground for the cemetery was given by Peter 
Weaver, and a man by the name of Blewe was the 
first buried there. 

Peter Weaver built the "old red tavern." The 
postofifice was originally kept at the " Dean Tav- 
ern ;" James Wallen was the first Postmaster. 

Rowland Stafford, who died of cholera at Water- 
town in 1832, was one of the first settlers. 

Plankroad Baptist Church, Clay. — Meetings 
were held at the residence of Jabez Grodavent by 
Elder William H. Delano as early as 1844, and for 
three years he continued holding meetings in resi- 
dences, barns and taverns, until 1847, when the 
covenant was adopted and society organized which 
comprised the following named persons : Earl P. 
Salisbury, James Pierce, Mary C. Smith, Nancy 
Slocum, Clarissa Delano, Kilburn Ives and Laura 
Ives. 



336 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



The church has been under the following 
pastors : 

Rev. William H. Delano, Rev. Cyrus Negus, 
Rev. Abner Maynard, Rev. Myron Newell. Rev A. 
Graham, Rev S. S. UidwcU : then for some time 
they were sujiplicd by W. C. I'hillips and Rev. I. H. 
Beman of Clay ; then Revs. H. A Sizer and J. W. 
Putnam supplied until 1875, when the present pas- 
tor Rev. \Villiam Steiger was called. 

The church edifice was erected in 1855 at a cost 
of ^1,500, a neat frame building. 

The present membership is si.xty. Sabbath 
School attendance one hundred si.\teeen. Superin- 
tendent of Sabbath School, C. N. Taylor. 

The church was thoroughly rebuilt in 1876, at 
an additional expense of S700, and now they are the 
occupants of a neat, commodious church. Trus- 
tees, John Redhead, C. N. Taylor and Homer Dun- 
ham. 

Centkeville Lodge No. 648, F. & A. M. — 
This lodge was first organized and worked under 
a dispensation, from January, 1S66, to July, 1867, 
when a charter was received. The charter officers 
were Isaac Baum, W. M. ; C. H. Carpenter, S. 
W. ; Joseph Palmer. J. W. Regular meetings are 
held in the second story of the building situated on 
the corner of Plank Road and Church street, every 
Saturday evening. 

Present officers : L. Harris Brown, W. M. ; 
George Stevens, S. W. ; Ambrose Howard, J. W. ; 
Hiram W. Bailey. S. D. ; Henry D. Randall, J. D. ; 
Hermon Graham, Secretary ; Dr. M. H. BIynn, 
Treasurer ; Newton B. Randall, Tyler. 

Centkeville Union School, District No. 12, 
comprising several districts in Clay and part in Cicero, 
was organized as a Union Graded School, in 1869, 
upon the completion of the present school building, 
a frame two-story building erected at a cost of three 
thousand dollars. There are two departments with 
an enrollment of ninety-five scholars. Present 
School Board are A. H. Lawrence, Samuel Ferge- 
son and Stephen Van Hcusen — the latter has been 
Trustee ever since the organization of the Union 
School. Charles E. Jewell is Principal. 



BiOGi^APHicjiL Sketches, 



STEWART SCOTT. 

The subject of this sketch was born at Albany, 
N. Y., April 2d, 1800, of Scotch-Irish parentage, 
his father, Hugh Scott, being one of the many 



Protestant exiles from the vicinity of Londonderry, 
who sought religious freedom on the soil of 
America at the close of the last century. Stewart 
received such educational advantages as the select 
schools of those days afforded, aided by his parents 
who had enjoyed superior educational advantages. 
He early developed an aptitude for mathematics 
and the sciences, and at the age of si.xteen com- 
menced practical engineering and surveying. With 
his parents he removed to Westerloo. Albany Co., 
where he married Catherine VanDerwerken. and 
continued his residence there until 1830. whenhc 
removed to Clay. Onondaga County, where he pur- 
chased a piece of the wilderness of those days, and 
by unremitting toil reared a home for himself and 
family. Although comparatively poor, his home 
was always supplied with the best and most useful 
books and periodicals within his reach, and he con- 
tinued his studies to the time of his death. Meth- 
odical in business and study, he was one of the best 
read men of his day. Being possessed of a strong 
will and fine constitution he could devote himself 
to study during the evening without visibly impair- 
ing his health. In politics he was an earnest Whig, 
but never sought place or office. In social inter- 
course he was affable and generous, in his religious 
views he was stern and uncompromising ; in work 
or business he " knew no such word as fail." His 
sympathies were always on the side of right ; and 
while his hospitable home was open to all who 
sought it. none were so welcome there as the 
Ministers of the Gospel and others engaged in the 
advancement of intelligence and morality. But no 
one was keener than he to detect insincerity or 
ignorance, and he who mistook his calling always 
found a cold reception. Incessant labor and study 
caused an early breaking down in health, and after 
a brief illness he died at his home in Clay at the 
age of fifty. His widow continued her residence 
upon their farm until her death which occurred in 
1877. 



MOSELEV DUNHAM. 

Deacon Daniel Dunham, the grandfather of 
Moseley Dunham, emigrated from Windham. Conn., 
in the year 1795, and established the clothiers' 
trade at the red mills in Manlius, about a mile south 
of Manlius Square ; he also bought a wild lot of 
land of about one hundred and thirty acres, three 
miles southeast of Pompcy Hill. Captain Samuel 
Dunham, his son. was born in Windham. Conn., in 
the year 1780. When he was seventeen years of 
age, his father sent him alone to work and clear up 




*yfn.{ry^(ir' y^d/r^J^^-f^ 




RESIDENCE c TRENCH FA f 




iiS!^it^:^^f* 







Cla/, Onondaga County n.y 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



337 



his new lot of land in Pompey. From where he 
boarded he went daily for two years by marked trees 
to his work, one mile south, clearing the land and 
putting up a log house. Then his two sisters 
came and kept house for him for five years longer. 
He then at the age of twenty-five married a Miss 
Parmarlee of Cazenovia ; he continued to reside on 
his farm up to his death, at the age of sixty-nine 
years ; his wife survived him, and he left a large 
family of children. 

His son Moseley Dunham, was born on the old 
farm in Pompey, September 17, 1805, and lived 
with his father until he was twenty-five years of 
age, working the farm on shares after he was of 
age. 

He then married Sarah Baker of Pompey, by 
whom they had three children, viz : Daniel Mose- 
ley, born November 10, 1831 ; died from being 
scalded, September 24, 1834. The other two, 
Horace S. , and Homer were twins, born June 24, 
1833. They were reared upon their father's farm, 
and both married at the same time, March 7, 1855. 
Horace S. married William Weller's daughter, of 
Clay. She died October 6, 1872, leaving three 
sons, born as follows: Walter M., July 8, 1858; 
Spencer M., April 22, 1867 ; Albert H., March 12, 
1872. On March 20, 1873, he again married Mary, 
daughter of Thomas Weller of Lysander. They 
have had one daughter, born November 14, 1874. 
Homer married Harriet Crane of Clay. She died 
May 4, 1870, leaving two children, born as follows : 
Cora E., October 25, 1856; Milton A., December 
13, 1864; died in February, 1865. On January 2, 
1871, he was again married to Sarah, daughter of 
Asa Chapman. 

Moseley Dunham lived for five years on the farm 
which was the birth-place of Grace Greenwood, 
and on March lo, 1835, moved to the town of 
Clay, about six miles north of Syracuse, where he 
now resides and owns a fine farm of two hundred 
and seventy acres, with residences for himself and 
sons, a view of which together with the portraits of 



himself and wife and twin sons, may be seen else- 
where in this work. 

Mr. Dunham is a thorough farmer, a good citi- 
zen, and deservedly enjoys the esteem of all who 
know him. 



FRENCH FAIRCHILD 

Was born in Remsen, Oneida County, N. Y., on 
the twenty-fourth of September, 181 1, and was a 
son of French and Anna [Hinckley] Fairchild. 
When four years old he moved with his mother to 
Herkimer County ; he received a good common 
school education, and remained at home until twenty- 
one years of age. On January 4, 1836, he married 
Mary Tanner, a daughter of William and Mary 
Tanner, of the town of Schuyler, Herkimer county, 
N. Y. She was born April 23, 18 17, and has 
proved one of the best of helpmeets. Mr. Fair- 
child attributes much of his success to her prudent 
and wise management. The fruit of their marriage 
was seven children, viz : William, Ransom and New- 
ton, who were born in Herkimer county, and Her- 
mon, George W., Mary A., and Hiram G., who 
were born in Onondaga County. All of the chil- 
dren are living and enjoying good health. After 
his marriage, Mr. Fairchild purchased a small farm 
in Herkimer county. In 1846 he sold it and removed 
to the town of Salina, Onondaga Co., where he settled 
on a farm of one hundred and fifty. acres, formerly 
owned by his grandfather, Gorshorn Hinckley. 

At the close of seven years' residence upon this 
farm, he sold it and removed to the town of Clay 
where he bought the farm of one hundred and forty- 
seven acres known as the Grover farm, upon which 
he now resides. 

Mr. Fairchild has been a Republican since the 
formation of that party. In religious faith, he is a 
zealous Methodist, and has been for over forty j'ears 
a staunch and liberal member of the M. E. Church. 
He is a quiet and unostentatious man, a good hus- 
band and father, and is respected by all who know 
him. 



CICERO. 



Cicero was originally Township number six of the 
Military Tract, and at the organization of the county 
was included in the town of Lysander. In 1807, it 
was erected into a town by itself, and included the 
present town of Clay till the latter was set off in 
54* 



1827. Towards the south part of the town is an 
extensive swamp containing about four thousand 
acres, with but little timber, which has been con- 
sidered, except in a few spots, incapable of recovery 
to purposes of cultivation. It is a bog underneath 



338 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



covered by a thick moss, over which a man can 
walk in the dry part of the season, and into which 
a sharp pole may be thrust to the depth of seven or 
eight feet. The deposit is a black decayed vege- 
table matter resting upon a bed of marl. It is not 
at all unlikely that this whole swamp may yet be 
drained and become the most valuable land in the 
country, as its elevation is twenty-five feet above the 
surface of the lake. 

There are no streams of water of any note in the 
town, except the Oneida Lake and River on its 
northern boundary, and the Chittcnango Creek 
lying along its eastern border. On this Creek is 
an excellent water-power at Hridgeport, part of 
which i^ in Cicero and part in Madison county. 
The surface of the town is usually level, the pre- 
vailing soil being of a rich sandy loam, and capable 
of a great variety of productions. The town was 
originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, 
chiefly pine, hemlock, beech and sugar-maple, with 
considerable cedar and tamarack in the swamjiv 
portions. 

Cicero and Clay furnished for many years a large 
proportion of the barrels used for packing salt at 
Salina, Geddes, Liverpool and Syracuse. Such, 
indeed, was the attention given to coopering that 
for a long time the farming interests were in a 
great measure neglected. At length, however, the 
timber being exhausted, an impulse was given to 
the development of the resources of the soil. This 
has been followed up with an enterprise and a suc- 
cess which have made the town one of the first 
farming sections of Onondaga County. The lands 
are well improved, and the buildings show thrift and 
prosperity. 

Eaklv Settlements. 

The first white settler in the town of Cicero was 
a Mr. De.xler, a blacksmith, who settled opposite 
Fort Brewerton in 1790. Mr. Oliver Stevens, 
father of the late Judge John L. Stevens, settled at 
the fort in 1789 He cultivated a garden on the 
south side of the river, to which he removed in a 
few years, and died there in 1813. Mr. Stevens 
was an Indian trader, and was induced to come 
here through the representations of his two brothers 
who had been soldiers at the garrison from 1756 to 
1758. He carried on an extensive trade with the 
Indians in furs, peltry, &c,. Fort Schuyler being at 
that time the great mart west of Albany. Mr. 
Stevens also kept a boatman's tavern, furnishing 
supplies and other necessaries to those who navi- 
gated the lake and rivers. He sometimes spent his 
winters at Salina, and there in 1802 his son. Hon. 
John L. Stevens, was born. 



Ryal Bingham settled at Fort Brewerton in 
1 79 1, and subsequently removed to Salma, where 
he was appointed the first Justice of the Peace. 

All the first settlements in the town of Cicero 
were made along the Oneida River and Lake. 
John Leach settled at Cicero Corners in 1802, and 
for several years kept a tavern in a small log cabin. 

Elijah Loomis was the first settler at South Bay, 
on the lake shore, in 1804, where he purchased a 
lot on which he resided. 

He was a Revolutionary soldier and received a 
pension from the Government. Martin Woodruff 
settled near him the same year. Their nearest 
neighbors were at Brewerton, five miles distant. 

Captain John Shepard, who served in the Revo- 
lutionary war, drew Lot No. ti, of the township of 
Cicero, lying on the lake shore east of Brewerton. 
At an early day he took possession of his lot, sold 
part, cleared and cultivated the rest, and with his 
family lived upon it till his death, in 1824. He was 
the only man who occupied a lot in this town for 
which he served. He was the first Justice of the 
Peace in the town in 1804. 

The first town meeting for the town of Cicero, 
(then including Clay,) was held at the house of 
Patrick McGee, at Three River Point, in 1807. 
Moses Kinne was Moderator ; Thomas Pool was 
elected Supervisor, and Elijah Loomis, Town Clerk. 

Isaac Cody was the first merchant in town. He 
erected a store at Cicero Corners in 181 8, filled it 
with goods, and did quite an extensive business. 
Samuel Warren opened the next store in 1825. 
Daniel Olcott was the first regular physician ; 
located in the town in 1817, and had an extensive 
practice. Alexander Cook, Esq , settled in the 
town as the first practicing attorney, in 1841. In 
1820 a postoffice was established at the Corners, 
Isaac Cody. Postmaster. The mail was then carried 
once a week on horseback. 

BREWERTON. 

The crossing of the Oneida River at the foot of 
the lake was a famous fishing ground of the Onon- 
daga Indians and the crossing place of the great 
north and south trail leading from the mouth of 
Salmon River to the Onondaga country. Here the 
Indians had a famous fishing village prior to the 
erection of any fort at this point, called Techiroguen, 
and the number of remains found in a mound near 
the sand-bank, on the north side of the river east 
of the plank road, show that it must have been a 
settlement of considerable permanence. LeMoyne 
mentions it in 1654 as on the south side of the river, 
while Charlevoix, in a map published in 1744, 





RESIDENCE or Wm. H.CARTER, BRtW£RTON ,/V.y. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



339 



locates it on the north side ; showing that at some 
time between these dates its site had been changed 
to the north side of the river. Clark speaking of 
this place says : " It must have been the place of 
sepulchre for thousands. Whether these were 
slain in battle, or whether it has been a depository 
for the dead in time of peace, is not easy to de- 
termine, but from the fact that they are the bones 
of adult persons, and apparently all of males, it is 
highly probable that they are the relics of the vic- 
tims of war" 

Fort Brewerton. 

The foot of Oneida Lake was a station of great 
importance not only to the Indians but also at a 
later period to the French and English. It was 
the key to the great thoroughfare from Oswego to 
the Mohawk Valley, and during the struggles for 
this territory between the English and the French 
was regarded by both nations as a desirable point to 
be occupied by a strong fortification. The French, 
through their missionaries, had gained some in- 
fluence over the Iroquois, and Frontenac had ob- 
tained their consent to build a fort in the Onondaga 
country ; but there is no evidence going to show 
that the French ever built or occupied a fort at this 
point. 

The octagonal fort seen here by the early settlers, 
and known as " Fort Brewerton." was built by the 
English during the French War. In 1758, General 
Stanwix had erected a strong fortress at what is 
now Rome, N. Y. It was at the point where the 
portage was made from the Mohawk across to Wood 
Creek, connecting thence with Oneida Lake. The 
cost of this fort was ^266,400. Also a stockade 
enclosure was erected at the same time as a defense 
against attacks by the Indians at the foot of the 
lake. After the reduction of Fort Frontenac by 
Colonel Bradstreet in 1758, he retook possession of 
the forts at Oswego, which were again garrisoned. 
At this time. General Abercrombie formed the 
design of erecting a substantial fort to command 
the entrance to Oneida Lake from the west, as it was 
already commanded on the east by Fort Stanwi.x. 
A detachment was accordingly sent from Oswego 
the following year to cooperate with one from Fort 
Stanwix ; and Fort Brewerton was erected and 
named in honor of Captain Brewerton, whose name 
appears in the papers of that day as an active and 
meritorious officer. It was garrisoned during part 
of the summer of 1759 by Lieutenant-Colonel BulL 
and was made a depot of military stores with a 
small garrison till the close of the French War, in 
1762. During the Pontiac War, it was again gar- 
risoned by a company under Captain Mungo Camp- 



bell, of the 5Sth Highlanders, and was a place of 
deposit for considerable military stores. In the 
spring of 1764, Capt. Thomas Morris was stationed 
here for a short time, and during the followinp- 
summer proceeded to Niagara and Detroit. 

Fort Brewerton was a favorite resting place for 
the troops passing and repassing from Fort Stanwix 
to Oswego and Niagara, and is often mentioned in 
the diary of Sir William Johnson and other English 
oflficers of that period. When the fort was built 
by the English it was considered of great conse- 
quence to the safety and protection of the frontier. 

The fort was in a good state of preservation when 
first seen by the early settlers. Its site is on the 
north side of the river, a short distance northwest 
of the present Fort Brewerton House. 

A quarter of a mile east of the fort was built at 
the same time a mole of huge rocks extending about 
ten rods into the river, at the end of which was 
placed a sentry-box, where a sentinel was continu- 
ally posted to watch for enemies passing up the river, 
From this position the eye of the sentinel could com- 
mand a view of the river for a considerable distance. 

Within the enclosure and around the old fort 
have been found quite a number of relics — warlike 
implements, blacksmith's forges, wrought nails, the 
remains of chimneys constructed of small, hard, red 
brick, &c. Many such relics were found by the 
early settlers, and have been exhumed from time to 
time. 

The Old Block-House. 

On the s'lte now occupied by the Fort Brewerton 
House, within the memory of many now living, 
stood an old dilapidated " block-house." This block- 
house had no connection with the old fort occupied 
during the French war, but was built at a later 
period for defense against an anticipated attack 
upon the settlement by the British and Indians dur- 
ing the disturbances upon the western frontiers, 
from 1 790 to 1794. The British at this time held the 
garrison at Oswego. For the purpose of defending 
the settlements in Onondaga county, block-houses 
were erected at what were considered the most ex- 
posed points, one at Salina and another at Brewer- 
ton. Mr. Oliver Stevens, father of the late Judge 
J. L. Stevens, under commission from Governor 
Clinton, erected the latter, and it was made a de 
pository of arms and munitions of war while the 
trouble lasted, and was afterwards used as a dwell- 
ing house till 181 1, the military stores having been 
removed to Albany. The old block-house had a 
substantial gateway on the side next the river and 
was enclosed in pickets made of logs about twelve 
feet high and surrounded by a trench. 



340 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Patrick McGee settled at Brewerton in 1791 and 
erected the first frame house, which was occupied 
by him as a tavern, and afterwards by Jonathan 
Emmons. It stood near where the Brewerton 
House was afterwards erected and was a great place 
of resort for boatmen and townspeople. 

The first school was kept at Brewerton in 1792. 
It was taught by Deacon George Ramsey, a Scotch 
Presbyterian. He died at Brewerton many years 
ago. 

In the spring of 1804. when there were but few 
huts on the site of the present village, Jonathan 
Emmons settled on what is known as the Hoskins 
farm, Lot No. 9 Here he erected what has been 
termed the first " mill" in that region of country 
for grinding corn in a somewhat primitive style. 
It consisted of a white-oak stump hollowed out in 
the shape of a mortar, with a pestle made of an 
oaken block, to which a spring-pole was attached. 
The nearest mill on the south side of the lake was 
at Onondaga Hollow, eighteen miles distant. On 
the north side, at Rotterdam. Mr. Scriba, from 
Holland, had erected mills in 1800. The grist mill 
was sufficient to grind all the grain in the country 
for a hundred miles around. 

In 1812. Jonathan Emmons opened as a tavern 
the house formerly built and kept by Patrick Mc- 
Gee. In 181 3 he was authorized by the Legisla- 
ture to establish a ferry across the outlet of Oneida 
Lake at Brewerton, which he kept for many years. 
Mr. Emmons was the father of eighteen children, 
of whom the sixth, Samuel Emmons, iborn Feb. 
24, 17941 is now residing at Brewerton. In 1824, 
the first bridge was built across the Oneida River 
at Brewerton. The ne.xt, and present bridge, was 
built in 1847. 

The village of Brewerton was laid out by Orsamus 
Johnson, Daniel VVardwell, Miles W. Bennet and 
Harvey Baldwin, Esqs , in 1836. Its position at 
the foot of the lake is remarkably beautiful and 
healthy, and being surrounded by a fertile and 
thriving country, it has grown to be a village of 
considerable importance. Since 1873 it has been 
connected with Syracuse by railroad communica- 
tion, via the Syracuse Northern Railroad. 

Brewerton was incorporated in 1872. the first 
election of officers occurring on the 9th of Sep- 
tember, when the following persons were chosen : 

Hon. John L. Stevens, President ; E. N. Em- 
mons, Clerk ; William H. Carter, William H. Sher- 
wood, D. H. Waterbury, William H. Merritt, 
Trustees. 

The following have since served as Presidents of 
the village: John L. Stevens. 1873 I T"- A. Strong, 



1874 ; Wm. H. Carter, 1875 ; B. M. Genung. 1876 ; 
A. N. Everson, 1877. 

The officers for 1878 arc : E. N. Emmons, Presi- 
dent ; George H. Smith. Clerk ; Milton Miller, 
Charles E. Waterbury, Monroe Pierce, Trustees ; 
Wm. H. Merritt, Collector ; James R. Loomis, 
Treasurer ; Thomas Hughs, Street Commissioner. 

Brewerton has a graded school, occupying a brick 
building, erected in 1855, at acost of gi.cxx). Two 
teachers are employed, and the average attendance 
is eighty. 

Brewekton Lodges. 

Fort Brewerton Lodge No. 256, F. & A. M. 
Chartered January 10, 1852. Charter officers — 
John Baum, W M.; H. V. Keller, S. W.; James 
J, Anderson, J. W. ; with thirteen charter mem- 
bers. Regular communications, first and third 
Wednesday evenings in each month, third story, 
Everson & Loomis' Block, State street. Present 
officers— F". A. Strong, W. M.; Wm. H. Merritt, 
S. W.; M. Pierce, J. W.; J. R. Loomis. Treas.; 
E. E. Binn. Sec'y ; A. Dickson, Tyler. 

Brewerton Lodge I. O. of G. T., No. 51. In- 
stituted January 5. 1875, with fifteen charter mem- 
bers. Among the most active may be named C. 
D. Walkup. Lodge Deputy ; V. E. Campbell. Miss 
Phoebe Klock and Miss Clara Van Warmer. This 
lodge, though young is active and vigorous, and for 
several years has held the Silver Gavel over all the 
lodges in the State. Officers — V. E. Campbell. 
W. C. T. ; Almira Cummins, W. V. T. ; Miss 
Aggie Campbell. W. S. Regular meetings every 
Saturday evening. 

In 1846 a line of steamers, consisting of four 
boats, named after the four counties bordering on 
the lake, viz : the Oneida, Oswego, Madison and 
Onondaga, was put upon the lake and river by a 
company at Oswego. Henry Guest was the first 
agent, and afterwards William H. Carter, who with 
Mr. Gushing purchased the remaining boats. The 
Oswego is still run by Mr. Carter. 

The Plank Road. 

In 18 12 the Legislature passed an act to cut a 
road from Salina to Brewerton through the center of 
the town. The expense was advanced by the State, 
and a tax laid on the lands contiguous to defray it. 
The inhabitants got a poor road for what a good one 
should have cost. In 1845. an act was passed 
authorizing the company to construct a plank, tim- 
ber, or hard surface road, from Salina to Central 
Square, through Cicero, from south to north. In 
1846, a plank road was completed, being the first of 
the kind constructed in the United States. The 





Pliotos. by W. Y. Ranger, Syracuse. 



SAMUEL EMMONS. 



HANNAU EMMONS. 



SAMUEL EMMONS. 



Samuel Emmons, the oldest settler in the town of Cicero 
living at the present time, is the subject of this sketch. He 
was born in the town of Nassau, Rensselaer county, N. Y., on 
February 26, 1794, being the son of Jonathan and Mary Em- 
mons, who removed to the town of Cicero, Onondaga County, in 
the year 1804, taking his family with him, where lie settled on 
lot 10, purchasing six hundred aCres of land, part of which is 
still in possession of the family. His early life was passed on 
his father's farm, and he obtained his education at the district 
school, the country being at that time a perfect wilderness. 
The only playmates he had were the young savages of the 
forest. 

He was married, January 1, 1818, to Hannah, daughter 
of Ebenezer Loomis, who was one of the earliest settlers of 
Oswego county. Their union was blessed with six children, 
all of whom are living at the present time, — Cynthia M., born 
September 5, 1818; Almeda, November IG, 1820; Lucretia, 
April 28, 1824; Leonard Franklin, February 24, 1827 ; Han- 
nah C, August 12, 1833; Jonathan, IMay 7, 1836,— all of 
whom were born in the town of Cicero. 



Mrs. Emmons passed away from earth, December 9, 1836, 
leaving a family and a large circle of friends to mourn her 
loss. Mr. Emmons, not wishing to take the responsibility 
solely on himself of raising and educating his family of chil- 
dren, was again married, October 22, 1837, to Harriet Auringer, 
— she being born August 14, 1818, in the town of Cliflon 
Park, Saratoga county, N. Y., — who is the present companion 
of his declining years. He was a member of the Whig party 
during the existence of their glorious old organization, and, on 
the formation of the Republican party, allied himself with 
that, and still remains .so connected. He is a member of the 
Baptist church, and believes in open communion. 

Mr. Emmons in life has been a thorough-going farmer, and, 
by industry and economy, has succeeded in saving enough of 
this world's wealth to enable himself and wife to live at ease. 
Also, by strict regard to the rules of health, he is to-day, 
although in his eighty-fourth year, as active as a man in the 
prime of life, and is looked up to by friends and neighbors 
as a worthy representative of a generation of mankind, the 
majority of which has long since passed away. 



'H 



^«iv \^ 





HON. ASA KA8TW0OD. 



MRS. .M.MIV K.\.-<T\VO0D. 



HON. ASA KASTWOOD. 



II. in. A«ii Knslwood wim Ixirn nl Allcntown, N. J., Fch. 20, 
ITKl, bcinc tlio mii of I.,cwiK Kiuitwnod, who wiis ii tuiiiu-r and 
currier by Irndo, nnd who, in puriiiit »f work, removed lo various 
locnlitien, and in the yr«r 17H4 becnino n resident of the city of 
New York. A»n had few <ip|iortunitien of obUiining an educulion, 
the lack i>f wliich, in lii.« Inter \ear!i, ho mucli rei;rettcd. In 1800, 
durint: the wiir with France, .\>n, in company willi hi« brother 
.lohn, ahipiM-d on board lliu I'nited State* fri);ato " ConBti-llBlion;" 
tliey reliirned in tlie Miuinicr of tH()l. 

He was niarrii-d, Sept. "JP, IHOl, to Mary, ilau^htcr of Hciijaniin 
l)o»ey, of KiM-kaway, Lon^ Ubind, of which place she wan a native. 
Shu wna born July :t(), 17H2. Thoir union was blctiscd with eleven 
children, viz., William, born in Ijueen'it Co., N. Y., Au^. 18, 180!J; 
lioiijamin, July 1", I »<»."• ; Mary, Aug. 29. 180(5 (died Sept. 17, 
1874); Klizabeth, Am;. 14, 18(18 (died Oct. 24, 184C); Lewis, 
April :<0, 1810 (died Feb. 4, ISilII); Lncimla, July '.•, 1812 (died 
Jan. 12, I8.".7); John, (Jet. 18, 1814 ; all of whom, except William, 
were lH>rn in Now York city; Klisha, born in Itrooklyn, Nov. lii, 
IHIli (waa murdered in I<4iui»iana, April 26, 1874); Samuel Asu, 
b<irn July 1(1, 18r.i; Nelson IVrry, Feb. I, 1822; Kno«, June 2, 
I82<"i. The last three named Were born in Cicero, Onondaga Co , 
N. Y. In 1817, Mr. Kaittwood removed from New Y'ork city lo 
Onondaga I'ounty, where he engaged in the grocery trade. Uo 
held the ofllco of ciinxtablo for a number of years, being (Irsl elected 
in 1807. 

On roini'ving to lhi« county he livateil in the town of Cicero, 
and puri'hiucd a farm of <ini' hundred and i>evcn aero.-, which is 
■till in the |H>tsc^sion of the family. Not having much bfte for 
funning, he ilevoled much of his time to oulnide business, lie was 
greatly intorested in, and worked oncrgclicMlly for, the welfare of 
the Agricultural society of this county, nnd was always foremost 
in introducing improvomentt, having brought the first wagon nnd 
thrn>hing-machine into the town of Cii-ero. 

Mr. Kai'twciod was a Democrat of the Jeflcrson school. lie was 
Bp|Miinted March 13, 1821, by thi" ijovernor, to the olllce of justice 
of the ]>eace, and in iho same year wu> elected a delegate to the 



Slate convention to revise the constitution. In I8'_>2 he removetl 
with a part of his family to New Y'urk city, and was grantc^d the 
" frecdoni of the city" by Stephen Allen, the mayor nt that tune. 
May 1!1, I82H, ho was elected one of the sachems of the Tammany 
society. In 1825 he returned to Onondaga County, and engaged 
for a short time in the salt business, erecting works at Salina. lie 
wn.* elected to the assembly in Noveml)er, I8:!2, which was the last 
office held by him. lie co-operated with the Democratic I>arty 
until l8'>«j, when, being opposed to the extension of slavery, ho 
joined the Kepublicnn ranks, and ever afterwards acted with that 
party. 

Of all the reverses in life which had iH'cn the lot of Mr. KastwiKid 
to meet, none wiw so hard to bear as the loss of his loving wife, who 
had been his companion for ovor sixty years; she |iasscd away 
April 1(5, 18(52. lie survived his wife for a number of years, but 
wiLs called to his last home Feb. 26, 18711, having attained to the 
age of eighty-nine years. And (as a leading pa|ior says of hinii 
in all bis ollicial positions, and in every trust runlliled to him, he 
discharged his duties in such nutnncr as lo win the confidence and 
respect of all n8S<K'iBtod with him. In private life Mr. K»»lwix)d 
was above reproach, llis jirinciples were high and honorable, hit 
habits eorrwt and exemplary, nnd his intluoncu in society always 
bencllcial to good morals, ills long and eventful life, his publii 
career, his ripo experience, and his intercourse with cultivate<l 
minds, gave him a retlnemcnt of manner, great fluency, and rich- 
ness in conversational "(ualities, that made his company v«r> 
attractive and interesting. In his last sickne.ss, roalirini; that hi- 
career was finished, ho closed his business afl'airs, sent invitation' 
for his old n-s.pciat<"s to bo present at his funeral, and then, as « 
weary child in the arms of its mother, ho fell asleep in death, I'' 
awaken in an immortal and glorious life. IIo was a regular attend 
ant of the Universnlist church of Cicero, nnd had long chorishwl 
an uiidoubting faith in Christ as the .Saviour of the world, and 
passed many of his last years in its peaceful light. He was prom- 
inently connected with the Masonic order, which was well repre- 
sented at his funeral. 







Puoto. by liouta & Curtiss, t^yracusc. 
ORSAMUS JOHNSON. 




Photo, by B. F. Howland & Co., Syracuse. 
DOROTHY JOHNSON. 



ORSAMUS JOHNSON. 



The sons of Massachusetts are found in every State in the 
Union, hailing as they do fi-om a State which early had the 
reputation of being foremost in producing men of education 
and culture ; in removing to other localities they carried the 
same characteristics with them. The subject of this sketch was 
born among the hills of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Sep- 
tember 27, 1800, being the son of Jacob and Achsah Johnson, 
whose family consisted of four children. At the early age of 
three months his father removed to the town of Pompcy, Onon- 
daga County, where he carried on the business of farming until 
his death in the year 1812. Mr. Johnson's early life was passed 
on his fiither's farm, and teaching in the district schools until 
his marriage, in 1826, with Dorothy, daughter of Erastus Mark- 
ham, of Fabius, who was born June 18, 1805. About three 
years after his marriage he removed to Central Square, Oswego 
county, where he carried on the business of keeping public- 
house ; he resided there about three years, when he removed to 
Brewerton, in the town of Cicero, where he pursued the same 
business till 184G, when he turned his attention to farming, 
which has been his occupation in life up to the present time. 
By his marriage with his first wife he had three children : 
Helen, who was born December 23, 1827, and was married to 
Lyman Barber, April 10, 1849, and who passed away, mourned 
by all who knew her, November 23, 1865 ; she was the mother 



of one child. Mary, born February 12, 1832, and married to 
William Sherwood, May 14, 1856 ; two children have blessed 
their union. Homer, born May 22, 1838. The life of man is 
not only made of prosperities, but he is forced to bear with 
many adversities, and none is so hard to overcome as the loss of a 
loving wife. Mrs. Johnson died Nov. 28, 1858, not only mourned 
by husband and children, but by a large circle of sympathizing 
friends. After a few years, his widowed heart seeking consola- 
tion, he was married to Mrs. Amos Sherwood, of Jamesville, 
who lived but a short time. After the loss of his second wife, 
Mr. John.son passed his life in the companionship of his chil- 
dren until the year 1869, when he wa.s married to Mrs. Sarah 
Richard.son, April 20, of that year, she being the loving help- 
mate of his declining years. Politically, he belongs to the 
Republican party, and has taken for over sixty years the Albany 
Journal, formerly edited by Thurlow Weed. He has held nu- 
merous town oiEces, having been supervisor and justice of the 
peace for several terms. He formerly belonged to the Metho- 
dist church, but of late has been an active worker in the 
Presbyterian ranks. What can be more pleasant for a man who 
has arrived at a ripe old age, than to look back on the many 
pleasures and sorrows of life, and to think he has always been 
held in reverence and respect by friends and neighbors, and that 
his memory will be preserved for years to come? 




a^m^. 




yd e^ c--^ 



/ 



Isaac Cooiiley's great-grnndrailicr. .Inlin ("iionlcy, eaiiic from 
VVurU'iiibcrj;, Gcminny, about the year 1750, and settled in the 
town of Clinton, DuU-hcus Co., N. Y., where his ),Tandfather, 
Solomon Coonley, waH born in 1752. His father, Abraliam, was 
born in the name town, June 20, 1775, and moved with liis 
father to the town of Coeyman's, Albany county, in the year 
17S(). Mil* (grandfather wa.s one of the early settlers of that 
l.iwii. Isjiac's father, Abraham, was married to Catharini' 
Craft in 1808. Lsaac was born in the town of Cocyman's, March 
IG, 1810. He worked on his father's farm till lie was seven- 
teen years old; reecive<l a common-seh«Kil edueation; at the age 
of seventeen leameil the trade of a weaver, which he followed for 
several years, and also tau);ht school several winters, lie wxs 
married to I'hebc Tercy, of Cocyman's, in 18;J8, and moved to the 
village of JamcHville, in this county, where he lived three years; 
then moved to Syracuse, and carried on the business of weaving 
and dyeing. Bought a farm, and moved to the town of Cicero 
in the spring of 18111, where he lived till the time of his death. 
Died Nov. 10, 187G, aged sixty -six years and eight months. 
Ijcaves but one child, Irving Coimley, postmaster at Ciccn). 



Mr. Coonley was a careful observer of men and things, and 
pw-sesscd a mind of more than ordinary calibre. lie r«id ex- 
tensively on all subjects, and kept himself well informed uol 
only in current history, but in many departments of science 
It was difficult to introduce a subject in which he was not ;. 
home. He was especially familiar with the working of <>"' 
political system, fmni tin' iciwii iiji to that of the State and 
nation. 

His native good sense, stern integrity, and genial social 
(jualities remlered him always an agreeable companion and a 
warm and firm friend. These qualities made him iM)pular with 
his townsmen, and he was frequently called to occupy rusponsi- 
bio po-sitions, which were always filliHl with great credit to hin 
self and S4ilisfaction to his constituents. 

He represented the town of Cicero in the board of 8up« i 
visors four terms, viz., 18G0, 1861, 18G7, and 18G8. In 
1865 he was appointed enumenitor, and took the oensos of 
the town. In 1870 he was elecUnl justice of the peace, and 
served for the four succi-eiling years. In 187G he was olertcd 
(own auditor. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



341 



expense of grading, building and materials, was 
about S 1,500 per mile. The situation of the country 
and soil was such that it was almost impossible to 
make a permanent road of any other material. No 
sooner was this road opened than it began to be 
thronged with travel. It is safe to say that no other 
road in the interior of the State has accommo- 
dated so great an amount of travel as this plank 
road. 

On the completion of the Syracuse Northern 
Railroad in 1873, the plank road was abandoned 
from Central Square to Brewerton, and in 1876, 
from Brewerton to Cicero Corners. The enter- 
prising citizens along the road between Brewerton 
and Cicero, at once organized the Cicero Turnpike 
Company, built a gravel turnpike, erected a gate 
for the collection of toll, and now have the best road 
in the town. The officers of this company are Jos. 
M. Moulton, President ; H. H. Lawrence, Secre- 
tary ; John Moulton, Treasurer ; W. D. Wright, 
Gate Keeper. Its capital stock is $4,600. 

The plank road from Cicero to Syracuse is still 
continued. 

Religious. 

The first meeting house in town was built of logs 
for the Presbyterian Society, at Cicero Corners, in 
1 8 19. A frame edifice was erected in 1830. The 
first settled minister was Rev. Truman Baldwin, 
Presbyterian, who served several years, afterwards 
went west, then returned and took charge of his 
former flock. The next organized religious society 
was of the Baptists, at Cicero Corners, in 1832. 
The Methodists next built a church in the east part 
of the town, and subsequently others in the Taft 
Settlement and at Cicero Corners. Previous to the 
erection of churches, the different religious denomi- 
nations held their meetings in log school houses. 

The First Church of Disciples, Brewerton, is 
an outgrowth of the religious principles promul- 
gated in this country by the late Alexander Camp- 
bell and others. The views of this distinguished 
scholar and theologian gained acceptance in the Bap- 
tist Churches at Pompey, Tully and Cicero, as early 
as 1834, and by some of the leading members of 
the latter body, were soon after planted in this vil- 
lage. The first series of meetings for the public 
advocacy of these views in Brewerton, was held by 
Elder Jasper J. Moss, of Ohio, in 1835, and the 
present church was organized under the ministry of 
Elder Josiah I. Lowell, who the year previous had 
formed the Church of the Disciples of Christ at 
Pompey Hill. The Elders of the original Church 
at Brewerton were George Walkup and Lewis 
55 



Fancher ; among the leading members were Hon. 
John L. Stevens, James Spire, Ephraim Smedley, 
Mrs. Ann Emmons, Mrs. George Walkup and Mrs. 
E. Manville. 

The present church edifice was erected in the 
year i85i,at a cost of $1,500, and an additional 
cost of about ;^700 was incurred for refurnishing and 
repairs in 1875. The present membership is about 
one hundred and twenty-five, with an attendance of 
one hundred in the Sunday School. The officers 
of the Church are Jacob Ottman, C. D. Walkup 
and E. N. Emmons, Elders ; P. VanWormer, Jas. 
E. Livingston and Martin Emmons, Deacons. Mr. 
E. N. Emmons has officiated as Superintendent of 
the Sunday School for the past twenty years. 

The Union Church, Brewerton, was built in 
1849, by the contributions of gentlemen of the 
Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Universalist 
faith. The most liberal contributors were Orsemus 
Johnson, Wm. Milton, Asa U. Emmons, Alexander 
Gushing, J. B. Kathan, Stephen Markham and 
William Bailey. The cost of the building was 
about $1,700. It was occupied in common by the 
different denominations till i86g, since which it has 
been used exclusively by the Methodists, who in 
that year organized under the pastorate of Rev. 
Ebenezer Arnold, and expended about $500 in 
repairing the church. Since Mr Arnold's ministry, 
the following clergymen have officiated : 

Rev. E. C. Tuttle, two years ; Rev. R. Brewster, 
two years ; Rev. W. Witham, one year ; Rev. J. 
D. Phelps, two years ; Rev. M. J. Wells, one year. 
The present pastor. Rev. E. Lyon, took charge in 
October, 1877. 

The membership of the church is one hundred 
and forty ; Sabbath School, one hundred and thirty; 
Mrs. H. O. Johnson, Superintendent. Trustees : 
William Telford, William H. Sherwood, Ira Shell, 
John Young and William Wickham. 

CICERO VILLAGE 

Is situated on the Plank Road ten miles north of 
Syracuse. It has three churches, three stores, two 
hotels, two wagon shops, two blacksmith shops, two 
boot and shoe shops, a saw mill, flouring mill, 
stave mill and cheese-box factory. It has two 
physicians, and the general law business is trans- 
acted by Benjamin F. Sweet, Esq., who is an old 
and influential citizen, and has been for many years 
Justice of the Peace. 

Some of the oldest citizens now living in the 
village and vicinity are Noah Merriam, B. F. Sweet, 
Asahel Saunders and his oldest daughter, Mrs. 
Emily Crampton, Daniel Vanalstine, Ambrose 



342 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Sadler, Robert Lower, Joseph Douglass, John R. 
Wright, Barney Rawlcy, John and Emery Moulton. 
Addison J. and Henry H. Loomis are among the 
prominent farmers and business men. 

CiCEKO Mills. 

The Cicero Mills steam, flour, saw and stave 
mills,) are located at Cicero village and owned by a 
stock company known by the corporate name of the 
Cicero Mill Company. Capital stock, §25,000. 
The mills were erected in 1870 at a cost of $23,000. 
The flouring mill grinds about 50,000 bushels per 
annum, custom and merchant flour. The saw mill 
cuts about 500.000 feet of lumber annually, and the 
stave mill about 2,000,000 staves. They are run 
by steam-power and give employment to about 
twenty hands the year round. They are the only 
mills now in operation in the town. 

The officers of the company are : Ambrose 
Sadler, President ; A. J, Loomis, Secretary, and 
Robert Lower, Treasurer ; who are ex-officio 
Directors, with Daniel Coonley and Emery Moulton, 
the other stockholders being Samuel Cushing and 
Alonzo Uaum. 

In connection with these mills, I. S Auborn has 
a cheese box factory which employs three hands 
and turns out about 10,000 cheese-boxes a year. 

Cheese Factokies. 

Of late years the dairying business, especially 
cheese making, has become an important interest 
in the town of Cicero. There are three prosperous 
cheese factories, as follows : 

The Cheese Factory of A. J. Loomis, situated 
one mile south of the village of Cicero, on the road 
to Syracuse ; established in 1855 ; has two vats, 
employs three hands, makes 150,000 pounds per 
annum ; owns one hundred cows and uses the milk 
of four hundred others. Mr. Loomis has $40,000 
invested in the business. 

Cicero Center Cheese Factory, built in 1867 by 
William Sternberg, now owned and conducted by 
O. J. Daniels, who manufactures cheese for neigh- 
boring farmers. Annual product 50,000 pounds. 

William Van Bramer's Cheese Factory, built in 
1863 ; manufactures the milk of one hundred and 
fifty cows, keeping forty of his own. The product 
of this factory is 45,000 pounds per annum. Si 0,000 
capital invested and two hands employed. It is 
situated two miles south of Cicero village. 

Farmers' and Mechanics' Club. 

The towns of Cicero, Clay and Salina have a Far- 
mers' and Mechanics' Club, of which the following 
are the officers, elected January 5, 1878 : President, 



A. J. Loomis ; First Vice-President, E. F. Reese ; 
Second Vice-President, R. Z. Sadler ; Corres- 
ponding Secretary. L. H. Brown; Recording 
Secretary. J. W. Lawrence; Treasurer. A. H. 
Lawrence. Directors — L. C. Flowers. Samuel 
Ferguson, Clay ; Emery Moulton, H. W. Hanks, 
Cicero; G. H. McHaron, David Overacre, Salina. 

Churches. 

FlR-ST UsiVEKSALIST ChURCH OF CiCERO. — In 

1859, Rc^'- A. A. Thayer, then residing in Syra- 
cuse, began preaching the doctrines of Universalism 
in Cicero, and organized a society. At a Conference 
held in the I'nion Church at Brewerlon. in 1S60, 
Rev. W. W. Clayton, then of Auburn, N. Y., re- 
ceived a call to preach at Cicero and Brewerton,one 
service on Sunday in each place. Mr. Clayton 
accepted and continued to preach till the winter of 
1862, holding the morning service in the Union 
Church at Brewcrton The old Disciples' Church 
at Cicero was new-roofed and refitted inside for the 
afternoon meetings, and a prosperous and perma- 
nent Sunday school was organized, Mr. Warren 
Wright being appointed Superintendent. 

In 1862, Rev. Augustus Tibbits became pastor, 
and with occasional preaching by Rev. Dolphus 
Skinner, D. D., and others, the time was filled till 
1867, when Rev. John M. Austin became pastor, 
residing in Auburn and preaching in one or two 
other places at the same time. Under Mr. Austin, 
in 1867, a church organization was effected, some 
of the members joining at that time being John R. 
Wright, Warren Wright, John McCulloch, Mrs. 
Robert Lower, Mrs. Ambrose Sadler and Mrs. J. 
A Dunham. Mr. Austin continued to officiate as 
pastor till 1875, since which the church has been 
supplied by Rev. J. M. Weeks, Rev. Geo. B. Stock- 
ing, and Rev. R. Fisk. 

The church in which the services have been held 
from the first was built in the year 1832 by the Bap- 
tists, who disbanded and sold the building to Heze- 
kiah Joslyn, John Leach and Hon. John L.Stevens. 
In a few years they sold it to the First Congrega- 
tion of Disciples, which was an organization formed 
mainly of former members of the Baptist society, 
who in 1867, under a special act of the Legislature, 
sold it to the Universalists, the Disciples' organiza- 
tion having been for some years discontinued. The 
proceeds of the sale were appropriated to the 
"Church of Christ," of Syracuse. In 1871, the 
edifice was rebuilt at a cost of $3,000. 

The present church membership is about sixty, 
with an attendance of eighty-five in the Sunday 
School. 




R£SiotNC£ Of CAP' V. DUHHAM, South Bay «i»v ITowk. 



M. II. BLYNN, M.D. 



Among the few men whom the 
people of C-icoro regard worthy of 
their higlie.st confidence and esteeiii 
is numbered the subject of this 
sketch lie was born in Columbia 
Co., N. Y., on the Oth of January, 
1837. 

He obtained an excellent educa- 
tion, being graduated with distinc- 
tion from Fort Edward institute. 
lie read medicine, under a physician 
of distinction, two years succeeding 
his graduation, and at the outbreak 
of the Kebellion entered the hospital 
department of the Tenth New York 
Volunteer Cavalry. His gallant 
conduct and evident abilities at- 
tracted the attention of his .superior 
officers, and he was accordingly 
appointed captain of his company 
on the 3d of November, 1863 ; 
major of his regiment Nov. 21, 
1864 ; and brevet lieutenant-colonel 




I'lmto. bj- W. V. Ranger. 



.//' 




M ^ 



before the close of the war. Upon 
his return iiome. he pursued a course 
of lectures at the Albany medical 
college, Bellevue hospital college, 
New York city, and Longstreet 
hospital college, Brooklyn, from 
which he was graduated in the class 
of 1866. 

He was at once appointed a sur- 
geon in the United States army, 
and also served as quarantine officer 
of the port of Hilton Head, South 
Carolina, till Nov. 28, 186G, when 
he received an honorable dismissal, 
and commenced the practice of his 
profession at Cicero, Onondaga Co., 
New York, where he has built up 
a large and constantly increasing 
practice. 

He was united in marriage, Dec. 
25, 1866, to Miss Frank Douglass, 
a daughter of Joseph Douglass, and 
a very refined and talented lady. 





SAMUEL CUSHING. 



Photo, by .Ionian Bros., Syracuse. 
OLIVE P. CUSHINO. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Reformed Church, Cicero. — This church was 
organized in 1835, from a congregation of Presby- 
terians who had for many years previous occupied 
the present edifice. The most prominent persons 
in the formation of the Reformed Church were 
Isaac Coonley, Lott Hamilton, Peter Collier, Ezra 
Hart, Calvin Hart, Noah Merriam and Mrs. P. 
Andrews. The two last mentioned are the only 
survivors at this writing, (^878.) 

Among the pastors have been Rev. Wm. Cranse, 
Rev. A. W. See]ey,Rev. John Duboi.s, Rev. Samuel 
N. Robinson, Rev. John Gray, Rev. F. Hibbard, 
Rev. G. W. Hemperly. 

The church is at present without a settled pastor. 
Membership about fifty ; Sunday School, seventy- 
five. 

Cicero Methodist Episcopal Church,— For 
many years this was one of the North Manlius Dis- 
trict charges. At what time it became a regular 
charge is not known, but in the year 1850, Rev. 
Browning Nichols was located at this place, and for 
a time meetings were, as formerly, held in the school 
house, but under his auspices a deep religious feel- 
ing was aroused, and the society was reorganized 
and in the following year the lot was purchased and 
church building erected at a cost of thirteen hun- 
dred dollars. Rev. Hiram Nichols was the next 
pastor. Since then Rev. Nickerson, Rev. Munger, 
Rev. Tattle, G. B. Bush, D. D., Rev. J. C. Nichols 
and the present pastor. Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, who 
also ofificiates over Stone Arabia charge. 

The present membership is seventy-six. Sabbath 
School attendance eighty-five, Mr. J. W. Jewel is 
the efficient and worthy Sabbath School Superin- 
tendent. The Trustees are J. Bradford, Daniel 
Vanalstine and Noah Andrew. 

Stone Arabia M. E. Church.— Situated about 
one mile west of Cicero Centre, was organized 
in January, 1845, at the school house. The promi- 
nent members at that time were William S. Fuller, 
Solomon Wheeler, Harrison Hall, Palmer Brown,' 
John Wilcox, John Salter, William Van Alstine, 
Daniel Terpenny, Simon Drusbeck, Seth Hall, 
Jonathan Houghtaling, Mary Benedict, Conrad 
Brought, and Samuel Sizer. In 1847 the present 
church building was built, and rebuilt in 1869, at a 
cost of $2,200. 

Present membership thirty-seven. Sabbath 
School attendance sixty. Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, 
pastor of this and Cicero charge. This church 
was originally in the North Manlius Circuit. 
Present Trustees are John Cranse, S. K. Button 
and Ashley Graves. 

Taft Methodist Episcopal Church was or- 



343 



ganized by the labors of Rev. Barnard Peck in 
1847. Other classes had been formed prior to this 
but had been disbanded. The present church 
edifice was erected in 1857 on ground donated by 
David Tompkins. Among the members of the 
class of 1847, were Caleb Tompkins, David Borst, 
John Richmond, John Bennett and John Taft, from' 
whom the church takes its name. This was part 
of what was known as the North Manlius District, 
comprising six congregations, and is about a mile 
southeast of Centerville. 

The present membership is about forty. Pastor 
in charge Rev. Joel Houd, who also ofificiates at 
Centerville. 

Bridgeport Saw Mill and Tannery.— This 
mill stands on the west bank of the Chittenango 
Creek. It was built by Benjamin French about 
1825, who run the mill until 1854, when the present 
owner, Oney Sayles, purchased it and has run it 
ever since. This is the oldest mill now standing in 
the vicinity ; it is an old-fashioned upright water- 
power saw mill. 

Bridgeport tannery was built in 1825, and was run 
until 1869. The old building, vats and machinery 
are still standing between the mill race and creek, 
but is unoccupied. 

In 1874, Jesse Daniels planted a hop-yard, and 
in 1877 increased it to four acres, which is now a 
very thriving and profitable yard— the only one in 
the town. 



BiOGP|APHic>L Sketch 



n 



CAPT. VALENTINE DUNHAM. 

Captain Valentine Dunham was born at Ham- 
ilton, Madison County, N. Y., on the 15th of May, 
1 8 16, where he spent his early life with his parents. 
After traveling extensively through many of the 
States, he located on Dunham's Island in Oneida 
Lake, and since he sold that property, has lived at 
his present residence at South Bay, in the town of 
Cicero. He was married in 1858, and has one son 
sixteen years of age. He is engaged in furnishing 
pleasure boats to excursions, picnic parties, &c., 
a business which he has followed for the past twenty- 
five years. 



DAVID H. HOYT. 



The first founder of the Hoyt family in this 
country was Simon Hoyt, who settled in about 



344 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



1628, at Charlestown. Mass.. where he remained 
about ten years, when he removed to what is now 
the State of Connecticut. He was the father of 
ten children, Walter, the eldest son. being the sec- 
ond generation lof the branch of the family which 
the subject of this sketch represents 1 was the father 
of four children ; his second son. Zerubabel. was 
the third, had si.\ children ; Caleb, his third son, 
was the fourth, had seven children, and his second 
son, David, born Dec. 3, 17 10, was the fifth ; and 
his family consisted of ten children. David, his 
third son, who was born April 2, 1744, being the 
grandfather of David H., representing the sixth 
generation of the family, emigrated about the year 
1790, to Greenfield, Saratoga County, taking his 
family with him, which consisted of three children, 
his eldest son Jacob, having been born in Connecti- 
cut Dec. 2, 1774. He was married to Nancy Shaw, 
by whom he had five children, David H. being the 
fourth child and the oldest son was born April 28, 
1813. His father dying when he was fourteen 
months old, the responsibility of providing for and 
educating the family, befell his mother, and his after 
success in life must be attributed to the good coun- 



sel and lessons received from her. His early life 
was passed on his father's farm, till 1836, when he 
removed to the town of Cicero, Onondaga County, 
and in connection with his brother Jacob, purchased 
one hundred and thirty-si.\ acres of land, being the 
same farm on which he now resides. He was mar- 
ried October 5, 1843, to Caroline, daughter of Bar- 
tholomew Andrews, she having been born in Cicero 
July 13, 1823. The result of this happy marriage 
was si.\ girls and four boys ; Charles J., Josephine 
and Hattie, having passed away. Lucy was born 
Aprils. i846;Leroy G., July 30, 1849; Ella E., 
January 21, 1851 ; Manil C, April 25, 1853 ; John 
J., March 25, 1855 ; Alice, Sept. 10, 1857 ; Frank 
D., November 7, 1863. Mr. Hoyt has always been 
an active worker in the Democratic ranks ; he is 
also a member of the Reformed Church, and has 
contributed largely of his means for its support. 
In looking back over a life of more than three- 
score years, amongst the many reverses which 
he has passed through, his widowed heart mourns 
the loss of his loving help-meet, who passed away 
March 22, 1877, mourned and beloved by all who 
knew her. 



SPAFFORD 



Spaffokd lies upon Skaneateles Lake and is the 
western town on the south line of the county. It 
was erected from portions of the townships of 
Sempronius. Marcellus and Tully, April 8, 181 1, 
and the boundaries have since been materially 
altered. Parts of Marcellus and Skaneateles were 
taken otf in 1840. At present it comprises eight 
lots lying east of Skaneateles Lake, being part of 
the original township of Sempronius ; si.xteen lots 
of the northwest part of the township of Tully, and 
thirteen lots of the south part of the township of 
Marcellus. It is about ten miles long by three 
broad, running from northwest to southeast, in lines 
nearly parallel with the lakes between which it lies 
— Otisco Lake on the northeast, forming a portion 
of its central boundary, and Skaneateles, on the 
southwest, along its entire line. The lake front of 
this town, as well as the scenery in the opposite 
direction, over-looking the Otisco. is most beautiful 
and picturesque. The surface consists principally 
of a high ridge between the two lakes, somewhat 
abruptly descending to the valleys on each side and 
gradually declining towards the north. The highest 



summit, Ripley Hill, is also the highest point in the 
county, being 1,982 feet above tide water, and 1,122 
feet higher than Skaneateles Lake. The Otisco 
inlet is a small stream flowing through the valley 
which extends south from Otisco Lake. The soil 
is chiefly a sandy and gravelly loam, productive, 
and under a high state of cultivation. 

This town received its name from Horatio Gates 
Spafford, LL. D., author of a Gazetteer of New 
York. It was first settled by Gilbert Palmer, who 
located on Lot 76, township of Marcellus, in the 
fall of 1794. Mr. Palmer was a Revolutionary 
soldier, and served for the lot on which he settled. 
He came from somewhere in Southern New York, 
Dutchess or Westchester County, and lived in Spaf- 
ford till his death, about 1839. 

Clark, in his Onondaga, vol. 2d, page 348, relates 
the following afiecting experience of this pioneer 
anil his son : 

"In the fall of the year 1794, soon after his 
arrival, Mr. Palmer and his son, a youth of some 
sixteen years of age, went into the woods to chop- 
ping, for the purpose of making a clearing. Some- 
time in the afternoon they felled a tree, and as it 





David fi. fiOYT. 



Photos bt w v JtAxocR, SrMcusE 



Caroline j^oyt. 




Residence or DAVID H. HOVr, C/cero, Onondaga Co. N.r. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



345 



struck the ground it bounded, swung around and 
caught the young man under it. The father at 
once mounted the log, cut it ofif, rolled it over and 
liberated his son. Upon e.xamination one of his 
lower limbs was found to be badly crushed and 
mangled. He thereupon carried the youth to his 
log hut, close at hand, and with all possible dili- 
gence made haste to his nearest neighbors, some 
three or four miles distant, desiring them to go and 
minister to his son's necessities, while he should go 
to Whitestown for Dr. White. The neighbors 
sallied forth with such comfortable things as they 
thought might be acceptable in such a case ; but 
amidst the confusion, the dense forest and the dark- 
ness of night which had just set in, they missed 
their way, and after wandering about for a long 
time, gave over the pursuit and returned home, 
leaving the poor sufferer alone to his fate. Early 
the next morning all hands again rallied, and in due 
time found the young man suffering the most 
extreme anguish from his mangled limb, and greatly 
benumbed with cold. They built a fire, made him 
comfortable with such paliatives as could be pro- 
cured in the wilderness, and waited in patience the 
return of the parent. In the meantime he had pro- 
ceeded rapidly on his journey on foot, and found 
Dr. White at Clinton. Here he engaged an Oneida 
Indian to pilot them through the woods by a nearer 
route than to follow the windings of the old road. 
Dr. White and Mr. Palmer were at sundry times 
fearful the Indian would lose the way ; and upon 
every expression of doubt on their part, the Indian 
would exclaim, 'me know;' and told them he 
would bring them out at a certain log which 
lay across the outlet at the foot of Otisco 
Lake. The Indian took the lead, and within 
forty-eight hours after the accident had happened, 
the Indian had brought them exactly to the 
log, exclaiming triumphantly ' nie knoiv.' Here Mr. 
Palmer arrived on familiar ground, and at once pro- 
ceeded to the cabin where he had left his son, whom 
he found greatly prostrated and writhing under the 
most intense suffering. No time was lost. The 
case was thought desperate— the limb was ampu- 
tated at once, half way from the knee to the thigh. 
The youth bore the pain with heroic fortitude, re- 
covered and lived many years afterward, always 
speaking in the highest terms and praise of Dr. 
White." 

In that part of the town taken from Tully, Jona- 
than Berry was the first settler, a short distance 
south of Borodino, in March, 1S03, and in April, of 
the same year, a settlement was made by Archibald 
Farr on the southwest corner of Lot No. 11. Mr. 
Farr was assisted in arriving at his place of desti- 
nation by Mr. Berry, who sent his team and men 
to open a road. This is believed to have been the 
first road of any kind made within the limits of the 
present town. It is the same that now leads from 
Spafford Corners to Borodino. In 1804 Isaac Hall 
settled on the farm since owned by Asahel Roun- 
dy, Esq., near Spafford Postoffice. The road was 
56* 



cleared out from Farr's lot to the Corners, or Spaf- 
ford Postoffice, in 1804, and in 1805, Elisha Sabins 
and John Babcock, from Scott, cleared out a road 
from that town to the Corners, and moved in their 
goods on sleds. In 1806 several families scattered 
themselves over different parts of the town. Peter 
Knapp, Isaac Hall, John Babcock, Samuel Smith, 
Elisha Sabins, Otis Legg, Moses Legg, Archibald 
Farr, Jethro Bailey, Elias Davis, Abel Amadown, 
Job Lewis, Daniel Tinckham, John Hullibut, and 
others, were among the first settlers on the road 
from Borodino to the town of Scott. In other 
parts of the town were Levi Foster, Benjamin 
Homer, James Williamson, Cornelius Williamson, 
Benjamin Stanton and John Woodward. 

In September, 1806, Isaac Hall drove a wagon 
from Spafford Corners to Scott Corners for a load of 
boards, which was the first wagon that ever passed 
over that road. The Corners were first settled in 
1807 by Asahel Roundy and James Bacon. Elias 
Davis, an old settler near the center of the town, 
made his way thither from Skaneateles up the lake 
in a skiff. 

The following are names of persons who settled 
in Spafford previous to the war of 1812 and who 
have died in the town since 1845 • Samuel Prindle, 
a Revolutionary soldier; Hon. Joseph Prindle, Eli- 
jah Knapp, Peter Knapp, Capt. Asahel Roundy, 
soldier of 1812 ; Cornelius Williamson, soldier of 
1812 ; Samuel G. Seeley, soldier of 181 2 ; Kelly 
Case, soldier of 1812 ; Jabez Melvin, soldier of 
1 81 2; William Dedrick, soldier of 1812 ; Russel 
Tinkham, soldier of 1812 ; Silas Randall, soldier of 
1812; Stephen Applebee, soldier of 1812 ; Samuel 
Gale, soldier of 1812 ; Samuel Parker, soldier of 
1812 ; Jonathan Ripley, Joseph Enos, Elias Davis, 
Lewis C. Davis, Leonard Melvin, Miss Melinda 
Melvin, John Grout, Ebenezer Grout. 

The following still living in the town, became 
residents from 1 8 12 to 18 18: 

Daniel Wallace, Joseph Enos, Uriah Roundy, W. 
W. Legg, Hiram Seeley, Rathbun Barber, Geo. W. 
Crane, Seymour Grinnell, J. L. Mason, Harvey 
Barnes, John L. Ripley, S. H. Stanton, Mrs. Bridget 
McDaniels, Mrs. Clara Weston, Mrs. Maria Mason, 
Miss Semantha Melvin, Allen J. Stanton, Reuben 
Palmer, Wm. Churchill, A. M. Churchill, Alanson 
E. Colton and Nelson Berry. 

The first frame dwelling was erected by Samuel 
Conkling in 1807, on Lot number seventy-si.x, Mar- 
cellus. The first Religious Society was organized 
in the Marcellus portion of the town in 1800. The 
first school house was built of logs on the northwest 
corner of Lot number seventy-six, Marcellus, in 



346 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



1803. Miss Sally Packard was the first teacher. 
The first school at Spafford Corners was kept in a 
log house in 1808, by Miss Hannah Weston, (after- 
wards Mrs. Roundy, I who used to ride out on 
horseback from Skaneatcles, and return in the same 
manner at the close of her school each day. There 
was no wagon road then from the Corners to Skan- 
eateles. 

Dr. Archibald Farr, in 1808, erected the first 
grist mill in town. The first saw mill was built in 
1810 by Josiah Walker ; the next by Judge Walter 
Wood in 181 1. These mills, if we mistake not, 
were on Cold Hrook, the largest tributary of Otisco 
Lake. Jared Habcock and Lanson Hotchkiss were 
the first merchants — the first in 1809, and the sec- 
ond in 1810. Dr. Archibald Farr was the first 
practicing physician, and kept the first tavern on 
lot number eleven, Tully, in 1808. Other physi- 
cians were Jeremiah B. Whiting, Zachariah Derby, 
John Collins and others. 

The first town meeting was held at the house of 
Elisha Sabins. in 1812. John Babcock was chosen 
Supervisor ; Sylvester Wheaton,Town Clerk ; Ben- 
jamin Stanton, Asahel Roundy and Elijah Knapp^ 
Assessors ; Asahel Roundy, Adolphus French 
and Jonathan Berry, Commissioners of Highways. 
The second town meeting was held at the same 
place, April 13, 1813. Asahel Roundy, Supervi- 
sor, and Asa Terry, Town Clerk. 

A postoffice was established at Spafiford Corners 
in 1814. Asahel Roundy, Postmaster. He was 
succeeded by James Knapp, Joseph R. Berry, 
Thomas B. Anderson and Dr. Collins, in the order 
named. The mail was first carried through the 
town in a wagon in 1827. James H. Fargo had 
the contract for the route from Jordan to Homer, 
Cortland County. Previously the mails had been 
carried on horseback. 

SpafTord is well watered by springs and small 
brooks. Excellent blue limestone, suitable for build- 
ing purposes, is quarried in the town, at the highest 
elevation on which building stone is found in the 
county. 

BORODINO. 

The village of Borodino is situated in the north- 
ern part of the town of Spafiford. It contains forty- 
two dwelling houses and a population of some two 
hundred. It contains one M. E. Church, town 
hall, postoffice, two dry goods stores, proprietors 
Messrs. Churchill & Eadie, and Grinnell & Howe ; 
one hardware store, C. M. Rich ; one clothing 
store, Wm. Quick & Son ; one wagon shop, Cyrus 
Streeter ; two blacksmith shops, O. F. Eddy and 



A. Griflfin ; one cabinet shop, E. Eldrige. Stephen 
Huffman is proprietor of the hotel. There is a 
shoe shop kept by A. Manley & Son ; tin shop, C. 
M. Rich & Son ; carpenters and joiners, Charles 
Nichols, Albert Applebee, Miles Brott and J. L. 
Maynard. W. W. Legg is Postmaster, and Dr. 
Van Dyke Tripp, physician. 

Trce Reform Lodge. No. 664, I. O. of G. T., 
at Borodino, was organized May 29, 1877, with 
twenty-six members. 

The present officers are — Albert Applebee, W. 
C. T.; Mrs. W. H. Bunnell. W. V. T.; Frank 
Harvey, W S; W. H. Bunnell. W. C; Lienor 
Stanton, W F. S.; Eva Bass. W. T.; George 
Goodrich, W. M.; Lilian Milkins, W. I. G ; George 
Tripp, W. O. G. ; S. A. Wallace, W. A. S. ; Eva 
Olmsted. W. A. M.; Emma Sweet, R. H. S.; 
Mary Streeter, L. H. S.; Otis Cross, L. D. 

M. E. Chikcu, Borodino — The first meetings 
of this society were held in the house of John C. 
Hillibot ; the organization was efiected in 1809. 
The first church edifice was built at Skaneateles 
and subsequently removed to Borodino. The 
church numbers twenty-five members. Sunday 
School part of the time : attendance about twenty. 

Present pastor — Rev. William H. Bunnell. 
Trustees — A. Grinnell, President ; Otis Cross, O. 
K. Morton, William T. Wilbur, Isaac Eglin. E. P. 
Grinnell, \'an Dyke Trip|), William Bass and Geo. 
Crane. Ansel Grinnell, Class-leader. 

SPAFFORD CORNERS. 

Spaflord Corners, in the southern part of the 
town, has a population of about two hundred. It 
contains a postoflfice, Uriah Roundy, Postmaster. 
Roundy & McDaniels, and James Churchill, mer- 
chants ; C. B. Lyon, shoemaker ; George Hazard 
and Alex. Green, blacksmiths. The place has one 
church — Methodist Episcopal, and one practicing 
physician, H. D. Hunt, M. D. The only hotel in 
the place is kept by G. H. Anthony. 

L.^KE Vihu Lodge, No. 659, I. O. of G. T., 
was instituted by John Lorton, in May. 1877. with 
thirty-one charter members. H. D. Hunt, W. C. 
T. ; P. A. Norton, W. S. The lodge is in a flour- 
ishing condition. 

Union Church, Spaltord Corners. — Religious 
services by the Baptists and Methodists were first 
held in this vicinity in school houses prior to the 
erection of the church in' 1838. At the latter date 
the Union society was formed, James Woodworth, 
( class-leader, I Samuel Sceley, Edwin S. Edwards, 
Hiram Seeley, Dr. John Collins, Sylvanus Eddy 



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S»MUCL H Stanton 



Mrs SiiMufi/^ Stanton. 



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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



347 



and wife, David Coon and wife, were among the 
original members. . 

The church edifice cost about $1,200 and is sup- 
pHed with a bell and a cabinet organ. 

Present membership, thirty-five; Sunday School 
sixty-five. Present pastor. Rev. Wm. H. Bunnell, 
who also supplies the M. E. Church at Borodino. 

Present Trustees — Uriah Roundy, President and 
Secretary ; Edwin S. Edwards, Millard Doty, 
Joseph Cole and Seymour Norton. 

Luke Miller came from Connecticut and built the 
first house on Cold Brook, (a log cabin,) about 
seventy years ago, or in 1808. David Norton came 
from Connecticut in 1814. 

There is a grist mill on Cold Brook owned by John 
P. Taft, with one run of stones. A mill was built here 
in 1830, by Dr. David Mellen, from Hudson, N.Y. 
It was burned in 1852, and rebuilt by the present 
proprietor in 1863. 

Mr. Wm. H. Lawrence has a saw mill on Cold 
Brook. The mill was first built in December 1828, 
by Peter Picket. It was operated till 1848 by B. 
W. Taft. The mill was rebuilt in 1872. In con- 
nection with the same mill Mr. Lawrence also 
operates a flax mill. The flax is broken into 
what is known as "green tow" and is shipped in 
that form to market. 

Mr. Lawrence has also the largest cider mill in 
the town on Cold Brook, and ships largely of its pro- 
duct to Syracuse and New York. 

Methodist Episcopal Church, Cold Brook. — 
The society was organized over sixty years ago. 
Richard English and old Mr. Caleb Haight were 
among the earliest members. Rev. Isaac Puffer, a 
celebrated divine, was one of its first pastors. The 
early records of the church were lost. The present 
edifice of the church was built in 1852 ; a fine, 
commodious structure, seating capacity between 
two and three hundred. Cost about $1,200. Pres- 
ent pastor, Rev. C. D. Smith. Residence, Scott, 
Cortland county, N. Y. Present membership 
twenty-five. Flourishing Sunday School, J. N. 
Knapp, Superintendent. Scholars in attendance, 
about thirty. 

Trustees^J. Noxon, President ; J. N. Knapp, 
Secretary : John P. Taft, H. E. Underwood, W. 
A. Lawrence, Lyman Churchill and Sylvester 
Churchill. 

Rev. O. N. Cuykendall, deceased, was in charge 
when the church was built. 



SAMUEL H. STANTON. 
Benjamin Stanton, father of the subject of this 



sketch, was born in Rhode Island, January 14th, 
1780. When quite young his father moved from 
Rhode Island and settled in Bennington county, 
Vt. In 1802 Benjamin removed to New Berlin, 
Chenango county, N. Y., where he married, August 
iSth, 1802, Sally Sheldon, by whom he had one 
child, viz: Sally S., who was brought up by her 
grand-parents from the death of her mother, which 
occurred about one year after marriage. January 
12, 1806, Mr. S. was married to his second wife. 
Amy Perkins. In February of the same year, he 
purchased fifty acres of wood land in the town of 
Spafibrd, upon which he cut the first tree and 
erected a log house on the same spot where the fine 
farm residence of the subject of this sketch, now 
stands. Returning for his wife, the two com- 
menced a pioneer's life in the woods. In July, 
1806, he carried upon his back one bushel of corn 
to a mill twenty miles distant, situated on Onon- 
daga Creek, within the limits of what is now the 
city of Syracuse. In the fall of the same year a 
mill was built, by Dr. Farr, at the head of Otisco 
Lake. They had children as follows: Sheldon P., 
born July 12, 1807, living in Alleghany county, N. 
Y. ; Malenda, born March 2, 1808; Sherman H., 
born February 15, 1810, died April, 1S13 ; Allen 
J., born February 15, 1812, a farmer living in Spaf- 
ford ; Juliana, born July 21, 1814, married to Syl- 
vanus Grant, died March 9, 1849; John S, born 
February 7, 18 17, physician, living in Madison, Wis.; 
Mary, born July 26, 1819, married to Samuel Sher- 
man ; Samuel H., subject of this sketch, born April 
10, 1821 ; Rhoda, born April 26, 1823, wife of Delos 
W. Billings, living in Alleghany county, N. Y. Mr. 
Stanton, besides working on the farm, carried on 
the blacksmith trade. He was one of the first as- 
sessors of the town of Spafibrd. He died February 
5, 1871. His wife survived him a little more than a 
year. Her death occurred March 31, 1872. Both 
are buried near the spot where they lived, a fine 
monument having been erected over their graves 

The subject of this sketch has always lived on the 
same place in SpafFord where the father first settled; 
he coming into possession of the homestead. 
Receiving his education in the common schools of 
Spafford, when seventeen years of age he commenced 
teaching school, and taught three successive terms. 
He was united in marriage, October 9, 1844, to 
Sarah T. Patterson, daughter of Calvin and Sarah 
Patterson, who were among the pioneer settlers of 
of Spafford. Mrs. S. was born July 15, 1825, in 
Spafford. They have had ten children, as follows : 
j Calvin P., born June 12, 1846, married to Emma 
i Babcock, living in Luddington, Mason County, 



% 



34S 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Michigan ; Emmett E., born October 30 1849, 
married Josephine Burton, living in Spafford ; 
Annette, born July 3, 1S51. married F. VV. Fair- 
banks, a farmer living in Mason County, Michigan ; 
Frank, born February 15, 1855, died March 25. 
1876; Laura, born September 17, 1857, living at 
home ; Samuel, born November 8, 1858, died an 
infant ; Mark, born March i, 1S59, living at home; 
Elmer E, born August 8, i860, living at home; 
Alice, born May 2^, 1862. married to John Pur- 
chase, living in SpatVord ; Henjamin, born September 
28, 1 866, died an infant. 



Mr. Stanton has added to his lands until at the 
present time he is the owner of over three hundred 
acres. In politics he is Republican. He has 
filled the offices of Inspector of Election, Supervi- 
sor in 1870 and 'yi, Highway Commissioner in 
1869, '75. '76 and '77, Assessor and Notary Public. 
In 1S76 he rebuilt his house, which commands a 
fine view of the surrounding country, including the 
whole of Otisco Lake. 

A view of his home, together with portraits of 
Mr. and Mrs. S.. appear on another page of this 
work. 



OTISCO. 



Otisco was formed from I'ompey, Marcellus and 
TuUy, March 21, 1806. It is an interior town, 
lying southwest of the center of the county. Its 
surface is principally occupied by the high ridge be- 
tween the valleys of Onondaga Creek and Otisco 
Lake. The declivities of the hills are generally 
steep, and the summits rolling and elevated from 
eight hundred to a thousand feet above the valleys, 
and from 1,600 to 1,700 feet above the ocean. 
Otisco Lake is 772 feet above tide. It lies upon 
the west border of the town, in a valley 1,000 feet 
below the summits of the hills. Hear Mountain, 
named from the great number of bears which in- 
fested it when the country was first settled, is one 
of the principal elevations. It is in the northeast 
part, and overhangs the valley of the Onondaga 
Creek. The soil is generally a sandy and gravelly 
loam, mixed with clay and well adapted to wheat 
and grazing. 

In the year 1798 Oliver Tuttle and his son 
Daniel, (and possibly his son William) came on 
horseback from Cincinnatus. in what is now Cort- 
land county, and made the first improvement by 
underbrushing for a small clearing on Lot 97, near 
the head of Otisco Lake. While thus engaged the 
father was taken very sick and was taken care of 
by Daniel till able to sit on his horse when they re- 
turned through the woods, there being no roads, to 
Cincinnatus, the first house on the route being at 
Homer, fifteen miles from the lake. 

It was four years before they returned to Otisco, 
and they then found several families of settlers. 
Oliver Tuttle built the first frame house in 1804. 
Mr. Tyler Frisbie, who had the statement directly 
from the sons of Daniel Tuttle, and also from the 



sons of Mr. Alpheus Houttelle, who settled in 
Otisco in 1S04, from the town of Pompey. has no 
doubt but Mr. Tuttle was the first settler of the 
town. 

Chauncey Rust, said by Mr. Clark to have been 
the first settler, moved his family from LaF'ayette in 
April. 1801. Mr. Rust was from Northampton, Mass. 
During this year and the following a large number 
of settlers arrived, principally from Massachusetts 
and Connecticut, and the whole town filled up 
rapidly. 

Among the first settlers were Jonathan IJ. 
Nichols, Charles and Benoni Merriman. Solomon 
Judd and Lemon Gaylord, in 1801 ; Otis Baker, 
Noah Parsons. Nathaniel Loomis, Amos and Isaac 
Cowles. in 1802 ; and Benjamin Cowles. Josiah 
Clark. Daniel Bennett. Elias and Jared Thayer, 
Henry Elethrop, Samuel, Ebenezer and Luther 
French, Jared and Noah P.nrsons, and Erastus 
Clapp, soon after. 

Lucy Cowles, afterwards wife of Rev. Geo Colton 
taught the first school in 1802. The first white child 
born in the town was Timothy Rust, son of Chauncey 
Rust. March 22, 1802 ; and the first death that of 
Nathaniel Dady, Jr., killed by the falling of a tree, 
July, 1802. Daniel Bennett kept the first tavern 
in 1802 ; Michael Johnson, the first store in 1808 ; 
and Charles Merriman built the first grist mill in 
1S06. Jesse Swan and Josiah Everett were also 
among the first merchants, and Benoni Merriman 
kept a log tavern near Otisco Center in 1804. 

The first practicing physician who settled in 
town was Dr. Jonathan S. Judd, in 1806. Dr. Lu- 
ther French, in 1818. Thomas Judd was the first, 
and it is supposed the only lawyer in town ; he 



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Res AHO Store of ALFRED J. miES, /Imser, Onondaga County. Hew York 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



349 



remained but a short time, and removed to Cort- 
land. - 

The first town meeting was held at the house of 
Daniel Bennett, April i, 1806. Dan Bradley, of 
Marcellus, was chairman. Judah Hopkins was 
chosen Supervisor, Josephus Barker, Town Clerk, 
and Noah Parsons, Lemon Gaylord and Josephus 
Barker, Assessors. An extra town meeting was 
held in the month of August following, at the school 
house near Daniel Bennett's tavern, at which a com- 
mittee of three was chosen to ascertain the center 
of the town, in order to centrally locate the public 
buildings. 

A postofifice was established here in 1S14, Dr. 
Luther French, Postmaster. 

This town is noted for being the birthplace and 
residence of several persons of distinguished lite- 
rary reputation. Willis Gaylord, widely known as 
the editor of the Genesee Farmer and Albany Cul- 
tivator, and as a refined and graceful contributor to 
the scientific aiid magazine literature of his day, 
came into the town with his father from Bristol, 
Connecticut, in 1801. He was then nine years of 
age, and he resided here until a few years before 
his death, which occurred in 1S44. 

Willis and Lewis Gaylord Clark, twin brothers, 
were born in this town April, 180S. The former is 
known as a poet, the author of " Ollipodiana," and 
as the editor of the Philadelphia Gazette, and the 
latter has obtained a national reputation as the edi- 
tor of the Knickerbocker Magazine, a position 
which he held for many years. Willis died in 
1841. Their father was Eliakim Clark, an officer 
in the Revolution, and their mother a sister to Wil- 
lis Gaylord. Rev. George Colton, father of Owen 
Colton, author of a series of Greek te.xt-books, and 
of George H. Colton, founder and editor of the 
American Review, was many years a resident of 
this town. 

Maple Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, 
Otisco. — As early as 1832 a class was organized at 
the Seeley School House, consisting of twenty- 
eight members, by Percy Case, a class-leader and 
local preacher. This was at that time part of the 
Cardift' charge presided over by three preachers 
and consisting of six congregations. Among the 
prominent members at that time were Polly Case, 
Solomon Robinson, Nancy Robinson, Matilda 
Lewis, Louisa Jarvis, Charlotte Jarvis, Nathaniel 
Hudson, Nancy Hudson, Jonathan Balls, Abraham 
Hudson, Hannah Mervin, Sophia Williams, Jesse 
Leverich. This class continued to hold meetings 
every Sunday until 1850 in the school house, when 
they erected the present church at a cost of $800, 

57 



the site being donated by Amos Abbott. On the 
27th of February, 1850, the society was duly in- 
corporated, Warner Abbott, John Case and Lewis 
Beckett, Trustees. 

The church was erected under the pastorate of 
Rev. Z. D. Paddock, who was instrumental in 
awakening a deep religious feeling and adding 
largely to its membership. About 1S70, Rev. B. 
F. Andrews came and labored three years with 
success. Rev. L. Northway is the present pastor 
of this and of the Cardift'M. K. Church. The present 
membership is fifty ; attendance at the Sabbath 
School, forty. 

The church was rebuilt and rededicated in 1876. 
The present Trustees are : Royal Burt, Erastus 
Miller and V. L. King ; Class-leaders. C. M. Rob- 
inson and John C. Case. The church is situated 
in the northeast corner of Otisco, four miles west 
of Cardiff. 

Amber Religious Society.— On the i8th of 
August, 1824, at a meeting of the citizens of Amber 
at the Lake House, then kept by David Moore, the 
Amber Religious Society was organized. And on 
the 5th of September following another meeting 
was held, and the Building Committee, consisting 
of Miles Bishop, Barber Kenyon and Samuel 
Kenyon, were empowered to select a site and erect 
a church. In addition to the Building Committee, 
Robert Kenyon and Isaac Briggs were elected 
Trustees, and the society was incorporated. The 
committee then proceeded to erect the church 
edifice at a cost of ^1,300, and it was dedicated 
" to the true worship of God," by Revs. Messrs. 
Wilcox, Selkirk and Worden. The society is com- 
posed of dift'crent denominations and the house is 
open and free to all ; the Methodists only keeping 
up regular services. This and the society at Nava- 
rino form one charge. The church was rebuilt in 
1866 at a cost of $1,450. E. Jarvis, pastor. 

St. Patrick's Church, Otisco. — Meetings were 
held at the residences of the different parishioners as 
early as 1S53 and holy mass celebrated by Father 
Hackett of Salina. In the year 1870 they erected 
a church in Otisco village under the auspices of 
Rev. F. J. Purcell, of Skaneateles, he presiding 
over this as a joint mission, and also officiating oc- 
casionally at Marcellus. After him came Rev. J. 
J. Hayden, who was succeeded by the present pas- 
tor, Rev. B. J. McDonough, who has this and Mar- 
cellus as one mission. 

Among the original members were John Flana- 
gan, George Fitzgerald, John Kinney, William 
Tobin, William Gauntley, John Leroy, Michael 
Ryan and Thomas Larkin. Their church is a 



350 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



beautiful frame edifice, costing $6,000, and the so- 
<:iety is strong and healthy with over two hundred 
communicants. 

Prior to the erection of the church in 1866, the 
society purchased the present site and occupied a 
frame house for four years under the pastorate of 
Rev. William McCallian, who organized the Jor- 
dan, Marcellus and Skaneatelcs societies. 

Congregational Church, Otisco. — The first 
religious meeting held in the town of Otisco was in 
September, 1801, at the residence of Mr. Chauncey 
Rust, and from thenceforward meetings were regu- 
larly maintained, and on the 9th of May, 1808, 
Rev. Hugh Wallis of Pompey, presiding, Charles 
Merriman, Rachel Merriman, Samuel French, 
lienjamin Cowles, Phineas Sparks, Oliver Tuttle, 
Abigail Tuttle, Ebenezer French, Jr., Amos 
Cowles, Luther French and Solomon Judd, organ- 
ized the Congregational Church of Otisco. Dur- 
ing the first forty-seven years of the history of this 
church there were received into its communion 
seven hundred and forty-one persons, and in 1850 
the church membership was two hundred and forty- 
three. In the autumn of 1805 Rev. George Col- 
ton, of Hartford, Conn., was called, but remained 
only a few months. December 7, 1807, Rev. Wm. 
J. Wilcox was called and remained until March 15, 
1 82 1, laboring very acceptably, and conducting two 
very earnest revivals — one in 1810, the other in 
18 1 7. In July, 1821, Rev. Charles Johnston was 
called, who immediately entered upon a revival pro- 
ductive of much good and many accessions ; he re- 
mained until September 3, 1823. November 15, 
1824, Rev. Richard S. Corning came, who con- 
ducted two interesting revivals — one in 1826, the 
other in 1831. May 1, 1834, Rev. Levi Parsons 
came and supplied the charge for one year, who 
was succeeded by Rev. Levi Griswold as a stated 
supply for one year and then he became a resident 
and remained two years longer. 

April 1st, 1839. Rev. Sidney Mills was employed 
as stated supply and remained until May 3, 1841. 
In December following Rev. Thaddeus Pomeroy 
was obtained as the next minister for the term of 
two years. Then in April, 1844, Rev. Clement 
Lewis was engaged and continued to supply the pul- 
pit until the spring of 1846. In June of 1846, Rev. 
Addison K. Strong was invited to supply, and after- 
wards became a regular resident pastor. 

In 1858, Rev. Medad Pomeroy was called and 
remained five years ; he was succeeded by Rev. 
J. O. Betts, who remained until 1872 ; since which 
time there has been no regular pastor, the pulpit 
being supplied by transient ministers. The pres- 



ent church, a large frame structure, was erected in 
1820 at a cost of about S6,ooo. The present dea- 
cons are William N. Tuttle, I. T. Frisbie, S. M. 
Cowles, B.J. Cowles. Trustees — I. T. Frisbie, O. 
W. Rice, W. S. Hurlburt, John N. Smith, Lester 
Judson and N. Rice. The present membership is 
eighty. Sabbath School attendance one hundred 
and twenty five. The membership has of late years 
been greatly depleted by deaths and removals. 

OTISCO VILLAGE. 

Otisco village is a hamlet of about twenty-five 
houses, containing one hotel, kept by Lyman K. 
Henderson, two stores, and two churches. It is 
situated on a high ridge of ground near the center 
of the town, about eight miles northwest of Tully 
Station, between which places a daily stage runs in 
connection with the trains on the S., B. & N. V. R. 
R. As early as 1809, Jesse Swan opened a store 
and tavern about one mile south of the present vil- 
lage. About 1820, Mr. M. Johnson built and 
kept a tavern in the present village near the site of 
the Catholic Church. 

The oldest man now living in the county resides 
a little north of this village — Charles Clark. He 
came to the farm on which he now lives in 1809, 
being then twenty-seven years of age ; erected a 
saw mill, a fulling mill, and conducted his farm, all of 
which are under his personal supervision, although 
he is now ninety-six years of age. 

There are two flouring mills in this town — the 
Gamble mill, located in the southwestern part of the 
town, and the mills located near the foot of the 
Bucktail at the head of Otisco Lake. 

AMBER. 

This beautiful little hamlet has acquired, because 
of its location and scenery, quite a reputation as a 
resort for summer pleasure-seekers. The village 
consists of about forty dwellings, a church, two 
stores, one hotel and one planing mill. The village is 
situated in the northwest corner of the town at 
the fool of Oak Hill, on the bank of Otisco Lake. 
Among the most prominent citizens is Mr. A. J. 
Niles, the oldest merchant and one of the earliest 
settlers, who, by strict attention to his business and 
the wants of his customers, has attained a hand- 
some competency. Mr. Alexander Bouttellc, pro- 
prietor of the Lake House, is one of the genial 
hosts who know how to add to the attractions of 
this romantic little hamlet. A daily stage carries 
the mails and passengers in connection with the N. 
Y. C. & H. R. R. R. 




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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



351 



BioGi]_APHiCjiL Sketches, 



I. TYLER FRISBIE. 

I. Tyler Frisbie was born in the town of Tomp- 
kins, Delaware County, N. Y., November 30, 1826. 
At the age of four years he was adopted by his 
uncle, Orrin T. Frisbie, who was a resident of the 
town of Spaftbrd, Onondaga County, and one year 
later removed to Otisco, where he died May 26, 
1862, aged 67 years. Mr. I. Tyler Frisbie received 
a common school education with the addition of 
one term at the Cortland Academy. He lived on 
the farm where he now resides with his uncle till 
the death of the latter, since which he has been m 
the possession of the place. 

On the 23d of October, 1853, he married Miss 
Mary Jane, daughter of Benjamin F. and Caroline 
Congdon. Miss Congdon was born in the town of 
Marcellus, December 17, 1831, and is the sister of 
Miss Carrie M. Congdon, the authoress of " Guar- 
dian Angels and other poems." Mr. and Mrs. 
Frisbie have had three children of their own, as 
follows: Walter C, born August 26, 1859, died 
April 5, 1864; Miles T., born April 3, 1865; 
Carrie A., born October 6, 1871, died February 25, 
1872 ; and three adopted children, viz : Newell 
VanPatten, born March 4, 1854, died March 28, 
1864 ; Louisa VanPatten, born May 25, 1S56 ; and 
Jay Cotter, born November 2, 1859. 

Mr. Frisbie united with the Congregational 
Church of Otisco in May, i848,of which church he 
has been Deacon since 1866, and is one of the 
leading members of the same. 

In politics he is a Republican, but he has always 
preferred the quiet life of his farm to the strifes 
and competitions of the office-seeker. 



WILLIS C. FISH. 



Uriah Fish, father of Willis C. Fish, was born in 
Connecticut, on the 15th of August, in the year 
1780. When a young man he came to Otisco, 
Onondaga county, where he spent the remaining 
years of his life. He married Lavina Carpenter, 
November 3d, 1806. The result of this marriage 
was seven children, five sons and two daughters, 
all of whom are still living. Mr. Fish served in the 
war of 1812, and received a land warrant for his 
services. He followed farming throughout his life. 
In his domestic relations he was a good husband 
and a kind father. He was universally esteemed 



for his honesty, industry and good sense. He died 
on the 28th of April, 1863. The portrait below, 
taken with the hat on, which he wore on all occa- 
sions, the latter years of his life, is a likeness of him 
which will be readily recognized by all who knew 
him. His wife survived him ten years, and died 
December 25, 1873. 











qT^cV 



y^ 



Willis C. Fish was born in the town of Otisco, 
Onondaga county, March 3, 1827. He inherited 
the homestead farm, one of the most picturesque 
in the town, upon which he has since lived. A 
marked feature of his farm is two immense " Balm 
of Gilead " trees, standing in front of his residence, 
and which always attract attention of passers-by. 
They were set out by his father, from cuttings, 
taken from a tree on an adjoining farm in 1809. 
The circumference of the larger measures, five feet 
above the ground, eighteen feet; below the first 
limbs, nineteen feet. They are twenty-six feet 
apart, their branches spreading over one hundred 
and thirty-four feet of ground. 

Mr. Fish received a good education, attending 
two terms at the Onondaga Academy. He taught 
school two terms. Farming, however, has been his 
life work, and few in the county are better farmers. 
His premises indicate order, thoroughness and 
good taste. At the age of twenty-one he united 
with the Onondaga Baptist Church, and has con- 
sistently lived up to its doctrines ever since. He 
was one of the first movers for the enlargement and 
improvement of the church building. He has been 
Deacon for about ten years, and also Superintend- 
ent of the Sabbath School. It may truly be said 



352 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



of him he has been a pillar of the church and a 
leader in every good word and work, always con- 
tributing his proportion of means to every worthy 
object. 

Mr. Fish has never been solicitous of public 
office, although in every way well fitted for public 
life. 

He married May 2d, 1852, Eliza Hunter, a 
daughter of David and Laura Hunter, residents of 
Victory, Cayuga County, N. Y. She was born 
July 26, 1831. Mrs. Fish united with the Baptist 
Church of Victory, October 26th, 1S51, but be- 
came a member of the Onondaga Church after her 
marriage. 



GEORGE W. CARD. 



Mr. Card was born February 25, 1812, in Rhode 
Island, and is the fifth child in the family of Job 
and Sally Card In 181 5, his parents emigrated 
from Rhode Island, and settled upon the farm now 
owned and occupied by Mr. Card. It has become 
through his energy and taste one of the representa- 
tive farms of the town. 

In i860, Mr. Card was united in marriage to 
Miss Charity A., daughter of Elijah and Adelia 
Crane, formerly residents of the town of Tuily, 
where Mrs. C. was born May 28th, 1841. Five 
children have been born to them, three of whom 
are deceased. Mr. Card's whole life has been 
devoted to the cares of his farm and family, and in 
his chosen vocation he has been eminently success- 
ful. He occupies an honorable position among the 
leading men of his town ; and by his kindness and 
genial ways has secured the confidence and esteem 
of his fellow citizens. He is now in his sixty-si.xth 
year and can look back over his past life with the 
satisfaction of having spent it in conformity with 
moral and physical laws. 

ALFRED J. NILES. 

Mr. Niles was born in the village of Amber, 
Otisco, Onondaga county, December 4, 1824. 
His father, Albert Niles, was a native of Fishkill, 
Dutchess county, N. Y. His mother, Polly Judson, 
of Woodbury .Connecticut. They had born to them 
eight children, viz: Charles E., Alfred J., Julia, 
Mary, Harriet, Sarah, James L. and Lorinda, all of 
whom are living, except Charles E. and Julia. His 
father moved from Dutchess to Madison County, N. 
Y., about the year 1810. In 1S19, he came to 
Otisco, Onondaga County, where, after his marriage, 
he settled. He was a blacksmith by trade, and 



was Postmaster for over twenty years. He died, 
September 11, 1857. His wife survived him over 
nine years, and died December 25, 1866. 

Mr. Niles, when fifteen years of age, left home 
and worked at diflferent places by the month for a 
period of ten years, the last five of which he spent 
in Cincinnati, Ohio, visiting home but once during 
that time. In June, 1849, he returned to his native 
town with S800, his savings. July loth of the 
same year he married Diana C. Redway, daughter 
of James and Sally Redway. Her parents settled 
in Otisco in 1804. 

Mr. Niles is the architect of his own fortune. 
By honest dealing, prudent management and inde- 
fatigable industry, he has accumulated a comfort- 
able property. Mr. and Mrs. Niles have had born 
to them five children, viz : Ava L, born June 13, 
1850, married October 20, 1868, to Geo. B. Davis, 
druggist at Seneca Falls. They have two children, 
viz: Alfred R. and George M. Frances Olivia 
born February 4, 1854; Mary Velda, born Septem- 
ber 4th, 1859; Nettie May, born July 24, l86l. 
After his marriage Mr. Niles worked his father-in- 
law's farm for five years on shares. In 1855, he 
opened a small store in Amber village, and has con- 
tinued in the mercantile business ever since, a 
period of twenty-three years. Though he has 
always traded "on credit," Mr. N. states that $100 
would cover all his losses by poor store-debts, and 
in business transactions involving several hundred 
thousands, he never had occasion to employ a law- 
yer. In 1 86 1 he built his present store; in 1867 his 
house. In politics Mr. N. has been a life long 
Democrat. 



JAMES L. NILES 

Was born in Amber village, town of Otisco, 
Onondaga County, November 29. 1 831, and is the 
youngest son of Albert and Polly Niles. An 
account of his father and mother, brothers and sis- 
ters, appears on another page of this volume, in the 
biography of his brother, Alfred J. Niles. The 
subject of this sketch has always lived on the home- 
stead farm, which came into his possession upon the 
death of his father. His mother lived with him nine 
years after his father's death He was married 
December 30, 1858, to Cordelia Griffin, daughter of 
Isaac and Lydia Griffin, both natives of Onondaga 
County, the father born in Otisco, the mother in 
Spaflbrd. They had nine children, three sons and 
six daughters, all deceased except I'ranklin D. 
Griffin, now a merchant in Amber, and Morton M., 
a farmer living in Eaton county, Michigan. Mrs. 




R£SiO£NC£ or GEOROt. W. CAR 




0, Onondaga Co.. N 





- 4 I 



Arthur Card. 



George BCard. 





Lmmet Card 



I^ETTiE Card. 





AfffsGEO.W. C/^ffD 



Geo. W Card 



^ fHOTOS. Sy gOMTA S CuffTtSS.SyPACUSE } 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



353 



N. was born in Otisco February 25, 1833, and has 
always resided in that town. Mr. and Mrs. N. 
have had two children, viz : Bertie Lee, born Feb. 
26, 1865 ; Ava Bell, born Nov, 7, 1868, died Sept. 
24, 1869. Two years since they took into the 
family Cora A. Niles, an orphan daughter of his 
brother Charles E., and in every respect treat her 
as an own child. 

Mr. N. has been a life-long Democrat. Not- 
withstanding the town is Republican, he was chosen 
to the responsible position of Supervisor in 1871 
and reelected in i873-'74-'75j and again for the 
year 1877. For the last eight years he has acted 
as Notary Public. In 1869, he built his present 
residence, one of the finest in the village of Amber, 
a sketch of which, with the portraits of Mr. and 
Mrs. Niles, appears on another page in this work. 
Mr. Niles is a thorough and successful farmer, a 
genial companion, and fully deserves the confidence 
and esteem in which he is held in the community 
where he has passed his whole life. 



JAMES H. REDWAY. 

James H. Redway was born August 3, 18 17, in 
Otisco, Onondaga County, and is the eldest son 
of Thomas and Susannah Redway. His father 
was the youngest son of James and Alithea Red- 
way. He had two brothers and two sisters, viz : 
Mahitable, James, Nancy and Benjamin. The 
family moved from Killingly, Conn., in 1796, and 
settled in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y. From 
thence they moved in 1806, to Onondaga County, 
settling in Otisco on the place still owned by Thos. 
Redway, and occupied at the present time by Geo. 
D. Redway. The brothers and sisters are all de- 
ceased. Thomas married Susannah Gibbs, Feb. 
10, 181 1 ; they had two children, viz : Wm. G. and 
the subject of this sketch. William G. wasTjorn 
April 13, 1822 ; died Nov. 22, 1843. The mother 
died Nov. 8, 1861. Thomas, the father, is still 
living with his son, at the advanced age of eighty- 
si.x, and though he is feeble, having suffered a 
stroke of paralysis about two years since, never 
having had a physician up to that time since his 
marriage, yet his memory and hearing are still very 
good. 

When they moved to Otisco, Thomas drove the ! 
team of steers and a flock of fourteen sheep, and i 
the sheep now on the farm are descendants of that i 
flock. When he came through Syracuse, there was [ 
but one house standing, located where the Empire 
block now stands. His farm was cleared up from ! 
58* 



the woods, and milling was done at a mill situated- 
a mile below Skaneateles village, a distance of eleven 
miles. He was called out in the war of 1812 and 
drew a land warrant on account of his services. 
He has followed farming throughout life. He was 
Highway Commissioner for thirteen years in suc- 
cession and has held other town offices. He has 
never had a lawsuit in his life. 

In politics, he was first a Whig and then a Re- 
publican. From small beginnings, by untiring in- 
dustry, enlightened economy and honorable dealing, 
Mr. R. has accumulated a handsome property, the 
active management of which for the past six or 
seven years he has yielded almost entirely to his 
son. The life of a farmer usually embraces few 
startling incidents, but Mr. Redway has performed 
its duties with such industry and good judgment as 
to secure the respect of all who have known him. 
And now as the life of this pioneer, already length- 
ened more than a decade beyond the allotted three- 
score years and ten, is drawing towards its close, he 
can look back over its varied shadows and sunshine, 
its struggles and its triumphs, with the satisfaction 
coming from a life well spent, and await with com- 
posure the inevitable hour which comes to all the 
living. 

The subject of this sketch has always lived with 
his father, having as before stated, the entire con- 
trol of business for a number of years. He received' 
his education in the district schools of his native 
town except one term in a select school at Onon- 
daga. He was married February 25th, 1846, to- 
Pamela Jane Willsie, second daughter of Captain. 
John and Mary Willsie. She was born in Marcel- 
lus, September 19, 1824. They have but one 
child ; Alice Adelle, born July 21, 1848, married 
October 6, 1868, to George D. Redway, a distant 
relative of the family. They have children as fol- 
lows : May Isabella, Herbert Eugene and Louis 
Leroy. They occupy the farm named above, upon 
which the family first settled. Mr. R. has held 
various offices of trust in his town ; Overseer 
of the Poor, Election Inspector, Assessor, and for 
the last thirteen years has filled the office of Justice 
of the Peace. As an evidence of care and good 
judgment exercised since he occupied that position, 
it may be stated that no decision rendered by him 
has ever been reversed by a higher court. For the 
last ten years he has been extensively employed in 
the settlement of estates in his own and neighbor- 
ing towns. 

On account of reliance upon his judgment and 
good advice, he has often been called upon to settle 
questions of difference among his neighbors, always 



3S4 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



counseling a settlement beween parties in preference 
to an appeal to the law. In the management of the 
large property accumulated by his father and him- 
self, he has shown rare tact and good judgment. 
In the loaning of moneys he has always lived up to 
the motto of " live and let live," never exacting more 
than the legal rate of interest, and like his father 
before him, though his business transactions have 
been extensive, he has never had a suit at law. 
In politics he is a Republican. Though not a 
member of any church Mr. R. has always recog- 
nized the healthful influence of the Christian reli- 
gion, and has always contributed to the support of 
churches in his neighborhood. 

It would but echo the common sentiment of the 
community in which he has passed his whole life, 
to say that Mr. R. possesses, in a marked degree, 
those qualities which characterize the useful citizen, 
the good neighbor, the filial son, and the kind and 
indulgent parent, and one whose loss would be most 
deeply felt. 



WARREN KINNEY. 



Warren Kinney was born in Union Township, 
Tolland County, Conn., August 14th, 1804, the eld- 
est child of Alpheus and Lucy Kinney. They had 
thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters. 
The family moved to Madison County, N. Y.. in 
181 5, where the father died, February 23, 1848, the 
mother January 3d, 1864. At the age of fifteen 
Mr. Kinney left home and worked for five years by 
the month, for Col. John Ledyard, in Cazenovia, 
Madison County. For the next five years he en- 
gaged in peddling tin-ware, and, during his travels, 
while thus employed, he made the acquaintance of 
Harriet Boultelle, whom he married March 30th, 
1830. After his marriage he took up a forty acre 
lot in Madison County, upon which a small clear- I 
ing had been made and a log house erected. He ' 
remained on this place six years. In 1836 he sold 
out and settled on a farm at the head of Otisco 
Lake, town of Otisco. liy hard work, seconded in 
every eflfort by his estimable wife, Mr. K. added 
from time to time to his lands until he had become 
the possessor of three hundred acres of land. In 
185 1, his health having become somewhat im- 
paired he moved to Amber village, where he has 
ever since resided. 

Mrs. Kinney was born in Otisco, September 24, 
18 10, the youngest child of Alpheus and Hannah 
Bouttelle. She had three brothers and one sister, 
viz : David B., Samuel, Lorenzo and Parmclia A. 
David B. and Parmclia A. are deceased. Lorenzo 



and Samuel are still living in Amber, the latter with 
his son, A. J. Bouttelle, proprietor of the Lake 
House Her parents were natives of Worcester 
County, Mass., and were among the first families 
that settled in Otisco in 1804. The first Independ- 
ence day thereafter all the families (five in num- 
ber! of the town sat down at one table. Her 
father opened the first tannery in the southern part 
of Onondaga County. Mrs. K. united with the 
M. E. Church in Otisco Valley in 1836, and always 
took a lively interest in all matters which looked to 
its prosperity, and was an eflficient coworker in the 
Sabbath School. She was a leader in every moral, 
social or benevolent enterprise. The poor and 
needy always found in her a sympathizing friend. 
In all her acts of kindness she was unostentatious. 
She was truly a help-meet to her husband. She 
died April 5th, 1876. Her loss will long be felt in 
the community in which she lived, and her mem- 
ory treasured by all who knew her. 

Mr. Kinney, for many years, has also been a 
member of the M. E. Church, always doing his 
part towards its support. Having no children of 
their own, Mr. and Mrs. K. have taken into their 
home, at difterent times, five children of their 
neighbors, whom they have brought up and given a 
start in the world, to whom they were as an own 
father and mother. 

Of Mr. Kinney it may be truly said, he is em- 
phatically a self-made man. Denied the advan- 
tages of education, he has literally cut his way 
through life by the sweat of his brow. Starting 
with nothing but his hands and an indomitable 
will, earnestly seconded, in all his undertakings, by 
the hearty cooperation of his wife, he has achieved 
success, and secured an ample competence. 

October 29th, 1877, he was married to Emma 
Annable, daughter of Otis and Rosina Annable. 



MYRON HILLYER. 

1 his gentleman was born in the town of Marccilus, 
Onondaga county, October 28. 1811, the third child 
of Nathaniel and Hannah Hillyer. They had two 
sons and three daughters, viz : Chester, Betsey, 
Myron, Catherine and Louisa. They were both 
natives of Connecticut, and were among the earliest 
settlers in the town of Marcellus. The father was 
a blacksmith and also carried on a farm. Both the 
father and mother are deceased. The children are 
all living except Betsey, who was the wife of Arthur 
Machan. Chester is a farmer, owning and living 
on the homestead. Catherine, married to Abner 




Mrs fliminii Kmniy. loiutsio) 



Emma Kinniv. 




.Y^V ( 



r, <4MB(ir, Ononimca Co HX 




^s»- 






.^ 



i^^-(r{.-(^ 



^//, 



f/^J^^ 



■Uj^^^/L^ 



PHOJtS BYflOBT. iCu^TlSS.SYRACUSZ 



^yf^/y^cri^ i^ /<s////^f4. 




HEa.AHOimmme Shop OF MYRON HILLYER,AtABEK.ONONDAGA COUNT-Y.N.Y. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



355 



Wallrod, and Louisa, married to Samuel Rockwell, 
are both living in Jersey City, N. J. 

Up to his twentieth year, the subject of this 
sketch worked at home on the farm, then com- 
menced to learn the harness-maker's trade, which 
he has continued to follow without interruption. 

He was married April 27, 185 1 to Philinda Grif- 
fin, daughter of Heman and Candace Grififin, who 
had four sons and seven daughters. Her parents, 
both natives of Connecticut, were among the first 
settlers of the town of Otisco, and are both 
deceased. All but two of the children are still liv- 
ing, five in the State of Michigan and the rest in 
Otisco. Mrs. Hillyer was born in Otisco, October 
4, 1822, on the farm where her parents first settled 
and lived till their death, now owned and occupied 
by John Fairchild. In 1862, she united with the 
M. E. Church and has been one of its most active 



and devoted members. In appreciation of her in- 
terest in the American Missionary Society, she was 
made a life member. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hillyer have had but one child, viz : 
Horton N., born October 5, 1856. He has always 
lived at home, learned the harness-maker's trade 
of his father and is now a partner with him in the 
business. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hillyer set- 
tled in Amber village, on the place where they reside. 
In politics Mr. Hillyer was first a Whig, then Re- 
publican. He was postmaster in Amber village six 
years. Left by bis father but a small property, by 
close attention to business and honorable dealing, 
seconded at all times by the hearty cooperation of 
his estimable wife, Mr. Hillyer has accumulated 
an ample competence. A sketch of his house, with 
portraits of himself, wife and son appear on another 
page of this volume. 



TULLY. 



TuLLY was originally one of the townships of the 
Military Tract. Upon the organization of the 
county in 1794, it was included with Fabius in the 
town of Pompey. Fabius, including the present 
town of Tully, was taken oft" March 9, 1798, and 
Tully was erected into a separate town April 4, 1803, 
A part of Otisco was taken oft" in 1806, and a part 
of Spaft'ord in 181 1. 

Tully is the center town upon the south line of 
the county. Its surface is an upland, level in the 
center, but hilly upon the east and west borders. 
In the south part of the central valley are several 
small lakes, known as the Tully Lakes, the principal 
being Crooked Lake and Big Lake, only a few rods 
apart, yet dividing the waters of the St. Lawrence 
from those of the Susquehanna. Out of Crooked 
Lake, which is just eight hundred feet above the 
Erie Canal at Syracuse, flows the Onondaga Creek, 
northward, while Big Lake, four feet lower, gives 
rise to the Tioughnioga River, which flows south 
into the Susquehanna, and thence into Chesapeake 
Bay. The only swampy land in the town lies in 
the vicinity of these lakes. The prevailing soil is 
a sandy and a clayey loam, productive, and well 
adapted to grazing and agricultural purposes. 

E.\RLY Settlers. 

Settlements were first made in this town by New 
England people when it was included in the town 
of Pompey, from 1794 to 1798. The first settler 



was David Owen, in 1795. He erected the first 
cabin in the town, and was followed by James 
Cravath, William Trowbridge and others. The first 
white child born in the town was Peter Henderson, 
in 1796. Timothy Walker built the first frame 
house in 1797, and Moses Nash the second ; both 
were built in the village of Tully. Moses Nash 
also opened the first store at the village in 1803. 
Previous to this trading had been done at Pompey 
Hill and at Truxton. John Meeker succeeded Mr. 
Nash in the mercantile business in 1805. He was 
one of the most extensive merchants in the country, 
and took the lead in business and trade throughout 
this whole region. 

Nicholas Lewis opened the first tavern in Tully 
Village in 1802. In 1807, he was succeeded by 
Jacob Johnson, and he, in turn, by William Trow- 
bridge. 

The first school established in the town was kept 
in Timothy Walker's barn, and taught by Miss Ruth 
Thorp, in 1801. We see here what is not notice- 
able in every town, that a school was the first public 
object to which the inhabitants turned their atten- 
tion ; thus placing before their children the means 
of making themselves useful members of society 
and distinguished citizens. A log school house 
was erected in 1804 at Tully Village, and was suc- 
ceeded by a frame one in 1809. Others soon made 
their appearance in difterent parts of the town, and 
education in the common schools grew into an im- 



356 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



portant and well organized feature of the intellectual 
life of the people. 

First Impoktant Road. 

The Hamilton and Skaneateles Turnpike was 
laid out in 1806, from Richfield through Brookfield, 
Hamilton and Fabius, to the outlet of Olisco Lake, 
thence to the outlet of Skaneateles Lake. Samuel 
Fitch, Samuel Marsh, Elisha Payne, David Smith, 
Elijah St. John, Comfort Tyler. Samuel Tyler, 
Thaddeus Edwards and Elnathan Andrews, were 
the principal movers in procuring the act of in- 
corporation and obtaining share-holders, and getting 
the road laid out, worked and finished. This 
enterprise opened through the town and others in 
its vicinity, a way of communication which added 
essentially to the business and prosperity of the 
country through which it passed. It was not long 
before its advantage and effects were realized and 
appreciated. It gave a spur to business, confidence 
to the community, and the results which have flowed 
from it have been salutary and satisfactory. 

In 181 5 the first postoffice was established at 
Tully ; Nicholas Howell, Postmaster ; \Vm. Trow- 
bridge was his successor. Previous to this, mail- 
matter had been obtained from Preble Corners. 
The earliest settlers received their letters and papers 
at Pompey Hill. Vesper Postoflfice was established 
in 1827, Wm. Clark, Postmaster ; Tully Valley 
Postoffice in 1836, George Salisbury, Postmaster. 

The first grist mill in town was erected by Peter 
Van Camp, in 1810; a saw-mill was built at the 
same time and place— about three miles west of 
Tully village. In 1845, there were four grist mills, 
five saw-mills, two carding machines and one woolen 
factory. 

The first settlers of this town, Homer, Solon, 
Cincinnatus, Marathon, and those lying south, had 
to come to Jackson's, Ward's and Sanford's mills to 
get their grists ground. They came with drays 
loaded with wheat or corn, drawn by oxen. These 
drays were made of the crotches of trees with 
boards pinned across. Ten bushels was considered 
a pretty large load to haul twenty or thirty miles on 
such a vehicle with one yoke of oxen, over such 
roads as then existed. This method of going to 
mill was a matter of necessity till mills were built 
in Tully, and the settlements, at first destitute of 
them, were supplied nearer home. 

At the organization of Tully in 1803, the first 
town meeting was held May i, at the house of 
Samuel Trowbridge. Phineas Howell was chosen 
Supervisor ; Amos Skeel, Town Clerk ; Jacob John- 
son, Samuel Cravath, Solomon Babcock, Assessors; 



Floyd Howell, James Cravath, and Solomon Bab- 
cock, Commissioners of Highways. At the second 
and third town meetings, the same were reelected 
and held their respective offices. 

Amos Skeel was the first Justice of the Peace in 
1S03 ; Job L. Lewis and Moses Nash were Justices 
of the Peace from 1808 to 181 2 Mr. Nash after- 
wards removed to Indiana, where he became a dis- 
tinguished man. 

VILLAGE OF TULLY. 

The village of Tully is situated on the Syracuse, 
Binghamton and New York Railway, twenty-two 
miles from Syracuse. It has a population of about 
five hundred and is a favorite resort for persons in 
pursuit of health and pleasure during the summer 
months, the princijial attraction being a number of 
beautiful lakes in the immediate vicinity, which are 
well stocked with pickerel, bass and other choice fish. 
The fine large hotel, the Empire House, managed by 
M. G. Bennett, is another feature of attraction. 
The streets are ornamented with beautiful shade 
trees, and the residences present a cheerful and 
comfortable appearance, while the business houses 
are well stocked and seem to be managed in a man- 
ner that is creditable to the village and profitable 
to the proprietors. 

The village is incorporated, and the present 
oflRcers are the following : H. C. Tallman. Presi- 
dent ; H. V. B. Arnold, Clerk. The Trustees of 
the corporation are George VV. Crofoot, II. B. 
Scammel and Wm. L. Earle ; Treasurer, Judson 
Wright ; Collector, Daniel Vail. 

The first settler in what is now the village of 
Tully was David Owen, who built the first log 
house. Nicholas Howell, Timothy Walker and 
William Trowbridge settled here before 1800. Seth 
Trowbridge came here in iSoo, and his son Milo, 
now living here, was then five years old, having been 
born in 1795. He is now eighty-three years old, 
and seemingly hale and hearty. The oldest resi- 
dent of the village is Salem Baker, being now 
ninety-two. 

Henry F. King came here in 1818 from Suffield, 
Conn. In the year 1S28 he set out a row of 
sugar-maple trees in front of his residence and 
grounds, bringing the whole number from the woods 
on his back. They are now immense in size, and 
beautiful to behold, affording a grateful shade. Mr. 
King was postmaster here for more than thirty 
years. He died in 1853. 

Tully as a shipping point for all kinds of produce 
is not equalled by any other place in this part of the 





rhoto*. \<y UtinU A <*nr1lM, Sjrmctuic. 



UON. BAMI KI. WILLIS. 



MHS. 8. WILLIS. 



HON. SAMliKI- WILMS. 



Saniuol Willis wiu born in the town of Lake IMoisnnt, lliimilton 
Co., N. Y., in till- yi'ar 1818. Hen'nminpd in liis native |>luec until 
•ovontoon yonm of a<;n, wlicn a dc«iro to Ijotlor liis ciri.-iini>tanci'S 
indiK'rd liini to rcmovo to Onondaga County. IIu arrivi'd in .Syra- 
ciMu willi a surplus, over and above ]t\» travelini; ex|>cn9ei<, of only 
oigbty cenl». Tliin lie cxjiondcd for bomc small artiolo of clolliing, 
and went on fool to Vesper, in the town of Tiilly, wlicro lie found 
employment as a farm laborer with Orange Smith, working one 
year for one hundred and eight dollars. During the year his father 
vi.nitcd him, and wan induced by young Samuel to rcnuiin and 
purehaio a small farm, the latter pledging his year'd wages to 
make the first paymi.nt upon the haine. The land was purchased 
of Mr. Orange Smith, and, after tlu' expiraliiMi of the first year^ 
Samuel was engaged with hi> father in improving the now farm. 

At the age of twenty-four years he wa« united in nuirriage to 
.Mitn Kachol Van Wormor, daughter of Isaac and Agnes Van 
Wiirmer, who were among the early settlers of this county. 

Subsequent to his marriage bo purchMtrd. upon credit, eighty 
ncres of the farm on which bo now resides. This was no iiieon- 
sidorablo undertaking for a young man in bis circum^tane^s, but 
the rii<poni>ihility ntiniulated the exertions of both biuisolf and 
wife, and by their united effort.'*, diligeneo, per-i'verance, and 
economy they not only succeeded in paying for their land, but in 
subsc<|uently ineri'asing it lo a farm of oii<> hundred and twenty 
Kcrei. For many years .Mr. Willis has carried on farming on a 
largo scale, having worked from throe hundred to five hundred 
acres of land. He has (me of the most desirable homes in the 



section of the country where ho resides, • sketch of which Is 
shown on the opposite page. For bis success in life be attributes 
no small share of credit to the good judgment and skillful man- 
agement of his c»tinuible wife, who has ever bei-n ready, by word 
and dco<l, to second his etforls and at.sist him in all his undertakings. 

Mr. Willis has served his town in various public and official 
capacities, having held the olHco of a.ssessor f<ir six consecutive 
years, and that of supervisor for seven years, and is now a member 
of assembly from his district, having been olw'lod in the fall of 
1877. 

Mr. Willis is the architect of his own fortune. Without the 
aid of inherited wealth or social pre.'ligo, he has made his way 
from poverty to aflluence, and from obscurity lo a high |io>ition 
in the gift and trust .if his fellow-eiti?.ens, by his own energy, 
industry, and economy. While bis ofHeial duties iK-cupy much of 
bis linn', hi* highest pride and enjoyment are in his well-ordered 
farm, and the associations and comforls of bis delightful homo and 
the siK'ioty of his many friends. 

Mr. Willis has ha<l live children, — one son ond four duughlcrs. 
The oldest, Ann Kli/.a, nnirried Krastus Clark, and is living near 
her parents; George I. died at the ago of twenty-one, in I»lf>; 
Sophia I,, nnirried .\drian Cummings, and is living aUMit tbri-e 
miles from her father; Mary L. died .May 4, I87«, ag«l twenty- 
seven years; .luliii II. lives with her parenU at home; graduati-d 
at t-'ortland Nornuil school; afterwar.ls biramuoneof iu tmu-bers, 
which place she ttlbnl for two years ; has also been a ti-«<-her in 
the academy at Winsted, Conn. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



357 



county, it being in the center of a large dairy 
country, and the towns of Spafford, LaFayette and 
Otisco sending their products here for shipment. 

The churches of Tully are M. E. Church, Bap- 
tist, and Disciples. 

The Commercial and manufacturing interests are 
as follows : Three dry goods stores, Tallman, Mil- 
lan & Hoxsie, Bouttelie Bros, and Joseph Fletcher. 

Two drug stores, J. W. Wright & Son and W. 
F. Jones & Co. 

Two hardware stores, W. W. Hayford & Son and 
A. G. Dryer ; one grocery store, L. Gowing ; one 
furniture and undertaking establishment by W. L. 
Earle ; one butcher shop, Coughey Bros. ; three 
cooper-shops, F. A. Vail, George Watson and 01- 
ney & Smith ; three blacksmith shops, James 
Williams, Zepheniah Mason and Andrew Strail : 
two carriage and repair shops, John B. Hall and 
Andrew Cately ; two harness shops, Armenius 
Smith and John C. Davis. 

There is one steam and water-power grist mill, built 
by Timothy Walker about the year 1818. Joel His- 
cock, uncle to Frank Hiscock, member of Congress 
from Syracuse, had charge of putting in the ma- 
chinery. The mill was rebuilt and refitted for 
steam power in 1874, and is owned and operated by 
Ellis & Hodges. It has two run of stones. They 
manufacture flour and do custom work. There are 
two tailor shops, Henry Arnold and Myron Brown. 

Two physicians, S M. Farnham and George W. 
Earle. 

Henry C. Tallman is an attorney here ; H. K. 
King, insurance agent and notary public. 

The present postmaster is M. J. Bouttelie ; he has 
held the office about two years. 

H. C. Scammell and Son are packers and heavy 
shippers of eggs at this point, shipping as many as 
one hundred thousand dozen per year. 

Religious History. 

From the commencement of the settlement of 
Tully, religious privileges, as well as schools, occu- 
pied the attention of the people, who brought with 
them their New England predilections. Meetings 
were held in the several neighborhoods in barns, 
and, in cold, inclement weather, in private houses. 
It was thought no hardship in those days for a whole 
family to walk several miles to meeting, the father 
carrying the baby and the elder children trudging 
along on foot, aided by the mother in crossing the 
small streams and muddy places. Rev. Mr. Rid- 
dle, a Presbyterian Missionary from New England, 
was the first clergyman who ofificiated in the town. 
A large portion of the new settlers were of that 
59 



persuasion. Mr. Riddle organized a Presbyterian 
society in 1804, which was reorganized under the 
ministry of Rev. Mr. Parsons. The society was 
kept up till about 1830, when it was discontinued. 
We believe no Presbyterian society has since been 
organized in the town. 

First Baptist Church of Tully. — A council 
of ministers and delegates from the churches of 
Pompey, Fabius, Homer and Truxton, convened at 
the house of Uriel Smith, in the town of Tully, on 
the 28th of February, 1816, and after due consider- 
ation and examination, gave Uriel Smith, Ziba 
Palmer, James B. Stroud, Cibbel Smith, Lydia 
Chapman, John Brown, Aaron Vail, Sarah Hugh- 
son, Eliza Fuller, Nancy Stroud, Sarah McCollery, 
Susanna Brown, Hannah Palmer and Elizabeth 
Van Tassel fellowship as a gospel church. Services 
were held during a few years following at the school 
houses in Christian Hollow, Tully Flats and in 
Vesper Village. The first regular pastor was 
Elder Squire Abbott, who came in 1818 and re- 
mained two years ; after whom came Elder Salmon 
Morton, in 1824; Elder Frederick Freeman, in 
1827; and Elder Randolph Streeter ; after whom. 
came Elder John D. Hart, Elder R. Winchell, 
Elder Jeremiah Everts, Elder Supply Chase, Elder 
Pease, Elder J. Dill, Elder N. Camp, Elder J. La 
Grange, Elder Herman Powers, Elder B. Morley, 
Elder J. Webster, Elder D D. Brown, and Elder 
S. A. Beman. In 1824, under the pastorate of 
Elder F. Freeman, a church edifice was erected 
about one mile northwest of Tully Village, at Tully 
Centre. In 1848 the church building was removed 
to Tully Village and rebuilt, and $2,500 expended 
upon the building. During the early history of the 
church eight ministers were ordained and sent into 
the West. The present membership is eight}'--five ; 
attendance at the Sunday School one hundred and 
twenty-two. 

Methodist Episcopal Church of Tully. — 
The present church was organized in the village 
about 1832, and in 1834 they erected their church 
edifice, incurring quite a heavy indebtedness, which, 
through the liberality of Mr. H. F. King, in 1837, 
they were relieved of, and thenceforward the society 
has prospered. The first class-leader was Silas 
Aylsworth. Among the earliest members we find 
Myron Wheaton, Mrs. Giftbrd, Miss Markham, 
Esther Johnson, David Bouttelie, Sarah Viall, Mary 
E. King, Cynthia Arnold and Mary Viall. Most 
of the time until 1840 the church was supplied by 
itinerant preachers ; since then this church and 
that at Vesper have usually employed the same 
minister. Among the most efficient were : Rev. 



358 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



J. Atwell, Rev. E. D. Thurston, Rev. Ephraim 
Hoag, Rev. Mr. Fox and Rev. J. D. Barnard. 
Under the pastorate of the latter the church in 1862 
was rebuilt and rededicatcd. and also in 1877, under 
the present pastor, Rev. F. Devitt. The present 
membership is one hundred and fifty ; Sabbath 
School, eighty-five. The church received in 1840, 
from Mrs. Sarah Viall, a donation of a parsonage, 
which was afterward exchanged for the present 
parsonage. The church building cost $5,000; par- 
sonage, $3,000. The present Trustees are : Ellis 
V. King, Moses Schoonmaker and Samuel Willis. 

Christian Ciilkcm of Tl'li.v.— The first meet- 
ing was held one mile east of Tuliy, at the resi- 
dence of H. A. Chase, on the 9th of May, 1840, 
and Russell Chase, Mother Fuller, H. A. Chase, 
Marvin Haker, Amasa Kmmons, Amos Hodgeman, 
Kesiah Wilcox. Lydia Chase, Lydia Lansing, Bet- 
sey Fuller. Mary Hodgeman, Lola Emmons, or- 
ganized a church society. Elders Calvin Thomas 
and Harry Knapp of Pompey, officiating. 

In 1845, this society, by the liberal assistance of 
Russell Chase and H. A. Chase, erected a neat and 
commodious church in the Village of Tully at a cost 
of $1,500. The first pastor was Elder J. M. Bart- 
lett. Elder Hamilton A. Chase, for twenty years 
labored with the charge and has become a very 
prominent character in the history of this society. 
Elder J. D. Benedict, J. I Lowell, Elder Milton 
Shepard. Elder Gardner, W. J. Lathrop, Elder 
Allen, Elder J. C. Goodrich, and Elder Moore have 
■officiated. Elder O. C. Cutts is now laboring very 
acceptably for this church. 

Baptist Church of Veshfr— In 1848 the Tully 
Centre Baptist Church deemed it advisable to divide 
and establish themselves at Tully Village, and the 
members residing in the western part of the town 
withdrew, and in December, 1848, a new Society was 
organized at the residence of Josiah Smith, among 
whom were Deacon Uriel Smith. Deacon Joseph 
Daniels. E. V. B. French. Harry Rowland. Peter 
Henderson. Allen Palmer, E. J. Daniels, Sarah M. 
King, Nancy Darrow, I'olly Williams, Betsey L. 
Palmer, Zuriah Rowland, Sally Henderson and 
thirteen others. At first this church employed a 
pastor alone. Among those who have officiated 
as pastors are : Eld. A. Galpin, Elder Thos. Brown, 
Elder William Jones. In i860. Elder B. Morlev! 



of Tully. assumed both charges, and generally since 
then both churches have employed the same pas- 
tor. The church building, (a fine frame structure,) 
was dedicated January 18, 1849. It cost about 
twelve hundred dollars Present membership, 24 ; 
Sabbath School, forty. 

Methodist Ei-iscopal Chu-rch of Vesper.— 
Meetings were held as early as 1820 in the school 
house under the leadership of Durin Ferris, who 
was class-leader and circuit preacher. In 1840 the 
society numbered about thirty-five ; on the 7th of 
July, 1840, the church was duly incorporated. The 
class-leader at that time was Levi Highley. Dur- 
ing that year a church was erected in the Village 
of Vesper at a cost of about? 1,000. Among the 
most prominent members at that time were Enoch 
Bailey. Henry Stewart, Aaron Hollenbeck, Zenas 
Pickett, Asahel Nichols. Sanford Moon, Alvah 
Hodge, Rueben Aylsworth. This church has usu- 
ally been under the same pastorate as the Tully 
church. Among those who have ministered at this 
place were Revs. Daniel F. Holcomb. D. Fancher, 
W. White. Ephraim Hoag. J. Foster. L. Bowdish. 
J. Stowell. A. L. Torrey, W. Fox. L. Nickerson. 
R. Fox. R. W. Clark, A. Bowdish, J. W. Barnard 
and the present pastor. Rev. Fred. Devitt. 

The present membership is forty, and a very fine 
Sabbath School is now a useful auxiliary in the 
church work. 

Young People's Christian Association.— On 
the evening of June 8. 1877. an organization con- 
sisting of eleven members was formed, W. L. 
Earll, as Leader ; Joseph Fletcher, Secretary, and 
J. H. Hoxsie, Treasurer. Their meetings were at 
first held in different churches, but during the early 
part of the winter they held a revival in a stable 
fitted for their meetings and now number one hun- 
dred and fifty two members, and are at present the 
strongest religious organization in the town. 

Morning Star Lodge No. 636. I. O. of G. T. 
—Lodge instituted at Vesper, April 30, 1877, with 
fourteen charter members. Charter officers— W. 
C. T.. A. B. Daniels ; W. V. T.. Addie Carr ; W. 
S., Geo. King. Present membership, thirty-eight. 
Meetings every Friday evening, at their Hall in 
Vesper Village. Present officers— W. C. T..Geo. 
King : W. V. T.. Mrs. M. Ripley ; W. S.. Charles 
Barber. 



I 




* 




^;%:^ 







■ fffffglM 



« ^* « ^ . .1 ■'rt^ii ^giMin ■ --■- 



OENCE o» MORf?IS BAKCF?, I-^ArtTTc. Ononoac* Couhiv. N / 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



359 



LA FAYETTE. 



This town, named after the Marquis de LaFayette, 
was taken from Pompey and Onondaga and organ- 
ized April IS, 1825. That portion of the town 
taken from Onondaga was purchased by the State 
of the Indians in 1S17, and sold to the white set- 
tlers in 1822. The town contains 28,200 acres of 
land, of which 6,400 acres, not taxable, belongs to 
the Onondaga Reservation. The surface of the 
town is hilly and broken, the high ridge between 
Butternut and Onondaga Creeks, the two principal 
streams, having steep declivities and rising from 
three to six hundred feet in altitude. The valleys 
on the east and west of this ridge — Sherman Hol- 
low and Christian Hollow — extend the entire length 
of the town, and present an unusually rich and 
beautiful landscape when viewed from the summits. 
The soil of the town is generally a sandy and grav- 
elly loam, a portion of it thickly covered with large 
water-worn pebbles. It is intermixed with vege- 
table mold and is rich and productive on the highest 
hills. The rocks abound in shells and other relics 
of the diluvian age ; some specimens of coral and 
petrifactions are also found. In portions of the town 
there are deep chasms which appear to have been 
produced by an earthquake, and many springs emit- 
ting sulphureted hydrogen gas. In some places 
this has been collected in a vessel and burned by 
applying a torch or a match. 

Early Settlements. 

The first white settlement was made a little east 
of the Indian orchard on Haskin's Hill, in 1791, by 
John Wilcox, who boarded the surveyors when they 
laid out the lots in the townships of Pompey, Tully 
and Manlius. Mr. Wilcox owned the " Indian or- 
chard " and sold much fruit from it to the settlers. 
It occupied twenty or more acres of ground ; the 
trees were planted in regular rows and were very 
productive. This old orchard was a very great help 
in the way of supplying the pioneers with fruit be- 
fore they had raised productive orchards of their 
own. 

The next settler was Comfort Rounds, near the 
center of the town, in 1792. In the same year came 
William Haskins, and gave his name to Haskin's 
Hill ; the next year, Solomon Owen and James 



Sherman. The latter settled in Sherman Hollow, 
which took his name. John Houghtaling, Ama- 
ziah Branch, James Pierce, Samuel Hyatt, Amasa 
Wright and Reuben Bryan, were all settlers in 
1794, and Ebenezer Hill in 1795. 

The first white child born in the town was Amy 
Wilcox, in 1791 ; the first marriage was that of 
Solomon Owen and Lois Rounds, in 1793, and the 
first death that of Moses DeWitt, in 1794. 

Mr. Reuben Bryan had a son who became a noted 
public man, viz : Hon. John A. Bryan, once a mem- 
ber of the New York Legislature, Assistant Post- 
master-General under President Tyler's administra- 
tion. Charge d' Ajfaires to Peru, and Auditor of the 
State of Ohio, to which he removed and became a 
resident of Columbus, in that State. 

In the north part of the town, Samuel Coleman, 
Clark Bailey, Nathan Park, Zenas Northway and 
Ozias Northway were first settlers ; so also were 
John and Archibald Garfield, Graudius Cuddeback, 
Wm. Sniffin,John Hill and Hendrick Upperhousen. 
John Hill and Hendrick Upperhousen, were Hes- 
sians, who had been captured from the British 
army. 

General Isaac Hall, Wm. Alexander, Amos Pal- 
meter, Jacob Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Jr., Obadiah 
Johnson, Elijah Hall, Peter Abbott, Rufus Kinney, 
Abn&r Kinney, Captain Joseph C. Howe and others, 
were among the pioneers in the south part of the 
town. 

Michael Christian, a Revolutionary soldier, first 
settled in Christian Hollow, in 1792, on Lot number 
eighteen, township of Tully, which gave to the 
Hollow its name. Daniel Danforth was the first 
settler in this Hollow within the present town of 
LaFayette, in 1798. 

In addition to those already mentioned in the 
northern part of the town, was Asa Drake, a Revo- 
lutionary soldier, Elkanah Hine, Noah Hoyt, Eze- 
kiel Hoyt, Joel Canfield, Job Andrews, Minnah 
Hyatt, Ebenezer Carr, Cologius Vinell and Joshua 
Slocum. Col Jeremiah Gould and Isaac Keeler 
lived towards Jamesville. 

In the vicinity of LaFayette Square, were Thomas, 
Seth, Erastus and Sydenham Baker, Joseph Smith, 
Jeremiah Fuller and Dr. Silas W. Park. The latter 



36o 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



was a practicing physician and had a wide field 
in which to pick up his scattering patients. His 
ride was from Liverpool to Port Watson, Cortland 
County, and from Skaneateles to Cazenovia, Madi- 
son County. Other early settlers who lived in this 
vicinity, were Daniel Share, Caleb Green, Joseph 
Stevens Cole, Paul and Orange King. Joseph 
Rhoades, Gershom Richardson, Daniel Cole and 
John Carlisle, were also among the early settlers of 
this town. 

The first frame house in the town ithen town of 
Pompey,! was erected by Col. Jeremiah Gould, in 
1800. In 1801, Isaac Hall built the ne.xt. The 
first tavern was kept by Mr. Cheeney, the next by 
Orange King, who had his sign nailed to a tree, 
" C^ King .'" In 1801, the State Road from Caze- 
novia to Skaneateles was laid out through this town. 
Colonel Olcott, the Surveyor, was taken suddenly 
ill while engaged in the survey, and died at the 
house of Erastus Baker. About this time the in- 
habitants of this retired country were visited with 
that dreadful scourge, the small-po.\, which in many 
instances proved fatal. 

The first town meeting was held at LaFayette 
Square in March, 1S26. Charles Jackson was 
elected Supervisor, and Johnson Hall, Town Clerk. 

Messrs. Rice and Hill were the first merchants at 
LaFayette Square in 1802 or 1S03. 

In 1805, Seth Baker made a settlement adjoining 
Erastus on the west, and Sydenham Baker located 
to the north of him. Thomas Baker, in 1803, set- 
tled a mile and a half southwest of the Square, in 
Sherman Hollow. The greater part of these lands 
remain in the hands of the Baker family to this day. 
Joseph and Lemuel Baker came in 1804, but made 
no permanent home. Joseph moved to Otisco and 
died there ; Lemuel went to the far West, and, it is 
said, was finally killed by the Indians in Te.xas, 
while hunting for his cows. 

Previous to iScx), Gen. Isaac Hall came from 
Great Barrington, Mass., and settled one mile south 
of the village upon a soldier's claim. He purchased 
ten or twelve hundred acres of land, and was the 
wealthiest man in the town of Pompey, as it then 
was. It is said he brought into town with him half 
a bushel of silver dollars. He gave his attention 
to the raising ofstock.it being his custom to let cows, 
sheep, colts, &c., to his neighbors and other citizens, 
to double. He died in 1830, worth about $70,000. 

The first and only licensed lawyer at the village 
of LaFayette was Samuel S. Baldwin, who had 
previously located at Pompey Hill. He remained 
several years in the practice of his profession and 
afterwards went to Geneva, N. V., where he died. 



Dr. Silas W. Park, who, as we have already said, 
was one of the first settlers at the village of La- 
Fayette, cleared the Square of forest trees. He 
practiced medicine here during his life-time. A 
brother of his, Elijah Park, came in 1817 and 
studied medicine with him, and was afterwards his 
partner for three years, when the latter moved to 
Otisco, and after practicing there three or four 
years, removed to Adrian, Mich., where he died. 
Dr. Squires also resided at the Square about two 
years. After the death of Dr. Park, Dr. Ward 
Bassett, of Salina, came and made a stay of one or 
two years, and removed to Cazenovia, Madison 
County. Dr. Rial Wright, in 1825, became a 
physician in the place, remaining about si.\ months. 
At this time Dr. Elijah Park, son of Dr. S. W. 
Park, who had previously studied medicine with his 
father and uncle, bought out the ride of Dr. 
Wright, paying therefor $150. Dr. Wright then 
went to Pompey Hill, and as a partner of Dr. Jehiel 
Steam, practiced in that village and vicinity many 
years. Dr. Elijah Park remained in the village 
and practiced his profession for half a century, till 
his death in 1S72 or 1873. Dr. Lyman Rose was 
also a resident physician for many years prior to his 
death, which occurred in 1867. 

Lemuel Smith, father of Rev. Marcus Smith, 
was the first blacksmith at the Square, settling here 
in 1800, and remaining till his death in 1S17. His 
shop stood on the site of the present church, the 
pulpit of which is said to be over the exact spot 
where stood his anvil. 

Nathaniel Stearling, a carpenter and joiner, 
settled on the farm now owned and occupied by 
Luther Baker. He built the Baptist Church at 
Pompey Hill and the church now standing in La- 
Fayette village. The latter part of his life was 
spent on a farm. He was a leading man in religious 
and educational matters. He died in Connecticut. 
Before his day, James, Asa and Joseph McMillen, 
brothers, who were carpenters and joiners, had 
settled about a mile northeast of the village. Joseph 
and James built the first frame hotel, and also the 
one now standing in the village. Stoughton Morse 
was landlord. A hotel had been built of logs prior 
to the first frame building above referred to, and 
was kept by James Higgins in 1808. The Mc- 
Millens remained in town many years, and finally 
sold out and moved to the West. 

Dorus Porter lived in the village as a cabinet- 
maker from 1820, and was Deacon in the church. 
He now resides in Michigan. Asahel King was 
for many years a prominent man as a mechanic at 
the village, being a tanner and shoemaker. 





^RS. F. J Farrington. fA^j.F.J Farringtou. 

(Photos Br w v HAnoi:f> SrHtcusc ) 




Residence of MAJ . F. J. TARRINGTON, La FAVfTTE, Ononoaga Co., N. V. 





riiutuB. by Buiita & Cuitias, Synicuse. 



DR. ELIJAH PARK. 



MRS. BETSEY PARK. 



DE. ELIJAH PARK. 



Elijah Park, BI.D., the subject of this brief memoir, was 
born in the village of Lafayette, April 1, 1803, the eldest child, 
and only son of six children, of Dr. Silas and Dolly (Clark) 
Park. He early manifested a strong desire for mental culture. 
By close application to his studies in the village school and in 
his father's office, he was fitted for college. At the age of 
twenty-one ho graduated at the Pittsficld (Mass.) medical 
school. Almost immediately upon his return home his father 
died, leaving him an extensive practice, wliich he entered upon 
and zealously followed throughout his life, with a success rarely 
attained. His father, Dr. Silas Park, was the first physician 
in the town of Lafayette, and one of the pioneer settlers of 
the town, his residence being the first framed house erected in 
the village. 

Dr. Elijah Park was married to Miss Catharine Parent, 
August 25, 1824. Ten children wore born to them, of whom 
seven are now living, viz. : Silas W., Thomas C, Mary J. 
(wife of Alvin Keller), Prances 0. (wife of Edwin Clark), 
Helen L. (wife of Willis Alexander), Ann E. (wife of Timothy 
Newell), and Caroline F. (wife of Mark Jolinson). In the 
year 1842 (September 20) Mrs. Park died, and in April of 



the year following he married again, taking for his companion, 
Betsey Parent. The fruits of this union were two children, 
Theodore H. and Catharine E., both of whom died at an early 
age. On December 4, 18G7, Mr. Park was again bereaved by 
the death of his wife. The hand of the fell destroyer had fallen 
heavily on his household, having taken from him five of his 
children, and twice robbed him of his beloved companion. 

In politics Dr. Park was originally a Whig ; subsequently a 
Democrat. Although in no sense a politician, he was several 
times elected to the office of supervisor, fulfilling the duties of 
the same with great credit to himself, and to the entire .satisfac- 
tion of his constituents. 

He died at his home in Lafiiyette, June 17, 1873, at the 
advanced age of seventy years. 

Thus lived and died a man eminent in his profession, and 
benevolent and generous in his relations as a citizen. As a 
physician he never turned away a poor patient ; and in tlie 
social walks of life he was known as a friend to humanity, often 
involving himself financially to assist his less fortunate neigh- 
bors. In the family circle he was much loved and revered, and 
his death was deeply mourned by his children. 





i'h<>t.«. by W. V. lUnger, Syniciiac 



ALBERT BECK EH. 



ChoB. W. Iloyt was Ixtrn in the town of Fompey, Onondaga 
Co., N. Y., in IH04. His father came to tliis county in 1798. 
His family consisted of eight children, viz., Kzokiel, David, 
Polly, Philander, Epenctus, Jane, Charlotte, anii ('. W., the 
only ono of this family livin;^. His father was a captain in the 
Revolutionary war, and drew a pension until his death. Chas. 
W. Hoyt, (he suhjeel of this sketch, was united in marriage, 
in 1H24, to Miss Harriet, daughter of Ezra and Mary Knapp. 
Of this marriage were born three children, viz., Charles, Austin, 
anil Harriet. The sons are now living, and located near their 
father. In IS 12 he was married, the second time, to Mi.ss 
Mary Knapp, sister to his first wife. Of this marriage was 
l>orn tlirce children, viz., Lottie, Julia, and Nellie, two of 
whom arc living. Among the old men of this county, few, if 
any, ean look back upon a life of so much hard labor as Chan. 
W. Hoyt, having cleared of the original forest, aud caused to 
be cleared, a great many acres of land. 

Like many other men who were, aiid are now, the bone and 
fnimc-work of the country, he now lives, in his seventy-fourth 
year, one of the few old living landmarks of our country's 
pioneers, surrounded with kind children to smooth his pathway 
as his time of relea.se fmm earth draws near, having led a 
life of integrity and uprightness of character, honored by all 
who know him, and at the writing of this brief sketch bids 
fair for more yean* of usefulness to his friends. 



Albert Bpckor wns born in the town of Ilnlf-Moon, SanitoKa Co., N. Y., 
in the yp»r 1797. He rt-t'civcil n ronitnon-ffolM»o| nJucaliun, and tn tbc 
jcur 18?8 moved tii linfiiycllr, OnuiMlngn Co.. N. Y., whrrp hi* bitughl » 
scvrntvfivc tu-rv furm of wild liiiid, whirli hr clrnrrd with Win own bandu, 
and built upon it a l<>^ h<iupu which had only one door and twu windowa, 
each consiflling 4if four li){hli< 9<'vi>n by niiir. In this hutnblf home Uv 
lived six yt>nrt>, whfii he built u nrw fnimi' hou^e. which ia now owned br 
Henry I'rniner. lu the year If*IS he married Miw Ciithtirine (iueway. of 
Snniloji^a county. The rei>ult of tliix union wax three children, vii., 
r>iiniel, Jnnien. and Mary. l>anicl i9 proprietor of a fine jewelry liturc at 
Syriicuse. and JnnieK i^ living n retired life in Lafayetle village, and li 
one uf its ntoiit prominent and rc^ptN^ted citit<-n^. For htii recnnd wife 
he married .Mi^f I'urker, of Onondugn County. Mr. Becker wait ju"lice 
uf tbc pence fur f<everul ycaTH. and gave excellent »i\tii>ftic(ion by hi« clear 
an<t impartial dts.MitionM. He has resided in Syracuse city for about 
twenty-eight yenr«. and has been in the Jewelry busincf>s until a few ycAri 
("ince. when he went into retired life. 

Ak a buHinefs man. be hiui alwuy.i been just in his transactions with the 

ftubtic. I>oing unto olheri* n» be would have them do unto him has l>epn 
lis grand guide throughout life. Kind, genemus, aud humane, he daily 
Iiraclices thenc lovely Chrif^lian virtues, which create sunshine wherever 
le move!i. 

Allhoiigh in hiii eighty-first year, yet his step is as firm and elastic iu 
ever, and his mind us clear as if he was in the prime of manhood. His 
path down to the grave is being strewn with the beautiful flowers of 
filial luve and veneration. With his eyes turned towards heaven, he 
is prepared at a moment's notice to bo rt'ceived to the bosom of his 
divinity. 

Jaur8 ItKrKRit was born in Saratoga Co.. N. Y.. .\pril 10, ISIS, and was 
the eldest in the family uf three children of Albert and Catharine Becker. 
In 1828 hi« father moved to Onondaga Co., N. Y., ami located upon a 
farm two miles north of the village of I^afayette, where be remained eight 
years, and then removed In a farm a short distance south of the same 
village. James Becker obtained a good cominon-schoul education, which 
lai<l the foundation uf his future succesi>ful bupinc^s career, and lived 
with his father until Oct. 27, IS-ll, when be married Miss Kolher, the 
daughter of Kli an<i Suxan Bryant. They had burn to them four chil- 
dren, viz., .\lbert, Florence. Charles C, and a daughter who died before 
having been christened, all of whoni except Albert are ilead. Mr. Becker, 
soon after his marriage, bought bif^ father's farm, which he cultivated 
very successfully until April 1, 1S53, when he moved to Syracuse, and 
engaged in the jewelry i>usiness. which he followed seventeen years, 
with the confidence and esteem of his patrons. Longing fur the quiet 
rural life to which he hml been accustomed in early life, he retired to 
I>afnyclte village in 1871*, where he now resides. His wife died on the 
2rith of March. 1875. and in I87fi he marrie4l. fur bis sccoml wife. Cordelia 
K.. daughter uf Charles C. and Cnily Andrews. Mr. Becker is one of the 
leading citiiens of the place in which he resides : is a Republican, and 
has been an active member of the Cungregatiunal church for fi>rty 
years. 

A out of his residence, antl imrtraits of himself and wives, can bo seen 
by referring to another pftgc of this work. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



361 



Caleb Green and Erastus Baker owned and gave 
(each half of ) the lot now used for the Public 
Square. Asahel Smith, Charles Jackson and Gen. 
Hall, were Justices of the Peace. The latter 
served a number of years before LaFayette was 
erected into a town. Col. Johnson Hall, son of 
Gen. Hall, was Sheriff of the county and a mem- 
ber of the State Legislature. As a merchant, he 
carried on an extensive business at the village. 
Stoughton Morse first opened a little store in con- 
nection with his hotel in 1805. Then followed 
Asahel Smith in i8i2-'iz}. He ran a distillery 
during the war of 1812, and bought cattle and pro- 
visions for the soldiers, which he sent to Sackett's 
Harbor and Grenadier Island. After the war 
Judge Hall was the merchant of the place. 

Amos Palmeter settled one mile south of La- 
Fayette Square about 1803. 

Mr. James Sherman, who, together with Solomon 
Owen, first settled in Sherman Hollow, was the 
father of Dr. J. De Blois and Joseph Sherman. 
The former was at one time a prominent physician 
at Pompey Hill ; the latter, a Justice of the Peace 
from 1830 to 1840. Reuben Bryan, Amasa Wright, 
Samuel Hyatt, James Pierce and Amaziah Branch 
have been referred to as old settlers. The last 
named was the first school teacher in the Hollow- 
and at LaFayette Village. He died of nightmare 
at Dr. S. W. Park's about 1818. He came from 
Massachusetts, was poor but well educated, and in 
character one of the best of men. 

Charles Johnson, at Sherman Hollow, carried on 
blacksmithing for over fifty years, working industri- 
ously at his anvil to a short time prior to his death 
in 1876. 

VILLAGE OF LA FAYETTE. 

This little hamlet lies about one mile west of the 
Syracuse, Binghamton and New York Railroad at 
Onativia, or LaFayette Station. It contains about 
twenty dwellings, a postoffice, a church, a hotel, 
three stores and two blacksmith shops. 

Among the oldest settlers are C. W. Hoyt, Caleb 
B. Jackson, James Baker, Luther Baker and L. 
O. Hill. 

Mr. George W. Mclntyre, the present Supervisor 
and Postmaster, is also a merchant in the village ; 
so also is Mr. Timothy Newell, who is doing a 
prosperous business. 

This village is adjacent to the station, Onativia, 
and is very pleasantly situated in the midst of a 
picturesque and productive country. 

Uncas Lodge No. 121, I. O. O. F., was char- 
tered July 4, 185 1. The charter members were Dr. 
60* 



Elijah Park, Anson A. Avery, Ambrose Sniffin, 
Henry Pierce, A. H. Share and Justin Rhodes. 
Meetings held every Thursday evening in their 
hall in LaFayette. Present officers, N. G., William 
M. Gage ; V. G., Charles I. Davis ; R. S., John H. 
Northway. 

Enterprise Lodge, K. of P., organized March 
9, 1874. Charter officers, C. C, E. J. Stearns ; V. 
C, F. J. Farrington ; K. of Records, James H. 
Sniffin ; M. A., R. S. Park. Meetings held every 
Saturday evening in Pythias Hall, Cardiff. Present 
officers, Charles Morgan, C. C. ; E. G. Wright, V. 
C. ; E. E. Angel, K. of R. and P. ; B. L. Wright, 
Prelate ; S. W. Wright, Post C. C. 

Congregational Church of LaFayette. — 
At an early day meetings were held in private 
houses by Mr. Amaziah Branch, assisted occasion- 
ally by missionaries and traveling ministers. The 
result of these meetings was the organization of 
the Congregational Church by Rev. Benjamin Bell 
in October, 1809, at the public house kept by 
Stoughton Morse. The church comprised the fol- 
lowing persons, viz : Deacon Noah Hoyt, Deacon 
Nathan Abbott, Apollos Hewitt, Esq., Ezekiel 
Hoyt, Philander Hoyt, Anna Baker, Polly Hoyt, 
Mary Hoyt, Esther Maxwell, Sally Danforth, Anna 
Hewitt, Rebecca Bates, Sally Baker, Corrinna 
Abbott and Acsah Johnson. Since that time the 
following preachers and pastors have served this 
charge : Revs. E. J. Leavenworth, three years ; 

Hopkins, three years ; Martin Powell, seven 

years ; Rev. Childs of Auburn, Rev. A. H. Corn- 
ing, four years; Rev. Seth Smalley, two and a half 
years ; Rev. Absalom K. Barr, two years ; Rev. 
Parshall Terry, three years ; Rev. George Delevan, 
Revs. Moody Harrington, H. Frasier, M. M. Wake- 
man, R, C. Allison, Charles Jones, C. A. Ruddock, 
George A. Miller, and Lewis Jessup. In 1819-20 
a commodious church edifice was erected in the 
Village of LaFayette, which was repaired and 
modernized. In 1846 a session house was erected at 
a cost of $600, which was used until 1861, when the 
building was sold and the present session house 
erected at a cost of ^r.ooo. This hall is used for 
lectures and as a town hall. The church buildine. 
session room, cemetery and parsonage are the 
property of the Columbian Society, which was or- 
ganized in the year 1804, composed of the citizens 
of the village and vicinity, not necessarily members 
of the church. The property owned by this society, 
aside from the cemetery, is valued at six thousand 
five hundred dollars. 

The officers of this society are LeRoy S. Baker, 
Luther Baker and Philander Hoyt, Trustees, and 



362 



HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



D. F. n. Baker, Clerk. The church Deacons are 
Caleb H. Jackson, and L. R. Gaylord ; Clerk, G. L. 
Hoyt. The present membership of the church is 
seventy one. Sabbath School attendance one hun- 
dred and twenty-five. 

C AUDI FT. 

The village or hamlet of Cardiff lies on the Syra- 
cuse and TuUy turnpike, in the western part of the 
town of LaFayette. It is two and a half or three 
miles west of the railroad station at Onativia, and 
contains about thirty houses, three stores, one 
church, a hotel, a grist mill, a postoffice and two 
wagon shops. R. S. Park, merchant and postmas- 
ter. Mr. Park is also Justice of the Peace. Wil- 
liam H. Hoyt, dealer in merchandise and produce. 
The Cardiff Hotel, (temperance,) is kept by Ed- 
ward Crownhart. A shop for the manufacture of 
wagons, carriages and sleighs has been carried on 
here since i860 by Mr. Volney A. Houghton. 

Cardiff Mills. 

The Flouring Mills were erected in 1839, at a cost 
of $5,000 by J. F. Card, who ran it for many years 
with water-power. About si.xteen years ago it 
passed into the hands of Edward Voigt, who erected 
a saw-mill and put in gang-saws, also added steam 
power at a cost of $4,000. In March, 1877, it was 
purchased by George Dermon, and run by him un- 
til April, 1878, when the entire property was con- 
sumed by fire. 

EitENEZER Methodist Ei'iscopal Church of 
Cardiff. — Meetings were held at the house of Zc- 
nas Northway as early as 1825, about which time a 
class was organized. Among the prominent work- 
ers at that time were John Spencer, Uriel Coleman, 
D. Sniffin, Grandus Cuddeback, Reuben Wright, 
Annanias Wcscott and John Bottle. In 1825, the 
first church, built at Cardiff on the site of the pres- 
ent church was erected at a cost of $ i ,000. But in 
1857 the church was burned and the same season 
the present church was built at a cost of $2,400, 
being dedicated in December, 1857, under the minis- 
tration of D. W. Bristol,? D. D. Rev. Benjamin 
D. Sniffin and Joseph Cross, D. D., began their 
religious life in this church. The present mem- 
bership is one hundred and twenty, and Sabbath 
School attendance, one hundred. The present pas- 
tor is Rev. L. Northway, under whose ministration 
large accessions to the church have been made and 
deep religious feeling awakened. 

The Collingwood Mills, in the town of La- 
Fayette, situated on Butternut Creek, owned and 
managed by J. D. Palmer, consist of a grist and 



flouring mill, built about thirty-five years since by 
the late Calvin Cole, at a cost of about $6,000, and 
a saw mill. The mill property was purchased by 
A. R. Palmer in 1862, and repaired in 1874 at an ex- 
pense of $2,700. In 1875 the present proprietor pur- 
chased the mills and water power, and in 1876 re- 
built the saw mill and lath works at an additional 
cost of $1,800. The capacity of the saw mill is, 
(With three hands,) about 1,000 feet of lumber an 
hour, and the grist mill has three run of stones, and 
the other necessary machinery for a first class busi- 
ness. The mills are driven by water-power. 



BioGi\APHicj\L Sketches. 



LUTHER BAKER. 

The subject of this sketch was born in the town 
of LaFayette, Onondaga County, N. Y., February 
9, 1 8 14. His father, Seth Baker, came from 
Northampton, Mass., in 1805 and settled in Onon- 
daga County. Luther was brought up on the farm, 
attending the district school winters and assisting 
his father on the farm summers. He married in 
1840, Miss Diana M., daughter of Eli and Susan 
liryant, of Hampshire County, Mass. They had 
one child. Flora D., who was born June 7, 1850 
and died August 27, 1871, mourned by a large 
circle of friends, who esteemed her for many noble 
qualities of mind and heart. 

Mr. Baker has always followed farmin;; as an oc- 
cupation, and is regarded as one of the best farm- 
ers in his town. He is a Republican in politics and 
has always earnestly labored for the success of 
Republican principles. For many years he has 
been an active member of the Congregational 
Church, liberally subscribing to every benevolent 
object worthy of his support. He is enjoying good 
health, and is apparently surrounded with every 
comfort which tends to brighten his declining 
years. 



MORRIS BAKER. 

Mr. Baker was born in Northampton, Mass , Dec. 
22, 1801, and is a son of Seth Baker. He received 
a good business education, and began farming when 
quite young. He married Julia A., daughter of 
Eli Bryant, February 11. 1833, by whom he had 
three children, viz : Nelson Morris, born May 7, 
1836, graduated from Hamilton College in 1862, 




I 




The subject of this sketch was born in Orange Co., N. Y., 
Jan. 21, 1797. He moved, with his father, Simeon Thomas, 
into the town of Lafayette, which was then a part of Onondaga 
township, in the spring of 1817, thiis being an early settler. 
He entered into the unbroken forest, and began to make for 
himself a home. He contended successfully against all the 
hardships of a pioneer life, wild beasts included. 

On Jan. 21, 1819, he married Laura, daughter of Paul King, 
also an early comer into this county. By this union there were 
bom ten children, nine of whom are now living. His father 
gave him fifty acres of good land, to which, by industry and 
economy, being also assisted by a moat excellent wife, he added 
three hundred and fifty acres more. This enabled him to give 
to each of his sons a good farm. He planted the first apple- 
orchard in his part of the town. He is remembered as being 
forward in the development of the country, in town improve- 
ments, the establishment of schools, and the support of religion. 
He and his wife were consistent members of the Congregational 
church. He would not accept town oflSce, but being an efficient 
and trustworthy man of business was oft«n employed to settle 
estates. He was often on the grand jury, but always discouraged 
litigation, and prevented many lawsuits. He died, in the midst 
of his usefulness, May 29, 1865. In the words of a fellow- 
townsman, " Ho was an honest man, a good citizen, and cannot 
be too highly commended." 

Of the two sons who insert this sketch, Harrison resides 
upon the farm redeemed from the wilderness by his father's 
hands, and Albert upon a large farm adjoining. They are excel- 
lent farmers, shrewd, upright business men; not aspiring to 
office, but highly respected citizens. 



Avery F. Palmer, son of Kowland Pahner, was born Feb. 
2, 1795, in Stonington, Conn. In his youth he came with 
his parents to Otsego county, and from there, in the spring of 
1815, to Lafayette, then a part of Pompey township. His 
father about that time was drum-major in the American army. 
He immediately engaged in farming, and followed that avoca- 
tion all his life ; but was also widely known as Dr. Pahner, 
having become a veterinary surgeon with an extensive practice. 
He was an officer of the militia, but declined town office. By 
his advice and influence many a dispute tending to a lawsuit 
was amicably settled. He was often called upon to administer 
upon and settle estates. He was married to Sarah, daughter of 
Richard Bailey, of Pompey, Feb. 21, 1819. To them were 
born eight chDdren, six of whom are now living. He and 
his wife were for many years consistent members of the Bap- 
tist church. He died, after a life of usefulness, Dec. 17, 
1873. 

His sons insert this sketch, two of whom. Rev. Avery R. and 
Dr. Stewart B., reside in Onondaga County. Avery R. is a 
Baptist clergyman in Lafayette. He inherit* his father's busi- 
ness talents. He is oft«n called upon to settle estates. For 
years he held the office of supervisor of Lafayette ; was also 
superintendent of the penitentiary, and, as a justice of the peaoe, 
settled disputes without issuing a single summons. 

Stewart B. is a well-known dentist in Syracuse, and is also 
known as an able writer upon subjects allied to his profession. 




^ -"^l v «- '^1.-\ 




HoMEff Case. 



Mffs Homer Case. 



PHOTOS er w V. RuNonf.Symcusz. 




HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



363 



read law in Syracuse, and was admitted to the bar 
April 7, 1864, and died March 18, 1872; Anna 
Minerva ; Byron Watts, born Dec. 15, 1842, gradu- 
ated from Hamilton College in 1866 with high 
honors, but died soon after coming home. 

Mr. Baker strove as every father should to give 
his children a liberal education, and has always 
taken a deep interest in raising the educational 
standard of his town. He has been a member of 
the Congregational Church for fifty-four years, and 
a Republican in politics since the organization of 
that party. He is classed as one of the most 
prominent and influential citizens of LaFayette. 
Few men have been more upright in their business 
transactions with the world. 



HOMER CASE. 



Homer Case was born in the town of Pompey, 
August 5, 1828, and is a son of Norris and Olive 



Case. In early life Mr. Case obtained a good busi- 
ness education at the common schools ; and in 1854 
married Miss Louisa E., daughter of Benj. Adams. 
Immediately after marriage he commenced farming 
and continued that pursuit uninterruptedly until 
Dec, 1861. At this date he entered the service of 
his country as a volunteer in the 12th New York 
Regiment of Infantry, in which he served fifteen 
months, or until August 30, 1862, when he was 
wounded resulting in the loss of one of his limbs. 
Upon his return home, he was appointed station- 
agent at LaFayette Village, which position he still 
retains, being considered one of the most courteous 
and trustworthy officials on the road. 

His first wife died June 21, 1856, and he married 
for his second wife, Miss Emily I., daughter of Jay 
and Ann Morgan, Feb. 5, 1872. Mr. Case is an 
old Jeffersonian Democrat, and was one of the most 
loyal supporters of the Union during its hour of 
greatest peril. 



MANLIUS, 



Manlius, originally Township number seven of 
the Military Tract, became one of the towns of 
Onondaga County upon its organization in 1794. 
It was bounded north by the township of Cicero, 
east by the Oneida Reservation, south by Pompey, 
and west by Onondaga Creek and Lake, in- 
cluding all the Onondaga Salt Springs Reserva- 
tion north of the old Genesee Road and east of 
Onondaga Creek, comprising all the present towns 
of Manlius, DeWitt, part of Onondaga, and part of 
Salina, as laid out in 1809. It was reduced to its 
present limits in 1835. Lot No. 7 of the original 
township of Manlius, containing six hundred acres, 
and drawn by the Literature Fund, was transferred 
to the township of Cicero, and registered as Lot 
100 in that township, there being originally, by a 
mistake in the survey, but ninety-nine lots in 
Cicero. Lot 100 in Cicero being drawn by a 
soldier, it was deemed necessary to supply that lot 
from a portion of the territory of Manlius ; the 
transferrence of Lot No. 7, adjoining Lot No. 99 
in Cicero, was accordingly made, and thus the 
soldier's land was secured to him, although Manlius 
lost one lot of her territory. 

The water-courses in the town are Limestone and 
Butternut Creeks, forming a junction in the north- 
ern part of the town and emptying into Chittenango 



Creek, which forms the northeastern boundary of the 
town. The Limestone enters the town on its south- 
ern boundary in two branches, the East and West, the 
eastern branch passing through Manlius Village. 

This town has a surface of great variety, and con- 
tains some of the most picturesque and beautiful 
scenery in the county. South of the Village of 
Manlius on both branches of Limestone Creek are 
falls which not only furnish excellent sites for mills 
and machinery, but which have become noted as 
places of resort. The fall on the East Branch is 
the larger and more important of the two, the 
channel at the edge of the precipice being about 
forty-five feet broad, and the width of the rocky 
chasm below about one hundred and sixty feet. 
The fall, including about twenty feet descent of the 
rapids above, is about eighty-five feet ; the banks 
rocky and precipitous, formed of different strata of 
limestone. On the West Branch the falls are 
nearly the same height, though the stream is nar- 
rower and there is much less volume of water. 

On Lot 56, three and a half miles north of Man- 
lius Village, are the famous Green Lakes or Green 
Ponds. There are two of these lakes or ponds, 
tied together by a small filament of water, which 
has given rise to the name sometimes applied to 
them, " Siamese Green Lakes." 



364 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Distinguished geologists think that the deep 
green color of the water is owing to the partial 
decomposition of the sulphurcled hydrogen which 
it holds in solution. 

The famous Deep Spring of Indian notoriety is 
situated on the county line about three and a half 
miles east of Manlius Village. It is not only a 
natural curiosity, but a place of historic interest. 
Near it passed the Indian trail from the Oneidas 
to the Onondagas, before the advent of the white 
man, as also the first road laid out in the county. 
It was the starting place of all the old surveys of 
the Oneida Reservation and is noted on all the old 
maps of the Surveyor General. It was a noted 
watering place for persons moving to the western 
country, and the trees forming a shade about the 
place were carved with names, initials and dates. 
One of the dates on an ancient beech tree is 1793. 
At this spring during the Revolution a scouting 
party of si.x white men from Fort Schuyler was 
surprised and killed by the Indians. 

A considerable number of Sulphur Springs exist 
in the town — one a short distance south of Manlius 
Village, containing sulphureted hydrogen, carbonic 
acid, sulphate of soda, sulphate of magnesia, car- 
bonate of iron and carbonate of lime. 

The cavern known as the " Ice Hole',' in this 
town, is near the northwest corner of Lot sixty- 
nine, and is a cavity some fifty or sixty feet in depth, 
containing ice the whole year round. 

Eaklv Settlement. ' 

The first white settler in the original township of 
Manlius. was IJenjamin Morehouse, in 1789 ; in the 
present town, the first settlement was made by 
David Tripp, who brought his family here from 
Ralston, Saratoga County, in 1790, and lived in a 
log cabin about a mile northwest of Manlius Village. 
The difficulty of subsisting at that time in a place 
so remote from settlements was painfully expe- 
rienced by Mr. Tripp and his family, who, iluring a 
period of three months, were obliged to live on 
roots and milk, with the addition of a single bushel 
of corn which he procured at Herkimer and brought 
home on his back. His father, an old man, 
who was an inmate of the cabin, died in 1792, 
and his was the first death and burial of a white 
person in the town. 

The first neighbor of Mr. Tripp, in the imme- 
diate settlement, was Conrad Lower. He erected 
the first frame house in the town in 1792. The 
floor-boards of his house were brought from Pala- 
tine, on the Mohawk ; the rest from Danforth'smill. 
His son made a trip to Oriskany, thirty-three miles 



east, for nails, and returned with forty-six pounds on 
his back. 

Among other settlers prior to the begmning of 
this century may be named Caleb Pratt and William 
Ward, both of the same year, 1793. Mr. Pratt suf- 
fered unusual hardships. Mr. Ward settled on Lot 
97, all of which he owned in 1794. He was the 
first Justice of the Peace for the town upon the 
organization of the county. The first grist and 
saw-mills in the town of Manlius as now organized, 
were built by him on Limestone Creek. 

Captain Joseph Williams, from Connecticut, came 
in 1795, and bou^jht his land at twenty shillings an 
acre. He became a wealthy man, and lived long to 
enjoy the fruits of his labors. 

Col. Elijah Phillips was one of the early pioneers. 
He settled on the farm owned at a later day by 
Peter R. Reed, and held a distinguished position 
among the early settlers of the county. 

Organ'ization of the Town, 

The first inhabitants of the town were chiefly 
from New England. 

Scattering families located in different parts of 
the town from 1790 to 1793, but it was not till 
1794, the date of the organization of the county, 
that Manlius had acquired much of a name abroad. 
In that year settlers began to look towards it as a 
suitable and desirable place of residence. 

The first town meeting was held at the tavern of 
Benjamin Morehouse, April 1, 1794. Cyrus Kinne, 
Esq., was chosen Chairman, and Levi Jerome 
Secretary. The Supervisor and Town Clerk were 
chosen by ballot, the remaining officers by the up- 
lifted hand. F"orty-two votes were polled, probably 
all, or nearly all, the voters of the town being pres- 
ent and casting their votes. The following list was 
elected : Comfort Tyler, Supervisor ; Levi Jerome, 
Town Clerk ; David Williams and Benjamin More- 
house, Overseers of the Poor ; Charles Merriam, 
Elijah Phillips and Kyal liingham, Commissioners 
of Roads : Reuben Patterson, Ichabod Lathrop, 
Isaac Van Vleck, William Ward, and Timothy 
Teall, Assessors ; Caleb Pratt and David IJaker, 
Constables and Collectors ; Libbeus Foster, William 
Ward, Ichabod Lathrop, Reuben Patterson, Cyrus 
Kinne, Ryal Bingham, Jeremiah Jackson, Gershom 
Breed and Lemuel Hall, Overseers of Roads ; 
Aaron Wood, Elijah Phillips, John Danforth and 
Jeremiah Jackson, Fence-Viewers. 

At this meeting it was resolved, "That no hog 
shall go at large without a stout ring in his nose, 
and a yoke about his neck, extending above the 
depth of his neck and half the depth below." A 




HlSiDLHCi or CURTISS TWirCHELL.A(->'..iu4,0».ot.i)Ao>i Coonjf.H Y 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



36s 



bounty of four pounds was ordered to be paid for 
the scalp of a full-grown wolf presented by any per- 
son to the Supervisor, and thirty shillings for the 
scalp of any one under one year old. 

Charles Mosely, Daniel Campbell and Isaac Van 
Vleck were the first School Commissioners chosen 
for the town, in 1797. A Special Committee was 
chosen to cooperate with the Commissioners, and 
directed to divide the town into school districts. 
The Committee was composed of Gershom Breed, 
Elijah Phillips, Jeremiah Jackson and Caleb Pratt. 
The records show no regular proceedings of these 
Commissioners or Committeemen, and the first 
organization of the school districts was very im- 
perfectly made in 1810 and i8ii,butin 1835, a 
more systematic organization was effected. 

Lot No. 74, Manlius, had been set apart by the 
Surveyor- General for gospel and school purposes, 
and finally sold by the town May 2, 18 14, for ^12,- 
114.42. When DeWitt was set off from Manlius 
the school fund was divided and Manlius received 
for its share $7,752.42, the annual income of which 
was divided among the school districts. 

In 1793 Elijah Phillips leased the property known 
as the " Old Mills," of a Mr. Hamilton, of Albany, 
for a term of sixty years Mr. Phillips, David 
Williams, Aaron Wood and Walter Worden, erected 
here the first saw-mill in the town. David Wil- 
liams soon sold his share to Phineas Stevens for 
si.xty acres of land. In 1796, Butler & Phillips 
built a grist mill a little above the bridge. Cloth- 
ing works and an oil mill were put in operation 
afterward by Deacon Dunham, and stores were 
kept there, first by Mr. Jones, and then by William 
Warner in 181 1. 

MANLIUS VILLAGE. 

The first settler, John A. Shaeffer, a German, 
established his log cabin on the site of Manlius Vil- 
lage in 1792. This log house soon after became 
the first tavern in that village, with Mr. Shaeffer as 
" mine host," and in 1794, during the sojourn of 
Baron Steuben in this house over night, the first 
white child of the village, and son of Mr. Shaeffer, 
was born. In view of this circumstance, the child 
was named Steuben Shaeffer, and the generous 
Baron gave him a deed of two hundred acres of land 
in the town of Steuben. 

Charles Mulholland, from Ireland, was the next 
inhabitant. He built his log house near the resi- 
dence of Mr Pendleton. 

The first wedding in the village was that of Nich- 
olas Phillips and Caty Garlock, solemnized by 
61 



Simeon DeWitt, January 14, 1793. She died in 
1824, and Mr. Phillips in 1854. 

The first frame house was built by Conrad Lower, 
in 1792. It stood, till a few years ago, on the 
dyke leading to Fayetteville, and was many years 
occupied by Salmon Sherwood. 

The first school house was erected in 1798. It 
was of logs and stood a little north of Mr. Castello's 
mill. 

In 1801, Manlius Village had six dwellings, one 
tavern, one store, a doctor, lawyer and blacksmith. 
It also began this century with a postoffice, estab- 
lished in the year 1800, and was named "Liberty 
Square. This name was soon changed to Manlius 
Square." In 1804, the village contained about thirty 
houses, and continuing to grow, became by far the 
most prominent business place in the county. 

In 1 807, an important accession was made to it in 
the advent of Azariah Smith, who became its leading 
merchant, and was for forty years intimately identi- 
fied with the growth and prosperity of the place. 
Mr. Smith was born at Middlefield, Mass., Decem- 
ber 7, 1784. In 1807, he became clerk for his uncle 
Calvin Smith, at Onondaga Hill, and opened June 
3d, 1807, a store in a frame building on the south 
side of the turnpike, nearly opposite the brick store 
which he afterwards built and occupied. Here Mr. 
Smith, after a clerkship of only eight weeks with 
his uncle, entered upon his successful and distin- 
guished mercantile career. He subsequently en- 
tered extensively into the manufacture of cotton. 
At the time of his decease he was a trustee of the 
District School where he resided, a trustee of Man- 
lius Academy, a trustee of Hamilton College, and a 
trustee of Auburn Theological Seminary. 

In 1824, he was elected one of the Presidential 
Electors and cast his vote for John Ouincy Adams. 
In 1838-40 he was a member of the State Legisla- 
ture, and was Chairman of the Committee on Claims, 
and a member of several of the most important 
Committees. Mr. Smith closed his active and use- 
ful career on the 12th of November, 1846, in the 
city of New Haven, whither he had gone to avail 
himself of medical assistance. 

Manlius Village was an important business point 
before the building of the Erie Canal, as the trans- 
portation of merchandise and other goods to and 
from the east and west, and the travel both ways 
centered here by the meeting of the Seneca and 
Cherry Valley turnpikes. This transportation and 
travel was at one time so immense that almost 
every other house along the road was a tavern. 
There were then six or seven large public houses 
between this village and Chittenango. 



366 



HISTORY or ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



Manlius Village was for more than twenty years 
the center of a large trade from the surrounding 
country, and was a driving business place when 
Syracuse was a dreary swamp. There were a 
dozen or more stores in the place in 1815. 

The Manlius Hranch Hible Society was organized 
at the Presbyterian Church, Manlius Village, May 
31, 1821. The first officers of the Society were 
Rev. H. N. Woodruff, President ; Samuel L. Ed- 
wards, Secretary ; John Watson, Treasurer ; Eben 
\\ illi.ims, William Eager and Allen Breed, Vice- 
Presidents, with twenty-six District Directors. 

The Auxiliary Hible and Common Prayer Hook 
Society for the Western District of the State of 
New York, was formed by the Episcopalians at a 
meeting in this village January 18, 1815. Among 
its officers were Rev. W. A. Clark, Recording Sec- 
retary ; Azariah Smith, Treasurer ; Jas. O. Wattles 
and Ralph R. Phelps, members of the Board of 
(ten) Managers 

Rev. W. A. Clark was then a clergyman residing 
in the village ; the others, Messrs. Wattles and 
Phelps, were prominent citizens. Mr. Wattles was 
Treasurer tf the village in 1816, and ML. Granger, 
President. Both of their names are attached to an 
interesting note or due-bill issued by the village, 
and which has been preserved by Henry C. \'an 
Schaack, l-lsq. It is in size about five by two inches, 
printed from ordinary type on plain white paper, 
now considerably discolored. Across the right 
hand margin is a narrow black border having on it 
in white letters, "si.\ and a quartek cents." and 
across the left margin is a narrow ornamental bor- 
der. The bill reads as follows : 

" The Corporation of the N'illage of Manlius 
promises to pay the bearer si.\ and a (luartcr 16J1 
cents in current bank bills, on demand. 

Manlius, May 16, 1816. 
J. O. Waitles. Trcas. M. L. Grangek, Pres't." 

Hczekiah L. Granger, then President of the vil- 
lage, was a distinguished physician and a gentleman 
of eminent talents. He was a brother of Gen. Amos 
P. Granger. In 1814 he was a member of Assembly 
for the county, and in 1819 was elected Sheriff. 

Mr. \'an Schaack has also a twenty-five cent 
bill issued by the Village Corporation after the 
date of the one referred to above. At the head 
of it is a spread eagle, over which are the words 
" State of New York," a rising sun at one end and 
a lion rampant at the other. It reads thus : 

" The Corporation of the Village of Manlius 
promises to pay the bearer, on demand, twenty five 
cents in current bank bills, at the oflfice of their 
treasurer. August 9th, 1816. 

J. O. Wattles, Treasurer." 



This bill is still an unpaid debt of the Village of 
Manlius. 

Mr Wattles was a lawyer of some distinction, 
and at one time Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas. He went to Indiana over fifty years ago 
and was soon appointed a Circuit Judge by the 
Legislature. He died there a highly respected 
citizen. 

The following is a copy of a receipt given April 
4, 1818, by Uriah Palmer : 

" Received of Azariah Smith one dollar in full 
of all debts, dues and demands, whatever name and 
nature, from the beginning of the world to the end 
of eternity." 

Newspapers. 

There have been published in the Village of Man- 
lius at diftercnt times seven or eight newspapers. 
The first was the Deriie Gazette, by Abram Romeyn, 
in 1806, at a time when an effort was made to fix 
the name "Denie" upon the village. That name, 
however, slightly modified in pronunciation, got 
fixed upon the paper, and it was popularly stigma- 
tized as the " Dar.sed Gazette" It only lived 
about a year. The ne.xt paper started here was the 
" Herald of the Times," May 24, 1808, by Leonard 
Kellogg. Mr. Kellogg commanded an independ- 
ent rifle corps from this village, which served in the 
war of 1812. The name of the paper was changed 
by Daniel Clark to " Onondaga Herald," October 
28, 1818. It was afterwards called " The Times," 
and continued about three years. June 27, 1821, 
the " Onondaga County Republican " was started 
by the since famous editor, Thurlow Weed The 
" Onondaga Republican " was ne.vt published, Octo- 
ber 27, 1824, by Laurin Dewey. The "Manlius 
Repository" succeeded it, and reached its fifth 
volume under the direction of Luman A Miller, 
and for a time under Mr. Stillson. F"inally, Mr. 
Fonda published the " Onondaga Flag " for a short 
time. 

Azariah Smith. Jr., became a distinguished 
scholar and missionary in Western Asia, whither 
he embarked in November, 1842. He devoted 
nearly seven years to the most diligent and thor- 
ough preparatory study, to make sure his com- 
petency and usefulness in his missionary field. To 
ensure his greater usefulness as a clergyman, he had, 
before leaving his native country, by a proper course 
of study, made himself a competent physician ; and 
for the same useful purpose, on his arrival at his 
field of his future labors, he studied and mastered 
several foreign languages — Turkish, Arabic and 
Armenian. After spending nine laborious years in 
that distant land he died at the early age of thirty- 




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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



367 



five. The editor of a standard review said of 
him : 

" As the author of valuable papers on Mineralogy 
and Syrian Antiquities, Azariah Smith, Jr., took 
rank with the best scholars in the land." 

Dr, Willi.^m Taylor for more than fifty years 
was a highly successful practicing physician of Man- 
ilas, and honored throughout the State as standing 
at the head of his profession. 

Incorporation. 

The village was incorporated in 1842, the first 
President being Robert Fleming. Hiram Hop- 
kins was President in 1843 ; Jonathan G. Rowland, 
1844 ; J. V. H. Clark, 1845-46 ; E. E. May, 1847 ; 
Edward Boylston, 1848 ; Lloyd Remington, 1849- 
'51 ; A. H. Jerome, 1852-54; Robert Gilmore, 
185s ; Joseph Baker, 1856; E. P. Russell, 1857- 
'62, inclusive ; D. Higley, 1863-64 ; E. P. Russell, 
1865; A. H. Jerome, 1866-67; A. A. Wood, 
1868 ; R. Rotenburg, 1869 ; E. P. Russell, 1870- 
'71 ; Henry Whitney, 1872 ; E. P. Russell, 1873 ; 
Joseph Baker, 1874; E. U. Scoville, 1875 ; George 
J. Champlin, i876-'77. The other Trustees for 1877 
were J. W. Moulter, W. L. Scoville, John W. Boyls- 
ton and W. W. Candee. 

Manlius Academy. 

In 1834, decisive steps were taken for the estab- 
lishment of an Academy at Manlius Village. Prom- 
inent among those who zealously entered into this 
project were Azariah Smith, Nicholas P. Randall 
and Dr. William Taylor, who were elected as the 
first temporary Board of Trustees. Under an act 
of the Legislature incorporating Manlius Academy, 
passed April 13, 1835, Messrs. Smith, Randall and 
Taylor, together with Silas Williams, Peter R. 
Reed and the four clergymen of the village, namely, 
Algernon S. Hollister, Carlos Smith, David Bel- 
lamy and R. Houghton, became the first permanent 
Board of Trustees. 

Money was raised by subscription and the ground 
and building known as the "Stone House" pur- 
chased. This was a two-story rough-stone build- 
ing and in the early days of the village had been 
occupied for stores, printing office, and other pur- 
poses. To fit it for an academy it was thoroughly 
overhauled and substantially repaired, the rooms 
rearranged and a third story added to it, which was 
surmounted by a belfry or cupola. Thus changed, 
it was a very respectable and convenient building. 

The Academy was opened for instruction in May, 
1835, with fifty scholars in the male, and si.xty in 
the female, department. The catalogue at the end 
of the first year showed a total attendance of two 



hundred and forty-four ; males, one hundred and 
thirty-nine ; females, one hundred and five. In 
1840, there were in attendance two hundred and 
seventy-four dift'erent students, sixty-two of whom 
studied the languages. It had connected with it 
an interesting cabinet of domestic and foreign 
specimens and curiosities. 

Graded School. 

The village has now an excellent Lhiion Graded 
School, with a building remodeled in 1870, contain- 
ing three rooms, with accommodations for two 
hundred and fifty pupils. Prof J. D. Wilson, 
Principal. The school has one hundred and sixty- 
one resident, and thirty-one non-resident pupils. 

Mr. Hayden W, Wheeler, a former resident and 
member of the Manlius Academy, now engaged in 
business in the City of New York, made a generous 
contribution of about g 1,800, in 1870, towards the 
enlargement and improvement of the Union School 
building, and more recently donated a valuable 
philosophical apparatus. 

Masonic. 

Military Lodge No. 93. — We judge from the 
name and age of this lodge that it got its name 
from the Military Lands of this section. Probably 
there were not enough Masons in either of the 
counties named to organize a lodge at the time this 
one was formed. At all events the first meeting 
for the organization of Lodge No. 93, Manlius, was 
composed of Masons of Chenango and Onondaga 
Counties, and was held June 30, 1802. The first 
officers elected were : Caleb B. Merrill, W. M. ; 
Timothy Teall, S. W. ; and David Williams, J. W. 
The first meeting'under the charter was held No- 
vember 4, 1802. 

On the 25th of December, 1830, the lodge was 
closed on account of the Morgan excitement, until 
March 25, 1851, when it was opened with the fol- 
lowing officers: Illustrious Remington, W. M. ; 
Lloyd Remington, S. W. ; and S. J. Wilcox, J. 
W. The lodge was rechartered as Military Lodge 
No. 215, June 6, 185 1. June 26, 1867, the old 
Number "93 " was restored. 

The Masons have held their meetings in Azariah 
Smith's building since its erection in 1816, at an 
annual rent of one grain of barley, on a perpetual 
lease. 

Present officers of Military Lodge No. 93 : W. 
M. Scoville, W. M.; Joseph Fowler, S. W. ; Geo. 
P. Wells, Jr., J. W.; Wallace Everson, S. D.;John 
Ward, J. D.; Chas. C. A. Hale, Tyler. 

Williams Chapter No. 72. — Organized Feb. 
8, 1854. First officers — Illustrious Remington, 



368 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



H. P.; Jabez Lewis. S.; Robert Gilmore, K. Pres- 
ent officers— C. U. H. Wood. H. P.; E. S. Card, 
K.: H Clark. S.; Charles Hart. T.; W. W. Candee. 
Secretary ; J. P. I?ailcy, Chaplain ; Geo. P. Wells. 
C. H.; W. M. Scoville. P. S.; A. S. Balsley. R. A. 
C; George J. Champlin, ist V.; D. D. Harnes. 2d 
v.; Charles Hart. 3d V.; O. T Wattles. Tyler. 
Present number of members, seventy- four. 

Temperance Organization. 
Good Hope Tent. N. O. of I. R.. Manlius.— Or- 
ganized January 2r. 1876. with si.vteen members. 
Present number, forty-eight. James Eastwood. C. 
R.; John W. Belknap. D. R.; A. C. Haskins. Jr., 
R. S. ; Stephen Cheney, Treasurer; Clinton Owen, 

P. C. S. 

Manlius Bar. 

Alvan March settled here as a lawyer in 1798; 
after him came R. R. Phelps, Abijah Yelverton, 
James O. Wattles, Nicholas P. Randall, S. L. Ed- 
wards and others. 

Mr. Randall was a graduate of Yale College in 
the class of 1803. studied law at Clinton. Oneida 
County, and settled in Manlius Village as a lawyer 
in 181 1. He soon became distinguished in his 
profession, and till the lime of his death, March 7, 
1836, occupied a commanding position among the 
great jurists and advocates of the State. Judge S. 
L. Edwards was also a jurist of distinction. 

St. John's School for Bovs. 

This school was founded in 1869 by the Right 
Rev. F. D. Huntington. S. T. D., Bishop of the 
Diocese of Central New York. The religious ser- 
vices and teaching conform to the order of the 
Episcopal church. 

The School Building, situated on a commanding 
site near the village of Manlius, is large and capa- 
cious and a model in all its appointments. 

The School has aimed from the beginning to keep 
up the highest standard of scholarship, to provide 
generally for the physical comfort and nurture of its 
pupils, and in its discipline to look constantly to the 
formation of manly and self-reliant habits ; and in 
all these respects it has won an honored and de- 
sen'ed reputation, and stands among the very high- 
est of the schools of its class. 

The trustees at this date, 1878, are : 

Rt. Rev. F. D. Huntington, S. T. D., President ; 
Hon. Geo. F. Comstock, LL. D. , Vice-President; 
Chas. Stebbins, Esq , Secretary ; J. W. Barker, 
Esq., Treasurer ; Rev. T. Babcock, D. D., Rector ; 
Rev. J. M. Clarke, D. D., Syracuse; Rev. A. B. 
Beach, D. D., Ithaca ; Hon. Chas. Andrews. LL.D., 
Syracuse ; Hon. J. T. Miller, Seneca P""alls ; James 
Appleton, Esq., Manlius ; Geo. C. McWhortcr, 



Esq., Oswego ; Robert Dunlop, Esq , Jamesville ; 
Dennis \'alentine, Esq., Syracuse ; Thos. D. Green, 
Esq, Syracuse; Levi VV. Hall. Esq.. Syracuse; 
H O. Moss. Esq., New Berlin. 

The Faculty and Officers are as follows : 

Rev. Theo. Babcock, D. D., Rector and Head 
Master; Rev. F. ^L Hubbard, D. D., Classical 
Master; Rev. Wm. F. Hubbard, M. A., Classics 
and Mathematics ; F. W. Burnham, B. A , Ger- 
man and Music ; Jay A. Churchill, Penmanship ; 
S. D. Jennings, Librarian and Assistant; H. N. 
Babcock, Natural Science ; Julia E. Remington, 
Matron. 

The Alumni Association. — President. Jas. O. 
S. Huntington ; Vice-President. Chas. W. Hogan : 
Secretary, Walter C. Devereu.v ; Treasurer, Rob't 
G. Wynkoop ; Coresponding Secretary. Wm. C. 
Elsbre. 

The Manlius AND Pompey Agricultural and 
Mechanical Association was founded in 1849, 
and holds its Annual Fairs at the Fair Grounds, 
beautifully situated adjacent to the village. It 
has not only been a marked success as an exhibition 
of the products of the farm, orchard and garden, 
and mechanical skill, but has been made the occa- 
sion of grand reunions of the remaining " Old Set- 
tlers " and citizens of the town, together with sym- 
pathising thousands from the surrounding neigh- 
borhoods. The present officers of the Association 
are. Charles Hart. President ; Wm. J. Mason and 
J. W. Moulter. Vice-Presidents ; William Manlius 
Smith, Secretary and Henry Whitney, Treasurer. 

Fire Department. 

Torrent Company No. i, organized May i. 1842 ; 
reorganized 1837, also April 6, 1877; forty mem- 
bers ; new hand engine. Button make. James 
Jcwitt, Foreman ; Stephen Cheney, ist Assistant ; 
Almon C. Haskins, Jr., Secretary ; Charles Hart. 
Treasurer. 

Eagle Hose — thirteen members. Frank Hale. 
Foreman; John Baker. Jr.. ist Assistant; A. C. 
Haskins. Secretary ; Charles Hart, Treasurer. 

Churches. 

Several Congregational, Presbyterian and Baptist 
Societies were organized in the town of Manlius 
during the years from 1789 to 1S03, under the labors 
of Rev. Hugh Wallace, Seth Williston and Elders 
Campbell and Breed. The citizens of Manlius Vil- 
lage during those years, many of them, attended 
meetings at the " Old Mills." There are now four 
churches in the village of Manlius. of whose history 
we have obtained the following information : 

Christ Chirch, (Episcopalian) is the oldest 
church in Manlius. Says Clark's Onondaga : 



li 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



369 



" The first knowledge we have of anything like a 
congregation of Episcopalians in this vicinity, is in 
the years 1798-99, &c., at which time the families 
of Messrs. David Green, John Roberts, Jonathan 
Hurd, Ward, Dodge and others, resi- 
dents of the towns of Pompey and Manlius, used to 
assemble at each other's dwellings and conduct 
worship after the Episcopal manner. The Rev. 
Mr. Nash first preached twice as an Episcopalian 
clergyman at a private house (David Hibbard's) 
in Pompey. Rev. Davenport Phelps came on 
directly after as a Missionary, and often preached 
at Manlius, Eagle Village, Morehouse's Flats and 
Onondaga, from 1802 to 1806. 

" In January, 1 804, the Episcopal Church was first 
organized under Rev. Davenport Phelps, Mission- 
ary. Rev. A. G. Baldwin, Missionary, 1809 ; Rev. 
Parker Adams, first Rector, iSio; Rev. William 
A. Clark, 1811. Church building erected, 1813 ; 
since which the following have had charge : Rev. 
Messrs. Clark, Pardee, Bulkley, Dyer, Hickox, Sel- 
krig, Hollister, Pound, Appleton, Davis, Pise, Gay." 

The present Rector is Rev. Fordyce M. Hub- 
bard, D. D. 

Value of church property : Church, $6,000 ; 
Rectory, $1,800 ; total, $7,800. 

Number of families, thirty ; number of communi- 
cants, si.xty ; members of Sunday School, thirty- 
five. 

When the church edifice was built in 1813, it 
stood on the hill at the east end of the village. In 
1832 it was moved down on wheels through what 
is now Mr. Williams' orchard and garden, " and 
placed in its present eligible position, with its 
steeple standing, bell hanging, and organ ready to 
play, without jarring it so much as to move a square 
foot of its plastering." This successful feat was 
performed by the management of the long-standing 
Vestryman, Mr. Robert Gilmore. Mr. Azariah 
Smith donated the lot where the church now 
stands. " The original bell in this church was 
cracked when tolled at the funeral of Mr. Stough- 
ton Morse, in 1822. It was afterwards recast by 
Mr. Horace Hills, at Auburn." The church since 
its removal has been very much improved ; a new 
chancel has been added, and a memorial window, in 
memory of that esteemed citizen and life-long 
Vestryman, Dr. William Taylor — " the good physi- 
cian." 

Trinity Presbyterian Church of Manlius. — 
August 29, 181 5, "Trinity Presbyterian Society" 
was formed at the Franklin School House, where 
the first meetings were held. The church was 
organized October 24, 1815, Rev. Hugh Wallace, 
Presiding, and consisted of the following eight 
original members : William Gardner, Mrs. Sarah 
L. Pomeroy, Mrs. Rebecca Wood, Caleb Reming- 
62* 



ton, Mrs. Mary Ann Jackson, Horace Hunt and 
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hall. Rev. Jabez Chadwick 
preached on the occasion of the organization from 
Matt., vi. 6-8. The first Deacon was William 
Gardner. The first Elders, chosen May 21, 1817, 
were Isaac Hall, Jacob L. Sherwood and Horace 
Hunt. 

Services were held a portion of the time in the 
old " Stone House," corner of Seneca and South 
Streets. The church edifice was built in 18 19, 
and remodeled and improved a few years ago. 

The first pastor was Rev. Ira M. Olds, who 
officiated every alternate Sabbath for about one 
year, beginning December, 1815. Then Rev. 
Isaac Reed supplied the pulpit for a while ; since 
which various men have ministered to the church 
in order as follows : 

Daniel C. Hopkins, i8i8-'2i ; Hezekiah N. 
Woodruff, 1821-25; Raiph Cushman, 1825-30; 
Hiram H Kellogg, a few months ; John Ingersoll, 
a few months; Talcott Bates, 1831-32 ; Carlos 

Smith, 1832-36; Tobey, a few months; 

Amzi Benedict, 1837-39; John J. Slocum, 1839- 
'42 ; Dennis Piatt, 1842-45 ; Parsons C. Hastings, 
1845-51 ; Albert H. Gaston, 1851-54; Addison 
K. Strong, 1854-55 '■> Daniel Waldo, a few months ; 
Tappings. Reeve, 1856; N. Elmer, 1857; Jacob 
Post, i858-'6o; Chas. Little, i860; Joel Linsley, 
1862-63 ; Alfred A. Graley, i863-'68 ; Charles P. 
Coit, a few months to May 1870 ; Henry M. Dodd, 
May, 1870-72; John B. Preston, 1874-76; H. 
C. Hazen, 1876 and yet pastor. 

Azariah Smith, Jr. , son of the remarkable and 
highly esteemed Azariah Smith, Sr., went as a 
missionary to Turkey in 1842, where he labored 
nine years and died suddenly at the age of thirty- 
five, but not till he had mastered three languages 
and made his mark as a scholar. 

Present membership, eighty-three ; it once 
numbered three hundred ; number in Sabbath 
School, fifty. 

First Methodist Episcopal Church of Man- 
lius. — The lot on which this church was first built 
was deeded to Daniel P. Williams, Luther Buell, 
Samuel Brown, Origen Eaton, Jedediah Caswell, 
Ezekiel Root, John Peck, John Johnson, and 
Ebenezer Conner, as Trustees, it being part of 
Lots 86 and 97. The edifice was erected in 1822, 
and stood in the middle of the street on which it 
now stands. It was removed to its present loca- 
tion in June, 1844, and has been very much im- 
proved from its original condition. At first it was 
" ornamented with a spire," which was subsequently 
superceded by " a low tower." In the changes and 
enlargements which afterwards took place a new 
and elegant steeple was placed upon the building. 



370 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Among the oldest members of this church now 
living, the following names have been furnished us : 
Rowland Caldwell, Peter Wormwood, Arnold Rem- 
ington, and his wife, Mary Remington. The early 
meetings were held just south of the present loca- 
tion. 

The pastors in regular succession, we have not 
been able to obtain, but these have been furnished 
us : Elders Harmon, Seager, Giles, Snyder and 
Lanning. Rev. M. S. Wells, present pastor. 

The church numbers two hundred and thirty- 
six members ; Sunday School, ninety. 

Baptist Chukch. — Baptist Churches were among 
the earliest in the town of Manlius, but no edifice 
was erected in the village till 1828. The structure 
creeled at that time has since been greatly changed. 
The old church was a square two-story building 
with double rows of old-fashioned, rectangular win- 
dows all around the four sides, gallery all round the 
interior and seats facing the door. But now all this 
has been changed ; the church is a neat commo- 
dious edifice, with a fine steeple and bell, and everj-- 
thing about it in good taste and modern style. ' 

The following notes have been furnished us re- 
specting the history of the church : The earliest 
meetings were held in barns and school houses in 
the neighborhoods of Manlius, Watervale, Oran, 
Eagle Village, and in the Academy building at 
Manlius. In 181 3 the present organization was 
formed under the name of the " Pompey and Man- 
lius Baptist Church," although there was a prior 
organization, records of which e.vist as early as 
1805. ' ; 

Some of the original members were, Elder Na- 
than Baker, Samuel Sherman", Willoughby Millard. 
Isaac Kctchum, Jacob Cleveland, Elijah Weston, 
James Jobcs, Samuel Edwards, Joseph Williams, 
Thomas H. Gridlcy. William Fillmore and Jonathan 
Ball. 

Revs. Nathan Baker, Charles Morton, David 
Ik'llamy, John Smitzer, George Brigham, Abner 
Maynard, Nathan Wright and J. W. Taggart, have 
been pastors. Rev. C. E. Harris present pastor. 

The original church edifice cost about $3,000. It 
was remodeled in 1867 at an e.xpense of $2,500. 
The present number of members is about seventy, 
with a Sunday School attendance of about fifty. 

Manufacti;res. 

Candee & Wells, Manlius Paper Mills. — 
These mills were erected about 1830. a portion of 
the foundation being a part of the old Cotton Fac- 
tory, destroyed by fire, which had been erected in 
1813. The paper mills were formerly owned by 



Mr. Tremain. The present proprietors manufac- 
ture Straw Wrapping Pajier. 3,500 pounds j>er day. 
and employ fifteen hands. 

K. H. C. PKtsTON. Manufacturer of the " Pres- 
ton Harvester " Established in 1873. M""- Preston 
commenced manufacturing in 1863. 

J. Hamli.v & Sons. Proprietors of the Stone 
Mills. Erected in 1827; burnt in 1850; rebuilt in 
1853. These mills have a superior water-power, 
four run of stones, capacity one hundred and twenty- 
five barrels per day, and employ three hands. 

Messrs. Hamlin & Sons are also jiroprietors of 
Cement and Plaster Mills. Established in 1871. 
Three hands em|)loyed. 

Manlius Cement and Lime Works — Located 
one mile below Manlius Village on the S., C. & 
N. Y. R. R. Champlin & Co., proprietors. (Geo. 
J. Champlin and Henry N. Burhans. 1 Works 
established in 1S72. Product, twenty-five thousand 
barrels per annum. 

Wood Manufacturing Companv. — C. W. H. 
Wood, proprietor. Manufacturerof Wagon Maker's 
and Carpenter's Tools. Established in Pompey in 
1844, and removed to Manlius in 1876. Employs 
seven hands. 

Russell Morgan, Empire Yarn Mills, Manlius. 
Manufactures all kinds of Knitting Yarns. Estab- 
lished, 1872. Water-power. About 30.000 pounds 
of yarn per annum manufactured ; eight hands 
employed. 

FAYETTEVILLE. 

In 1 791, Joshua Knowlton and Origen Eaton 
made the first clearing on the site of Fayetteville. 
Cyrus Kinne, who first carried on the business of a 
blacksmith in the town, and became a citizen of 
considerable distinction, settled here in 1792. The 
first tavern was kept by Carey Coats in a small log 
house in 1801. John Delamater opened a store in 
1802. Cyrus Kinne built the first frame house in 
1804 The settlement for many years was called 
" The Corners " or " Manlius Four Corners," but 
upon the establishment of a jjostoflfice it was named 
Fayetteville, in honor of the Marquis dc LaFayette, 
who about that time paid a visit to this country. 

Incorporation and Officers. 
The Village of Fayetteville was first incorporated 
under a special act. May 6, 1844 It was reincor- 
porated under the general law passed April 2, 1870, 
and January 28, 1871. The first Board of Trustees 
consisted of John Si)rague, President ; Porter Trc 
main, Frederick Pratt, Jr., George S. Taylor and 
Joseph F'itch. For the years following, till 1877, 
inclusive, the following have served as Presidents 




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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



371 



of the Village Board : Porter Tremain, 1845 J John 
Watson, 1846 ; Caleb Whitford, 1847-48 ; Reuben 
H. Bangs, iSjO-'si ; William Parker, Jr.. 1852 ; 
James Mead, 1853; Jeremiah Dicker, 1854; John 
G. Reilly, 1855: Hiram Eaton. 1856: Nathan 
Seward, 1857 ; Hiram Eaton, 1858 : R. H. Bangs, 
1859: Hiram Eaton, i860; R. H. Bangs, 1861- 
'62 ; Hiram Eaton, 186^-64-6^ ; Lewis H. Eaton, 
1866-67 ; Joseph L. Mathews, 1868 ; Daniel Bur- 
hans, 1869-70 : Henry L. Beard, 1871 ; Daniel Bur- 
hans, 1872 : William Hurd, 1873 : F. M. Severance, 
1874- 7 $-76: Edward Collin, 1877, with D. H. 
Graham, C. H. Jackson and William Hurd, 
Trustees. 

A Fire Company was organized August 30, 1845. 
It was reorganized as Fire Company No. i and 
Hook and Ladder Company, January 24, 1854. 
Present company (fire and hose) called "Hydra," 
established in i86r — fifty members. 

There are several quarries and manufactories of 
cement in the vicinity of Fayetteville and in the 
town of Manlius The works of Messrs. Bangs 
& Gaynor are located at Fayetteville on the Erie 
Canal. The Excelsior Hydraulic Cement is largely 
manufactured by them, as well as all the cooperage 
used in its shipping. The works were established 
in 1820, and their present capacity is 1,000 barrels 
per day. About sixty hands are employed in the 
business. 

A large quantity of this cement is now being 
used on Government works in Canada. It is used 
almost exclusively in constructing the Welland 
Canal, and the public works at Ottawa, and docks 
at Montreal. This firm are also manufacturers of 
Gypsum and Quicklime. 

The Onondaga Gypsum Company was fully or- 
ganized at Fayetteville, in Februarj', 1878. They 
manufacture crude stone-plaster. The company's 
officers are as follows : President, Asahel F. 
Wilcox : Vice-President, Myron Bangs : Secretary 
and Treasurer, John F. Gaynor : Directors, Wil- 
liam Hurd, James J. Hurd, Edward Gaynor, J. 
Henry Smith. 

The magnificent water power of Fayetteville is 
obtained from what is known as the Ledyard Dyke 
and from Bishop Brook. The Ledyard Dyke com- 
mences a little north of the Village of Manlius on 
Limestone Creek, and runs thence to Fayetteville 
where it empties into the creek again, giving a fall 
in the village of about one hundred feet. The 
present owners are David Collin, Jr., R. C. Hatch, 
H. L. Beard & Son and Robert Grouse. The 
dyke was commenced in 1847. In times of drought 
it draws from the DeRuyter Reservoir. 



Manufacturers. 

R. C. Hatch, Pearl Mills. — Manufactures 
Pearl Barley and Merchant and Custom Flour. Six 
run of stones — employ five hands. Capacity of 
mills, fifty barrels of flour and ten of pearl barley 
per day. Business established in 1854. Mills built 
by John McVicker in 185 1. Water-power on the 
Ledyard Dyke, twenty-one feet fall. 

Edward Johnson, Fayetteville Mills. — 
Pearl Barley and Merchant and Custom Flour. 
Four run of stones. Capacity one hundred barrels 
per day — six hands employed. Business estab- 
lished in 1863. 

Beard, Grouse & Co., Manufacturers of Book 
and News Paper. Established in 1865. The 
building has been used as a Paper Mill for twenty- 
five years. It is a water-power establishment and 
employs forty hands. 

BuRHANS & Blanchard, Sash, Blinds, Doors 
and Mouldings. Established in 1855. Three 
factories, thirty hands. Annual amount of busi- 
ness, S 100,000. Water-power. 

Russell Morgan, Grain Cradle Factory. Busi- 
ness established in 1838. Located just north of the 
village of Fayetteville. Six hands employed ; capac- 
ity 15,000. 

Banks. 

The National Bank of Fayetteville was organ- 
ized as a State Bank in the winter of 1854, with a 
capital of §115,000. H. Edwards, President; 
Porter Tremain, Vice-President, and Hiram Eaton, 
Cashier. It was converted into a National Bank, 
with a capital of §140,000 in 1865, and occupies the 
Bank Building, corner Mill and Genesee streets, 
erected in 1854. Hiram Eaton was cashier seven- 
teen years. The present oflScers are : Hiram 
Eaton President ; B. C. Baird, Vice-President, and 
R. W. Eaton, Cashier. The Bank Building is 
provided with all modern improvements. 

The Farmer's Bank of Fayetteville, a State Bank, 
was organized in 1870. Capital, §100,000. Myron 
Bangs, President ; F. W. Lawrence, Cashier. 

Fayetteville Lodges. 

Fayetteville Lodge, No. 578, F. and A. M. 
Chartered July 10, 1865, is an offshoot of Military 
Lodge, of Manlius. First oflficers, Hiram Wood, 
M.; Henry S. Pratt, S.W.; F. M. Byington,J. W. 
Officers, 1877: A. J. Simmons, M.; L. Boyington, 
S. W.; A. Elting, J. W. Membership, 75. Lodge 
Room in Byington Block. 

Fayetteville Tent, N. O. of I. R. No. 102. 
Established February 27, 1877. H. W. Greenland, 



372 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



C. R.; Henry Kcefe. D. R.; William Dunlap. S. 
Present membership, 84. 

The FaycttciilU Recorder was established in 1S66 
by F. A. Darling. In 1874 it passed into the 
hands of the Recorder Printing Association, under 
whose management it still continues. 

School District No. 11, of Manlius, was formed 
November 20, 1857, by the consolidation of Dis- 
tricts 10, II and 12. At a meeting held August 
26, 1872, it was voted to organize a Union F"ree 
School for Fayetteville, under the provisions of 
Chapter 555, Laws of 1864. 

Favetteville Churches. 

Favetteville Baptist Chirch and Society. 
— Cyrus Kinne and Gershom Breed were among 
the earliest settlers at what was then known as 
Manlius Four Corners, now Fayetteville, coming 
there in 1792. They were soon followed by Daniel 
Campbell, who is said to have preached occasionally 
in the absence of regular ministers. These three, 
in company with Mrs. Susanna Ward, formed 
themselves into a conference for religious worship, 
maintaining covenant meetings and enjoying occa- 
sional preaching In 179S, three young men were 
added to the conference which was soon augmented 
still further by other Christian families who had 
moved into the neighborhood. Their first meet- 
ings were of necessity held in private dwellings, 
but afterward for many years were held in the 
" Wood" and " Stone " school houses, neither of 
which arc now standing. A council was called in 
1804 at which Father Bennett and Eider John 
Peck were present, and this company of brethren 
and sisters, ui number about twenty, were recog- 
nized as a regular and independent church. 

Among them might be mentioned, Gershom 
Breed, Cyrus Kinne, Jabish York, Daniel Camp- 
bell, Lewis Sweeting, John Jones, Zopher Knowl- 
ton, Orris Hopkins, William Breed, Allen Breed, 
Palmer Breed, Washington Worden, Susanna 
Ward, Mary Terrill, Amelia Breed, Hannah Breed, 
Lucrelia Worden, Mrs. Kinne, Elizabeth Hopkins 
and Walter Worden. 

Brother Gershom Breed was licensed as preacher 
and assisted by Elder Nathan Baker, of Pompey. 
In 18 1 2 he was ordained and became the first 
pastor of the church. During this year a number 
of members were added to the church. Rev. Mr. 
Breed continued in charge until his death which oc- 
curred during 1815. His son, Allen Breed, who 
was one of the first three converts mentioned, suc- 
ceeded him, for several years preaching as a licen- 
tiate. In 1829, he was ordained and became the 



second pastor. During his pastorate of two years 
and a half, fifteen converts were baptized. 

At this time, owing to removals, deaths and 
delinquencies, the church was in a very low condi- 
tion and very little interest manifested by members, 
some of them even refusing to be identified with 
this church, but joining instead the one at Manlius 
Square. 

In the fall of 1830, a new era commenced in the 
welfare of the church. Harvey Edwards had just 
been converted and through his energetic and 
praiseworthy efforts a new interest was awakened. 
The services of Rev. Charles Morton, Pastor of the 
Baptist Church at Manlius, were now secured for 
half the time, and during his ministrations the 
church was greatly strengthened. In February 
they began to build a house of worship which was 
dedicated in July, 1831. This building was of 
wood and erected at a cost of about $3,000. Dur- 
ing this year about forty-five were added to the 
church. In 1832, Brother J. W. Taggart, a student 
at Hamilton, supplied the church. At the comple- 
tion of his studies he was ordained as its third 
pastor. In July, 1833, twenty four members were 
dismissed to form a new church at Matthew's Mills 
under the charge of Elder Allen Breed. Rev. 
William Hutchinson was the ne.xt pastor, coming 
in the spring of 1835, and was succeeded by Geo. 
Phippen in July, 1837. In 1838, Elder Jacob 
Knapp, the Evangelist, visited Fayetteville with 
great success. In 1839, Rev. John Smitzer com- 
menced a very successful pastorate of six years 
duration. In 1840. a branch church was formed 
at Chittenango. In 1843, the church was divided 
owing to the disturbance created by the Abolition 
question, and the Second Baptist Church of Fay- 
etteville was formed with Rev. W. Kingsley as 
pastor. Brother W. H. Douglass supplied the 
pulpit ne.xt for a few months, followed by Rev. 
Lyman Wright, who remained eight years. Dur- 
ing his pastorate the church was reunited. Rev. 
J. B. Vrooman came in 1854, and was followed in 
1856 by Lyman Wright, (a former pastor) and after- 
wards by Rev. J. B. Smith. In this year a Mission 
School was established at High Bridge. In 1S60, 
Rev. A. Clement Lyon was called and remained as 
pastor over five years, was compelled to resign on 
account of a severe bronchial disease. During his 
stay over eighty persons were baptized. 

His successor was Rev. O. W. Babcock, who 
remained one year. In the summer of 1S67, Hubert 
C. Wood, a student of Madison University, sup- 
plied the pulpit from time to time, became their pas- 
tor immediately after graduating, and in due time 




M^4'., . IMk: 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



373 



was ordained. In 1871 he was compelled to sever 
his connection with the church on account of his 
throat and lungs being seriously affected, and in the 
spring of 1872 moved to Colorado. During his 
pastorate the present church edifice, a fine brick 
structure, was erected at a cost of $30,000 ; the 
parsonage rebuilt, and a sexton's house put up, all 
standing nearly opposite the old church building. 
For over a year and a half the church was without 
a regular pastor, but in November, 1873, the pulpit 
was again filled, this time by Rev. C. J. Shrimpton. 
During the second year of his stay the church expe- 
rienced a revival, Rev. Mr. S. being assisted by 
Rev. A. C. Lyon, (a former pastor,) Mrs. Lyon and 
Mrs. Alvah Davis. Mr. S. remained in charge until 
July, 1S77, when he publicly withdrew from the 
church and denomination on account of a change 
in his belief in the fundamental doctrines of the 
church. In the November following. Rev. Charles 
N. Pettingill, the present pastor, occupied the 
charge. This church has had an existence of over 
eighty-two years, and during this period has had 
1,171 members; has baptized 772 ; received by let- 
ter 399 ; dismissed by letter 412; excluded 104; 
present membership 280 ; in attendance at Sunday 
School, 140. 

Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville. — The 
first religious meetings were held in the school 
house in what was commonly called the Upper Dis- 
trict. In 1829, the first church in the village, the 
Presbyterian, was erected by the combined efforts 
of all denominations, who used the session room, 
first finished off, for common religious purposes. 
In 1830, the Presbyterian Church was formed, and 
in the winter of that year the house of worship was 
dedicated. 

Most of the original members came from the 
Presbyterian Church of Manlius, and Rev. Mr. 
Cushman, of that village, was untiring in his efforts 
to build up the Society at Fayetteville, usually officia- 
ting on Sunday evenings. John McViccar, James 
Stewart and Phillip Flint, were the first Ruling- 
Elders. All of the original twenty-three members 
are now deceased, except James C. Jackson. 

The first regular pastor was Rev. Amos C. Tut- 
tle, installed June 28, 1837. During the pastorate 
of Rev. Lewis H. Reid, the present church edifice 
was built, at a cost of about g 10,000. It was dedi- 
cated June 22, 1857. Mr. Reid was pastor eleven 
years ; the present pastor. Rev. R. L. Bachman, was 
called in 1874. The church membership numbers 
about two hundred ; Sunday School, one hundred 
and twenty-five. 

Trinity Church (Episcopal, ) Fayetteville, was 
63 



organized in the year 1830; a building erected in 
1831 and consecrated in 1832. Quite a number of 
the early settlers of this and the adjoining towns 
were Episcopalians, and held service after that form 
in families as early as 1798. Father Nash and 
others were early missionaries in Pompey and Man- 
lius from 1802 to 1806, and out of their labors have 
grown several strong and influential churches. 
This church was for several years a missionary 
charge, the first resident missionary being Rev. J. 

B. Engle, in 1837. Others of the early clergymen 
were Rev. Messrs. Northrup, Windsor, Feisner, 
Bartlett, Hickox and Pise. The Rt. Rev. Henry 
Neely, Bishop of the Diocese of Maine, was bap- 
tized in this parish. 

The present church was built in 1870, and cost 
$14,000. It is a stone building, unusually fine for 
a village no larger than Fayetteville — an ornament, 
indeed, to the place. Rev. John Bayler, Rector 
when the church was built ; subsequently, Rev. 
Charles H. Gardner. The present Rector is Rev. 

C. J. Shrimpton. Present number of communicants, 
one hundred and fifteen ; average attendance at 
Sunday School, seventy-five. 

Church of the Immaculate Conception, 
Fayetteville. — The nucleus of the present 
Church of the Immaculate Conception was formed 
of several families residing at Fayetteville and 
Manlius Square, from 1846 to 1855. Among these 
may be mentioned John Farrell, John McCarrick, 
John O'Brien and Jeremiah Bohan, of the former 
place, and Edward Gaynor, John Sheedy, Patrick 
Holland, Timothy Holland, John Shea, Patrick 
Tobin, William Griffin, John Kennelly, Patrick 
Moloney, Michael Foley, Thomas Flattery, and 
others, residing at Manlius Square. About the year 
185 1 the first Catholic mass was said at the resi- 
dence of John Murphy, at Manlius Square, by 
Father McCallion. Rev. Father Cahill, of Cazeno- 
via, was the first Catholic clergyman who visited 
Fayetteville, and held the first service in the house 
of John Farrell. 

In 1845 Father Cahill purchased a lot and raised 
by contributions a small sum toward the erection 
of a church. Upon his removal from Cazenovia, 
he deposited this with Bishop McClosky, to the 
credit of the Catholics of Fayetteville. It amounted 
in 1861 to $315. 

Father Rooney next attended the mission for a 
short time and was succeeded by Rev. Lawrence 
Schneider, pastor at Manlius Station in 1856. In 
1857, Rev. James A. O'Hara, then officiating at 
St. Patrick's Church, Oneida, visited the mission. 
Rev. Father Maurus being appointed to Manlius 



374 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



Station, the Catholics at Fayettevillc. in 1859, came 
together and determined to build a church. This 
attempt, however, failed, after the foundation of the 
edifice had been partly laid. Another attempt 
was also made and failed, after a new site had 
been purchased and part of the brick delivered 
on the ground in 1861 -'62. The materials were 
afterward suld and the enterprise discontinued till 
the fall of 1869, when the present neat and com- 
modious brick edifice was undertaken. The corner- 
stone was laid on the 25th of November, 1869, by 
Very Kev. Edgar P. Wadhams, then Vicar-General 
of the diocese of Albany, and now Bishop of the 
new diocese of Ogdcnsburg. The sermon on the 
occasion was preached by the late Dr. Keating, of 
Hudson, and twenty other clergymen assisted at 
the ceremony Mass was celebrated for the first 
time in the new church on Christmas day, 1870, 
but its interior decoration was not completed till 
the autumn of 1872. It was dedicated under the 
title of the Immaculate Conception, by Rt. Rev. 
Francis McNcirny. on November 26, 1872. The 
late Father Hrady, of Cazenovia, preached the 
dedicatory sermon and sixteen other clergymen 
were present on the occasion. After the dedica- 
cation, Hishop McNeirny administered confirma- 
tion to one hundred and eighty-five candidates. 
This was the first time the sacrament of confirma- 
tion was administered in this mission. The con- 
gregation consists of about 120 families, and the 
average attendance at the Sunday school is about 
sixty-five. 

The history of this church would be incomplete 
if the writer failed to record that many non- 
Catholics, resident in Fayettevillc, contributed 
very generously toward its erection. 

St. Makv's (Catholic I Chukuh, situated in the 
town of Manlius, on the road from Manlius Station 
to Bridgeport. The church was organized in 1833 
in a little district school house, wherein services 
were first held. The following are the names of 
the original heads of families connected with the 
parish : 

Matthias butter, Felix lieselmayer, George 
Konrad, Anthony Lambacher, Joseph Schneider, 
Henry Herbener, John Kuppclc, Seb. Kuppele, 
Joseph Bioser, Mark Sch>)pp, Ste|)hen Zion, Aug. 
Gott, Fet. Fieselbrand, Casper I-'abing, John Kon- 
rad, Nicolaus Gerhard, Michael Rcmblingcr, Adam 
Uth, Anthony Zimmer, Ignatius Heifer, Jos. Flick. 
Peter Schneider, Adam Bucher. John Backcnstrass. 
Jacob Fries, Theobald Schondorf, Casper Huliar, 
Peter Mayer. The church was built A. D, 1834, 
under the Rt. Rev John Dubois, Bishop of New 
York. Pastors — Rev. Werick, Rev. Guth, Rev. 
Mich. Heas, Rev. Rath, Rev. FI. Scheninger, Rev. 



Th. Nothen. Marshal ; Rev. Sanderl, Jos. RafTein- 
er. Rev. Col. Messner. Rev. Federmann. Rev. 
Tappert. Rev. Maly, Rev. Muller. F. C. Weber, 
Schneider. Maurus, Cairus, Kenig, Rittcr, Wibbee, 
Mayers. Fehlings. Hcngen. Weber, Maurus, — one 
hundred and five families. 

The attendance in the Sunday School is from 
sixty to eighty boys and girls. 

The old frame church was erected in 1834, in 
dimensions 34 by 40 feet. Additions of twenty feet 
were made to its length in the years 1857 and 1870, 
respectively. Present pastor. Rev. L. Maurus. 

The Mkthodist Episcopal Chukch at Man- 
lius Station, first met for worship in the school 
house. In 1862 the church and parsonage were 
built. Rev. Gideon Jones was then pastor. The 
church is valued at S3. 500, and parsonage at S1.600. 
Present membershij), thirty-six. The first mem- 
bers were Jacob Karker and Jabez Lewis. Pres- 
ent pastor, J. N. Sackett. 

KIRKVILLE. 

With the building of the FLrie Canal, a settlement 
began to be made at this point, Mr. Cunningham 
opening a tavern. In 1S22, Edward Kirkland, a 
son of the late Joseph Kirkland of Utica, estab- 
lished himself on a large farm half a mile northeast 
of the place, and in 1824, was appointed Postmaster. 
The postofiice and the settlement were named 
Kirkville in honor of him. Mr. Kirkland built the 
Canal Basin at his own expense, put up a large 
store, and for some time did considerable business 
there. The place has a few stores, shops and two 
churches. 

Union Church. Kirkville. — On the 28th of 
December, 1848, the citizens met for the purpose of 
organizing a society to build a house of public 
worship. The society was finally organized January 
16, 1849, with the following Trustees: David 
Doniiiiick and George W. Huntly, three years; 
William Gilman and Joseph Hoag, two years ; Wil- 
liam Cunningham and Cortland Cunningham, one 
year. The church was erected in 1S50, and the 
society arranged for services by thediflerent denom- 
inations as follows : Universalists, every fourth 
Sunday ; Baptists, every fourth Sunday ; Presby- 
terians, every second Sunday ; Methodist Episcopal, 
every second Sunday ; Wesleyan Methodists, every 
second Sunday at 4 p. m. The Universalists, hav- 
ing repaired and refurnished the church, are the 
only denomination occupying it at present. 

Methodist Episcopal Chukch, Kirkville. — 
This church originally formed part of the North 
Manlius Circuit and worshipped in the Union Church. 




fftSruiNCt 'ji ixi I' ' hLuoi-N H. BANGS, /*ii; 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



375 



It was made a station in 1872, and immediately 
after, the present house of worship was erected. 
The first pastor was Rev. Joseph Maxwell. Original 
membership, thirty-eight ; present number, si.xty- 
six ; Sunday School, forty. Present pastor, D. W. 
Roney. 

The EvANGEt,icAL Association, Manlius Sta- 
tion. — Organized February 1 1, 1855. The original 
members were John J. Jetter, Frederick Ebeling, 
Jacob Taftner, Carl Fout, Frederick Hecht, Jacob 
Karker, Frederick Horman, Christian Gehring, 
George E. Fisher and Jacob Salz. The church was 
-dedicated December 23, 1855. Cost— about ^700. 
The following have officiated as pastors : Frederick 
Scharf, one year ; E. D. Jenny, two years ; John 
Grenzenbach, one year ; Michael Pfitzinger, two 
years ; Jacob Dereich, two years ; E. Thomas, one 
year ; Frederick Lohmeir, two years ; Carl Wiseman, 
two years ; John Schaaf, one year ; Levi Jacoby, 
one year ; Adolf Loscher, three years ; Edward 
Weier ; three years ; August Klein, two years. 
Present membership 35. 

EAGLE VILLAGE. 

At this place the first tavern, in the present town 
of Manlius, was erected by James Foster, who set- 
tled on Lot 88, in 1790. It was very early resorted 
to by others as a desirable place of residence, and 
■once contested for superiority with Manlius Village. 
Eagle Village had once four physicians, three mer- 
chants and four lawyers. Mr. Charles Mosely 
opened a store here in 1793, and Dr. Ward, the first 
regular physician in the town of Manlius, settled 
and practiced here ; Dr. Moor, soon after ; and next 
Dr. Smith Weed, who had an extensive practice. 
Dr. Fish and Dr. Washburn, also well-known phy- 
sicians, resided in this village. Charles B. Bristol 
commenced trading here as a merchant, in 1804. 
During the war of 18 12, he acted as distributing 
commissary; built the Stone Distillery in 1809; 
kept the finest garden in the county ; drove the 
best team of eight horses known on the road, and 
for five or six years was considered one of the first 
merchants of the country. General Amos P. 
Granger, first commenced business here ; Mr. 
Walker, in 1804, opened a law office, and Hon. 
James R. Lawrence was his clerk. A hotel opened 
here by Libbeus Foster, in 1794, became one of the 
most celebrated taverns in western New York, con- 
taining a grand masonic hall, a grand dancing hall 
and many other things to correspond. 

In 181 1, Eagle Village had an incorporated library 
of about 250 volumes of valuable and standard 
works. It was the first circulating library in the 



county. And here the first school in the town of 
Manlius was taught, by Samuel Edwards, in James 
Foster's barn. He had eight shillings a quarter per 
scholar, and " boarded round." At this place Billy 
McKee and Jenny Mulholland, on a training day, 
were married in a hollozv square formed by the com- 
pany on the parade ground, by Cyrus Kinne, Esq. 



BiOGi[APHic>L Sketches. 



REUBEN H. BANGS. 

Among the early pioneers of the town of Man- 
lius, none is mentioned with greater veneration 
than Reuben H. Bangs. He was born July 4th, 
1788, in the town of Williamsburg, Franklin 
county, Massachusetts. He obtained in his youth- 
ful days a fair business education. In the year 
181 3, he immigrated to Fayetteville, and immedi- 
ately after his arrival, embarked in the manufac- 
ture of lime. 

By his tact and business sagacity he soon estab- 
lished himself upon a firm business footing. Dur- 
ing England's second fruitless attempt to trample 
upon the liberties of our country, he entered the 
American army and was stationed at Sackett's 
Harbor. Possessing a mind peculiarly fitting him 
for the oversight of business enterprises, he took 
several large contracts of the State, while the Erie 
Canal was in process of construction, from which he 
realized a handsome profit. His fine executive and 
shrewd business abilities were early recognized by 
the State, and he was accordingly appointed in 1824, 
Superintendent of the division of the Erie Canal, 
between Little Falls and Utica, for a period of two 
years. He then returned to Fayetteville and 
engaged in the manufacture of hydraulic cement. 
By remarkable foresight and management he built 
up this business into one of the most important 
manufacturing establishments in Central New 
York, shipping to nearly every State in the Union. 

On January i, 1S15, he married Clarissa Teall, 
daughter of Dr. Timothy Teall, and sister of Oliver 
Teall. Her father fought, with six brothers, in the 
war of the Revolution six years. He came to the 
town of Manlius, Onondaga County, in the year 
1 79 1, and became one of its most prominent and 
respected citizens. 

Mr. Bangs was blessed with five children, viz. : 
Anson, at present a resident of the City of Brooklyn, 
and largely engaged in real estate transactions on 
the Potomac River, about thirty miles south of 



376 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Washington, D. C; Caroline L. , wife of Horace 
L. Wheeler. Mrs. Wheeler graduated with honors 
at the Troy Female Seminary, conducted at that 
time by Mrs. John Willard, the daughter-in-law of 
the celebrated foundress, Mrs. Emma Willard, in 
February, 1S49. From this time till her marriage 
she was engaged in the profession of teaching, at 
the South and West and lastly at Fayetteville ; 
Myron H , one of the proprietors of the hydraulic 
cement works at F"ayetteville, President of the 
Farmers' Bank, an extensive contractor, and in 
every way one of the most prominent business men 
of Fayetteville ; and Eli T., a United States con 
tractor and, at present, engaged in deepening the 
channel of Cape Fear. Mr. Bangs was one of the 
first directors of the Bank of Fayetteville, (now the 
National Bank,) a staunch Democrat, until 1S40, 
when he became a Whig and later a Republican, 
one of the first trustees of the Village, and also of the 
Cemetery. Whatever he undertook to do, he always 
accomplished. When his object had been deter- 
mineil upon, after carefully weighing it pro and con, 
he went straight at it, with a steadfastness of purpose 
that was truly remarkable. During the last twenty 
years of his life he made more money than in any 
preceding twenty years, which indicated in him a 
riper experience and a maturer judgment. He 
was emphatically the poor man's friend. Many 
prominent business men throughout the county 
gratefully revere him as their benefactor when first 
starting out in life. He died, November 10, 1872, 
leaving to his children the rich legacy of a pure life. 



AMBROSE CLARK. 



The subject of this brief memoir was born at 
North East, Dutchess County. N. Y., on the nth 
of September, 1809. His early life was spent in 
acquiring the principles of an English education, 
and working on his father's farm. He was united 
in marriage to Julia Ann Collin, a resident of the 
same town, January 17, 1833. At the close of two 
years' residence of married life at the place of his 
nativity, he immigrated January 17, 1835, to Fay- 
etteville, and settled upon the farm which he oc- 
cupied till his death. He was blessed with a , 
family of seven children, only three of whom are * 
living, viz : Julia Ambrosia. Ambrose. Jr. . and Hat- 
tie Louise, now Mrs. W. T. Avery. Ambrose, Jr., 
now occupies the homestead, called " Maplewood.'' 

Mr. Clark was a very active and efficient busi- 
ness man. In all his transactions he followed the 
" Golden Rule ;" and no man was ever more truly 
esteemed for those Christian qualities which should < 



adorn a true and noble life. He was kind to the 
poor ; always sympathizing with them in their 
afflictions, and giving them substantial pecuniary 
aid. whenever he thought it was needed. 

In politics, he was a Whig, until the formation of 
the Republican party, when he became a most 
ardent supporter of the latter organization. Al- 
though never solicitous of office, he was fre- 
quently entrusted with the discharge of the most 
arduous and important duties of his town. He 
was one of the first promoters and founders of the 
" Bank of F"ayetteville," (now the National Bank.) 
He remained a member of its Board of Directors 
from the date of its organization till his death, 
which occurred December 7, 1875. 

In his religious views he was a Universalist ; and 
it was the aim of his life to advocate and live up to 
its doctrines. He was very genial and fond of relat- 
ing anecdotes and adventures, which he spiced with 
more or less wit and humor. He bore with patient 
resignation the disease which terminated his life, 
and with unwavering faith, he peacefully passed 
away with the firm assurance of a blissful reunion 
beyond the grave. 



DAVID HIBBAKD. 



Mr. Hibbard was born in the town of Pompey, 
March 13, 1803, and is a son of Samuel and Nancy 
[Pitcher] Hibbard. His father was born at Kin- 
derhook, Columbia County, N. Y., and came to 
Pompey in 1796, where he devoted the remaining 
years of his life to farming. Mr. Hibbard obtained 
his education at the common schools in Pompey, 
with the exception of one year's attendance at the 
Chenango Academy at Pitcher Springs. He lived 
at home until he had attained his 23d year. The 
summer of the succeeding year, he spent in canal- 
ing. He was united in marriage, April 19, 1838,10 
P'arzina, a daughter of Chauncey and Susan [Briggs] 
Hinsdale. Her parents were New England people 
and moved into the county when they were quite 
young. She was born in Otisco in 181 5, and has 
proved an invaluable help meet to Mr. Hibbard. 
He bought the farm upon which he now resides, 
when a young man. He is a Director of the Far- 
mers' Bank of Fayetteville, and is also connected 
with the National Bank. 

Mr. Hibbard is decidedly one of the most public- 
spirited citizens of Manlius. The Town Hall of 
Manlius was built mainly through his influence, and 
also the buildings of the Agricultural Societies of 
the towns of Manlius and Pompey. He has always 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



377 



taken a lively interest in the agricultural develop- 
ment of his town. 

During the rebellion, Mr. Hibbardwasa staunch 
supporter of the Union cause, and at the last call 
for troops, virhen very little interest was manifested, 
he helped raise the Second New York Cavalry. 
Mr. Hibbard is a staunch Republican. He has 
persistently declined public office, although in every 
way well fitted for discharging its duties. 



SAMUEL J. WELLS. 



Among the substantial business men of the village 
of Fayetteville, none have a stronger claim to that 
appellation than Samuel J. Wells. Beginning with 
nothing but an honest heart and the morals instilled 
into his mind at his father's fireside, he has, by de- 
grees, become one of the best known business men 
and one of the most respected citizens of his village. 
He was born at New Hartford, Oneida County, 
New York, March 22, 1830, and is a son of James 
and Amelia [Lewis] Wells. The first twenty years 
of his life he spent at home enjoying the advantages 
of the best schools in his county. He pursued a 
course of study at Homer Academy, Cortland Co., 
which laid the foundation of that business educa- 
tion which has been so instrumental in his success. 
When about twenty years of age he entered a hard- 
ware store as a clerk, in Albion, N. Y., where he 
remained five years. In the year 1855, ^^ came to 
Fayetteville and embarked in the hardware busi- 
ness, which he has continued ever since with grati- 
fying success. 

He married October 12, 1854, Anna, a daughter 
of David Collin of Fayetteville, by whom he has 
been blessed with a fine family of six children, viz : 
Samuel James, David Collin, John Lewis, Paul 
Irving, Dana Huntington and Anna Sophia. 

David Collin is attending Yale College, and is a 
member of the class of '80. John Lewis is attend- 
ing the celebrated Phillips Academy at Andover, 
Mass., preparatory to entering Yale. Mr. Wells 
was formerly a Whig, but became a member of the 
Republican party upon its organization. 

Upon the organization of the Farmers' Bank of 
Fayetteville, Mr. Wells was honored with its presi- 
dency, which was a fit tribute to his merit and 
capacity. This position he held until 1878. He is 
at present one of its Directors. Perhaps no man 
in the village has taken a deeper interest in religious 
and educational matters, or devoted a greater share 
of his time to discharging their duties than Mr. 
Wells. 
64* 



JUDSON H. GRAVES, M. D. 

Dr. Judson H. Graves was born in Bristol, Onta- 
rio County, N. Y. , May 22, 1829. He was one of 
five brothers, all of whom, with this exception, 
are now living in Michigan. His father was, in 
early life, a resident of the town of Manlius, 
Onondaga County, N. Y., but moved at the time 
of his marriage, to Bristol, Ontario County, N. Y. 
Although the Doctor had not the advantages of a 
classical education, he received a good academic 
education, and commenced the study of medicine in 
the office of Dr. Durgan, in the town of Bristol, On- 
tario County, N. Y., in the year 1853. Having re- 
ceived a thorough medical education, he graduated 
from the University of Michigan in 1858. He also 
received the degree of medicine from the Syracuse 
University in 1876. He practiced medicine with 
his preceptor until the year i860, when he moved 
to Manlius, Onondaga County, N. Y., and com- 
menced the practice of medicine there. He was 
married October 10, 1 861, to Miss Marietta Wor- 
den of Fayetteville, Onondaga County, N. Y. The 
fruit of this marriage was two children, Carrie 
Louisa, and Frederick Judson. The Doctor was 
commissioned Captain of Co. F, of the r49th Regi- 
ment of New York State Volunteers, October 4, 
1862, and went to the front with the regiment. But 
owing to a difficulty with the commanding officer 
of the regiment he tendered his resignation, giving 
his reasons therefor as above. His resignation was 
accepted by Gen. McClellan, and he was honorably 
discharged from the service. He returned home 
and resumed the practice of medicine, where he still 
resides. In politics the Doctor is a Republican, 
and has been a firm supporter of the party since its 
organization. 



CHARLES M. COLE. 

Mr. Cole was born in Manlius, Onondaga Coun- 
ty, May 5, 1 82 1. His parents were Garrett and 
Catherine Cole. He obtained a good education, 
living with his widowed mother, until he attained 
his fourteenth year, when he apprenticed himself to 
his brother to learn the stone-mason's trade. He 
remained with his brother until he was twenty-one 
years of age; and then kept a grocery store at Fay- 
etteville. When twenty-five years of age, he re- 
moved to " Poole's Brook," on the Erie Canal, 
where he kept a grocery store about three years. 
When twenty-seven years old, he married ; and a 
year later, bought with his brother- in-law a canal 
boat and followed boating during that summer. 



378 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



The next year he lived with his father-in law and 
also worked at his trade. He then bought a house 
and lot of eight acres, near the " Brook Mill," which 
he increased by subsequent purchase to thirty acres. 
At the close of two and a half years residence upon 
this place, he again lived with his father-in-law 
three years more, and then went into the jobbing 
business, with Harvey E Tuppcr He built a steam 
sawmill in Clinton Co , Iowa, which he traded with 
forty acres of western land for " the one hundred 
acre farm on the Central," near Kirkvillc ; and 
afterwards bought the place of twenty-five acres 
upon which he now resides, also twenty-five acres 
adjoining, together with a fine wood-lot of thirteen 
and a half acres, below Kirkville 

He married, April 20, 1848, Catherine Maybee, 
a daughter of David and Catherine Maybee of Man- 
lius. They have had the following children born to 
them, viz : David M., August 13. 1849; Ophelia, 
July 13, 1856, died August 18, 1867; Charley M., 
April 29, i860, died March 8, 1862, and Gideon W., 
September 15, 1862. The oldest son works the 
farm. Mr. Cole works at his trade and attends to 
business matters which pertain to the farm. He is 
a strong Democrat, and has labored in his humble 
way to advance its principles. 

Mr. Cole is upright in all his business transac- 
tions, and is well thought of by the community in 
which he lives. 

In religious sentiment Mr. and Mrs. Cole are 
Methodists, having been members in good stand- 
ing of the M. E. Church at Kirkville, the past six- 
teen years. 

C. E SCOVILLE. 

C. E. Scovillc was born April 16, 1832, at the 
old homestead, near Oran, in the town of Pompey. 
His grandfather, James Scoville, Jr., moved into the 
town of Pompey in 1796. His father, Timothy 
Hall Scovillc was born November 9, I7<j6, and mar- 
ried Esther Allen in 1817 ; spending his days upon 
a portion of the old homestead. Charles E Sco- 
villc was the youngest of five children. His mother 
died when he was six months old. He obtained 
by diligent study a good education at Cazcnovia 
Seminary, attending school winters and working 
upon his farm in the summer. 

In 1853 he took a contract of the Binghamton 
Railroad for building the fence from Jamesville to 
the Summit, being obliged to take his pay in sec- 
ond-class bonds, which proved as worthless as the 
Confederate bonds at the close of the late war. He 
was united in marriage, in June, 1858, to Mary P. 



Gould, a daughter of Jeremiah Gould, whose 
honorable connection with the salt and other inter- 
ests of the county is spoken o^^ the general 
history of the county. Her gr^^fcther was a 
lineal descendant of General Rufus Puinam. After 
leaving the railroad he went to Michigan, staying 
two years. Upon returning he worked upon 
his farm in Pompey until 1863, when he sold 
it and went to Eagle Village, where he remained 
till he bought lin 1864) the farm which he occupied 
till his death, which occurred May 16, 1875, in his 
forty-third year, leaving at his death four children, 
named respectively, James E., Addison G., Carrie 
A., and Robert F. He was a man universally es- 
teemed by all who knew him, doing in all his trans- 
actions with the world as he would be done by. 
His widow and children are occupying the home- 
stead. 



ALLEN H. AVERY. 

No citizen of the town of Manlius has a stronger 
claim on public confidence, or is more universally 
esteemed for purity of motives and justness of ac- 
tions, than Allen H. Avery. He was born at Great 
Barrington, Mass., January 21, 1815, and is a son 
of Harry and Polly [Chapman] Avery. One of his 
ancestors, Christopher Avery, a weaver, emigrated 
from England about the year 1C40, settling in Glou- 
cester, Mass. His grandfather. Miles Avery, was a 
soldier of the Revolution, and served gallantly dur- 
ing the seven years of that memorable struggle for 
freedom. His parents, when he was a year and a 
half old, immigrated to Pompey, mow LaFayette, 1 
and bought one hundred acres of heavily timbered 
land, at $io.<X) peracre. His father closed his long 
and useful life December 4, 1872, in his eighty- 
fourth year. 

Although Mr. Avery did not have the educa- 
tional advantages in his youth that the present day 
aflords, yet so faithfully did he improve his oppor- 
tunities and leisure hours that he obtained a thor- 
ough English education, and taught school success- 
fully two winters. When he was twenty-one years 
of age his father gave him $1,000, with which, to- 
gether with his own savings, he bought a farm of 
fifty-five and one-half acres, lying in the town of 
Pompey. He soon after sold it to his brother, 
Egbert I. Avery, and worked his father-in-law's 
farm on" shares five years, when he bought a farm 
adjoining his brother Egbert's, and after five years' 
residence upon it he sold it to his brother. He 
then purchased his father-in-law's farm, which he 
still owns. His present wife, Emeline, isa daughter 





Photos BY Smith, F/^hucviile 



Seymour Frait. 



l^lANCY PrA7T. 





Beach Beard 



Frances Beard. 





I LLusTRious Remington 



Eunice Remington, 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



379 



of Nathaniel Gillett of DeWitt. His children are 
named respectively, Mary J., Cora C. and Allen H., 
Jr., who has received a fine education, having at- 
tended St. John's School at Manlius, and graduated 
from Poughkeepsie College. 

Mr. Avery is an old Jacksonian Democrat, and 
has taken a deep interest in political affairs since at- 
taining his majority. He served as Assessor three 
years, and won the confidence and respect of his 
fellow-citizens by his equitable adjustment of the 
assessment rolls. Although his party is in the 
minority, he made a gallant run when nominated 
for Supervisor. In the fall of 1871, he was per- 
suaded to run for the Assembly, but, on account 
of the large Republican majority, he was not 
elected. His own town, however, showed their ap- 
preciation of his worth by giving him one hundred 
and twelve majority, when the Republican State 
ticket received one hundred and ninety majority. 

Mr. Avery has always been very actively en- 
gaged in agricultural matters, having been for several 
years President and Vice-President of the Agri- 
cultural Societies of the towns of Manlius and Pom- 
pey. President of the County Wool Growers' Asso- 
ciation and being, also, a life member and having 
been Vice-President of the State Sheep Breeders' 
and Wool Growers' Association. 

Although in his 63d year, his step is as firm and 
elastic as ever and his mind as clear as in the 
brightest days of his youth. He is passing to the 
close of his useful life surrounded by kind and lov- 
ing children and an abundance of means to satisfy 
his legitimate desires. 



J. BEACH BEARD. 

In almost every town in the State there are a few 
aged pioneers, who have undergone the hardships 
incident to frontier life, and have founded large fami- 
lies who adorn nearly all the occupations and pro- 
fessions of life. Of these men J. Beach Beard is a 
noble representative. He was born at Harwinton, 
Litchfield county, Connecticut. His parents were 
David and Mary [Tomlinson] Beard. He received 
in early boyhood a fair common school education, 
and in the year 18 12, came to Pompey, where he 
attended the Pompey Academy six months, at the 
end of which time he engaged in teaching in West- 
moreland, Oneida County, New York, and taught 
very acceptably two terms. 

In April, 18 13, he bought a fifty-acre farm, sit- 
uated in the town of Pompey, about one mile north- 
west of Pompey Hill. 



In 18 1 5, he disposed of this farm and bought 
another consisting of seventy-five acres, lying one 
mile north of Pompey Hill, on the road to Manlius. 
By subsequent purchases he increased this estate to 
500 acres, which he worked for a period of thirty- 
five years. In the spring of 1S32, he conducted a 
store at Pompey Hill, working on his farm during 
the day, doing as much hard work as any farm hand 
he had and in the evening attending to the affairs 
of his store. 

During the summer of 1836, he built a good and 
substantial stone store at Pompey Hill. 

In the spring of 1839, he bought a store at Fay- 
elteville ; his son, Beach C. Beard, being manager 
and Ira Beard, clerk. His son, Henry L. Beard, 
conducted the store at Pompey Hill, assisted by 
Huntington Beard. 

In the Fall of 1850, Mr. Beard moved to Fayette- 
ville. The previous year he had bought a good in- 
terest in the famous Ledyard purchase. 

In 1851 he built the Spring Mills, at Fayette- 
ville, which he conducted, with the assistance of his 
sons, till November, 1877, when he retired. 

In 1852 he built the first paper mill in the town 
of Manlius, which he leased for the first five years 
and since that time has given the management to 
his son, Henry L. Beard, and Robert Crouse, the 
husband of Ellen Beard, his daughter. Mr. Beard 
and sons are owners of the Beard Block, which con- 
tains many of the most prominent business firms in 
the village, which they built in 1852-53. Mr. and 
Mrs. Beard, although in their declining years, are 
enjoying tolerably good health and are surrounded 
with every comfort which can render their remain- 
ing years enjoyable. 



EDWARD FRENCH. 



Edward French was born in the town of Sullivan, 
Madison County, N. Y., November 28, 1801. His 
parents, Adin and Chloe (Nettleton) French, emi- 
grated from the town of Killingworth, Connecticut, 
in the year 1801, and settled in Madison County, 
New York. 

At the age of ten years, his father hired him out 
to a farmer for ten dollars per month during the 
summer months. In the winter he was occasionally 
sent to school, but not enough to obtain more than 
the rudiments of a common school education. 
When seventeen years of age he was apprenticed 
by his father to Jonathan Crampton, of East Guil- 
ford, (now the town of Madison,) to learn the shoe- 
maker's and tanning trade. Having mastered his 



38o 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



trade and feeling at the age of twenty-one, the 
want of a good education, he accordingly attended 
an academy for two months, making such rapid 
progress as to receive the high compliment from 
the principal that he had never before had a pupil 
who " developed such aptness for learning." In the 
year 1823, he ran a canal boat two trips, and after- 
ward engaged with a shoe firm in Pompcy, remain- 
ing two years, at the end of which time he rented 
a farm in Manlius, upon which he worked two years 
and then bought thirty-four acres of land near the 
" Green Lakes," which he increased by subsequent 
purchases, to 140 acres. 

At the close of seven years' residence upon this 
farm, he sold it and bought the place upon which 
he now lives. He married for his first wife, March 
20, 1834, Dora Ann Worden, by whom he had si.x 
children, viz: George, Julia, Oliver, Clarrissa, 
Jonathan and Ellen, of whom only Ellen, George 
and Julia are living. 

In politics, Mr. French is an Independent, hav- 
mg been for the past fifteen years disgusted with 
the corruption of parties and partisans ; he has 
striven in his humble way to put into office the 
best men, irrespective of party. His youth was 
passed in a constant struggle for existence. He is 
now surrounded with every convenience that can 
make his home happy and his mind contented. 

The old adage that the " gods help those who 
help themselves," has been strikingly illustrated 
in his life His present wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Tib- 
betts, is a very estimable lady, and has been his 
faithful companion for twenty-five years. 



ELI A. COE. 

Eli A. Coe, was born at Smithfield, Madison 
County, N. Y., April i, 1819. His parents David 
and Orra ( Ellen wood 1 Coe were both natives of 
Connecticut. His father, when twelve years of age, 
came with his parents to Madison County, and 
devoted himself throughout life to the occupation 
of farming. Mr. Coe obtained a fair business 
education, by diligently improving his opportunities 
for learning. 

When twenty-one years of age, he renteil a farm 
adjoining his father's, of seventy-one acres, upon 
which he lived as lessee five years and as owner 
two years. In the year 1849, renting his farm, he 
removed to Oneida Village, where he built a 
house and a large bakery. At the end of six 
months he sold the bakery and bought a soap and 
candle factory, which he conducted successfully 



for three years. At the close of eight years' resi- 
dence at Oneida Village, longing for the quiet 
rural life of his earlier days, he purchased a dairy 
farm, consisting of 128 acres, lying in Smithfield, 
upon which he kept twenty cows. 

In the spring of 1865, he purchased and moved 
upon the farm where he now lives, which he has 
increased from 1 16 to 141 acres. 

He married for his first wife, February 3, 1846, 
Nancy, a daughter of Ralph and Emily Ellenwood, 
of Stockbridge, by whom he had four children, viz : 
Ralph E., Minnie A., M. Burton, and Milton F. 
Ralph is married and lives on his father's farm ; the 
remaining children are at home. 

For his second wife he married, January 12, 1869, 
Mrs. Adelia Wight. In politics Mr. Coe is a Re- 
publican. In the year 1848, he united with the 
Baptist Church, and has been a constant and liber- 
al supporter of church interests since that time. 
In his domestic relations he is a kind and loving 
father and afiectionate husband. Genial, hospitable 
and well-informed, his guests find a very attractive 
and pleasant reception at his home. 

There is no man in the town of Manlius who is 
more highly spoken of and esteemed than he. 



DAVID COLLIN, Sr. 

Among the few early pioneers of Manlius, still 
living, is David Collin. He was born at North East, 
Dutchess County, New York, April 23, 1794, and 
is a son of David and Lucy [Bingham] Collin. His 
great grandfather was a French sea-captain. His 
father was born in Dutchess County and died at 
Fayetteville, June 2d, 1844. Owing to the new- 
ness of the country, and the absence of those insti- 
tutions which accompany civilization, his early edu- 
cational advantages were quite limited. Like the 
fathers of most young men of those days, his father 
required his services on the farm, until he was twen- 
ty-one years of age, when he gave him 400 acres of 
wild land, situated within half a mile of the present 
village of Fayetteville. He commenced the her- 
culean task of clearing up this immense tract of 
land with his own hands. The result of his toil 
can be seen to-day, in the large beautiful fields which 
meet the passer's gaze. 

By a rare combination of business foresight the 
400 acres were increased to iScx5 acres, which he has 
with an unusually fatherly love distributed among 
his large and respectable family. In the year 1817, 
he married Anna, a daughter of Ephraim and Mir- 
iam Smith, of Dutchess County, by whom he had 



o 
o 

m 



S 
• s 



n 



o 
o 
n 




^1 




HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



381 



seven children, viz : Edmund, Lucy, David, Jr., Ira, 
Harriette, Miriam, and Anna Smith. 

In the year 18 13, Mr, Collin joined the American 
army, and served as sergeant for three months. 
Although he never cared for nor sought political pre- 
ferment, he has quite frequently been honored with 
the most important town offices. He has been one 
of the most public-spirited men that the village of 
Fayetteville has ever had, being one of the first 
movers in the erection of the first church and 
academy in the village. The Water-works Com- 
pany is indebted to Mr. Collin in a great measure 
for its existence. 

Many men throughout the town and county at- 
tribute their start in life to the generosity of Mr. 
Collin. In politics he is a Republican, although 
his earlier political affiliations were Democratic. 
Since 1832 he has been an active member and sup- 
porter of the Presbyterian church of Fayetteville. 
Mr. Collin is still living at the advanced age of 84 
years, enjoying good health. 



SILAS BELL. 



Mr. Bell married for his second wife, September 
22, 1863, Henriette, a daughter of Chauncey and 
Charlotte [Huntley] Arnold, of Sullivan County. 
Their only child, Nettie Bertha, aged thirteen, is 
now attending school. By his first wife he had 
one child, Jasper A., who died in his fiftieth year, 
the 26th of August, 1877. 

In politics Mr. Bell was formerly a Democrat but 
at present is a Republican. 

For over forty years he has been a member of the 
Universalist Church. Upon first hearing a Uni- 
versalist preacher, he became thoroughly convinced 
of the truth of the doctrines of the Universalist 
church. 

Mr. Bell is classed as one of the wealthiest citi- 
zens of the town of Manlius. 



Silas Bell was born at Glastonbury, Hartford 
County. Conn., on the 9th of June, 1804. His 
parents, Aaron and Sally [Olger] Bell, emigrated 
from Connecticut in the year of i8i6,and settled in 
Fabius, Onondaga County, New York. 

His youth was spent in obtaining such advantages 
of education as the district schools of those days 
afforded, and in working as a farm laborer. When j 
twenty-one years of age, impressed with the feeling 
that it was his duty to have a home of his own, he 
married Hannah Smith, a daughter of Jonathan 
Smith of Manlius, and bought a sixty-five acre farm 
in Truxton, Cortland County, N. Y. He met the 
first payment of one hundred dollars by chopping 
cord-wood at twenty-five cents per cord. In 1830, 
he disposed of his farm, and moved to Manlius. 
The succeeding four years he spent with his broth- 
ers-in-law and chopped on their farm during that 
period over a thousand cords of wood. He pur- 
chased seventy-five acres of land, where he now re- 
sides, in 1834, which he increased by subsequent 
purchases to one hundred and thirty acres. 
65 



E. W. WOODWARD. 



Mr. Woodward was born in Geddes, April 27, 
1825. His parents, John W. and Sophia Z. Wood- 
ward, emmigrated from Unadilla, Otsego County, 
in the year 1797, and settled in Geddes ; there be- 
ing no settlement where Syracuse is now situated, 
except in what is now the First Ward. His father 
took up Government lands, which he held until 1852, 
when he disposed of his property and immigrated 
to the State of Wisconsin, settHng near Milwaukee. 
He afterward moved to Appleton, where he died 
in 1868, leaving a large estate. 

Mr. Woodward spent his youth at home until he 
attained his 23d year. In 1853 he bought a tract 
of land in Wisconsin, but in four months returned 
to Syracuse. The next spring he went to Chicago, 
where he kept a hotel two years. He subsequently 
lived alternately in the East and West, until 1865, 
when he bought the hotel property at Manlius, which 
he still owns. He married in 1850, Charlotte P., 
a daughter of Moses Chapman, by whom he has had 
four children, viz. : Florence, Gertrude, Mabel 
Blanchard, and Linden Dwight Wesley, of whom 
only Mabel B. and Linden D. W. are living. In 
politics he is a staunch Democrat. He has never 
been desirous of public office, although often solic- 
ited by his friends to run for different town offices. 



382 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



FABIUS 



Fabius was erected from Fompey in 1798. It 
included at that time two military townships — 
Fabius and Tully— embracing all the present towns 
of Fabius, Tully, Truxton and Preble, with parts of 
Spaflbrd and Otisco, being ten by twenty miles in 
extent. Tully was taken from it in 1803, and in 
1808, when the county of Cortland was set off from 
Onondaga, the town of Truxton was taken from the 
southern part of it. 

This town has a general elevation of from j.oco 
to 1,200 feet above the Kric Canal at Syracuse. 
The surface of the south half is broken by a series 
of ridges extending in a north and south direction 
and separated by narrow valleys. Their declivities 
are generally steep, their summits rising from three 
hundred to five hundred feet, South Hill, in the 
southwest corner being the principal elevation. 
The streams from the center riow south into the 
Tioughnioga, a branch of the Susquehanna, and 
those upon the east and west borders flow north 
into the Limestone and Hutternut Creeks. At the 
foot of South Hill lies a small lake known as Lab- 
rador Pond. 

The soil is generally a fine quality of gravelly 
loam intermixed in places with clay and sand, well 
watered and adapted to grass and pasturage. From 
this fact, dairying is the principal occupation of the 
people. In amount of dairy products, the town is 
the first in the county and among the first in the 
State. 

F'lRST Settlers. 

The first settlers of Fabius were Josiah Moore 
and Timothy Jerome, from Stockbridge, Mass., in 
1794. They erected their log cabins in the dense 
forest, and for the first year were entirely without 
neighbors. The next year was marked by the arriv- 
al of Col. Elijah St. John, also from Massachusetts, 
and soon others followed. The settlement was so 
rapid that in 18 10 the population of the town was 
1,900, although the immigration commenced at a 
somewhat later period than that into Pompey, Man- 
lius and Onondaga. 

Josiah Moore settled on the Chenango road. 
He died April 29, 1802. His son, Charles Moore, 
was the first white male child born in the town. 
He was born in 1796, and died in 1862. 



The pioneers penetrated into the deep forest ; 
heavy timber of hemlock, beech, maple, basswood, 
elm. ash, oak and pine, covered the face of the 
country. In this unsubdued wilderness they erected 
their cabins, with no traces to guide them save the 
marked trees or the curling smoke ascending from 
their rude chimneys or roofs. In the natural 
meadows along the valleys of the streams the herds 
were turned loose and fared sumptuously, the tink- 
ling bell directing the sturdy woodman to the object 
■ of his search, when the obedient ox was needed as 
I an auxiliary to labor, or the docile cow as an in- 
dispensable aid to sustenance. 

The chief means of subsistence to last them 
through the first two years were brought by the 
pioneers from the east. Wild plums, blackberries 
and game were plenty, and these with milk and 
such stores as they had laid in, constituted the luxu- 
ries of their board. The first mills to which they 
had recourse, short of Herkimer, were Danforth's 
on the Butternut Creek. 

Town Meetings, &c. 
The first town meeting for Fabius was held at 
I the house of Joseph Tubbs, April 3, 1798. Timo- 
! thy Jerome was chosen Supervisor ; Josiah Moore, 
I Town Clerk ; Benjamin Brown, Timothy Walker. 
I and Elijah St. John. Assessors ; Joseph Tubbs, 
James Cravath and William Blanchard, Commis- 
sioners of Highways : Ezckiel Dunham, Constable. 
The second town meeting was held at the same 
place, April 2, 1799: Timothy Jerome was chosen 
Supervisor, and Benjamin Brown, Town Clerk. 

The seventy-eighth annual town meeting was 
held February 20, 1877, in the house of Ira Smith, 
and the following officers were elected : Justices, 
James H. Wheelock, Elmore Wheaton, Eli S. 
Howe, Harance T. Jones ; Town Clerk, Dillie R. 
Webster : Supervisor, Newel Rowley ; Collector, 
John H. Sniffin; Assessor. Elijah Andrews ; Over- 
seers of the Poor, Ezra Goodrich and Charles W. 
Miles ; Town Auditors, John C. Bailey, Wm. H. S. 
Green and Wm. Tibbits ; Constables, John H. 
Snifllin, George W. Way, Stephen Chaffee. Grant O. 
Andrews ; Game Constable, Ransom Stringham ; 
Sealer of Weights and Measures. A. W. Salesbury ; 
Excise Commissioner, Alvin House. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



383 



Timothy Jerome was the first, and for a long-time 
the only. Justice of the Peace in this town, and for 
the surrounding country. 

The first frame house was erected by Josiah 
Moore in 1800. Others soon followed. The in- 
habitants were enterprising, and soon supplied 
themselves with all the comforts and conveniencies 
of life. 

Josiah Moore sowed the first wheat and caused 
the first farming implements to be brought into the 
town. The first surveys were made by Hon. 
Moses DeWitt. (See Town of DeWitt.) Major 
Joseph Strong built the first barn in 1799. It is 
still standing. 

Among the first settlers were William Clark and 
Simon Keeney. A daughter of the latter, Miss 
Lydia Keeney, was married to Mr. Abel Webster 
in 1798, and this was the first marriage in Fabius. 

With respect to the first school in town, authori- 
ties seem to differ. Clark says : " The first school 
taught in this town was by Miss Jerome, wife of 
the late Judge James Geddes." He says it was in 
a log school house, a year or two before there was 
any other in the town, but gives no locality nor 
date. Other local authorities say the first school 
was taught in Simon Keeney's neighborhood, by 
Benjamin Brown, in 1802, and give the names of 
the surviving pupils, as follows : Champion Keeney, 
Simon Keeney, Jr., and Esther Woodruff. Miss 
Jerome may have taught a school before 1802, and 
all the rest of the facts about the school in Mr. 
Keeney's neighborhood inayhQ correct, except that 
it was \\\Q first school in the town. We suggest 
this merely as a conjectural mode of reconciliation ; 
local authorities must settle the question. 

Joel Daniels was the first blacksmith. The first 
store was opened by Morton & Cady. Joseph 
Simons kept the first tavern within the limits of 
the present town, though Josiah Tubbs, in 1 797, 
was the first tavern keeper, near Tully, at whose 
house town meetings were first held. 

The first grist and saw mills erected in this town 
were by Thomas Miles, on Butternut Creek, west 
of Apulia. 

The first postoffice was at Truxton village, (then 
iu Fabius,) established about 1804. At a much 
later period postoffices were established at Apulia 
and Franklinville. 

Elijah Miles was the first State Senator from this 
town. The first Member of Assembly was Jona- 
than Stanley, in 18 12. 

The oldest native resident of the town is John 
Keeney, who is now living ; he has attained the 
good old age of 81 years. 



The town contains twenty-three School Districts. 

A tannery was constructed by Lyman Smith in 
1805. It was in the open air, without any building 
or even shed to shelter it. The contrivance for 
grinding the bark was that of a large stone attached 
to a log or pole and drawn round in a circle by a 
horse. George Pettit afterwards owned the appli- 
ances, which were burned in 1812. He immediate- 
ly rebuilt, and in connection therewith, put up a shoe 
shop said to have been the first one in town. Prior 
to this it was the custom for traveling cobblers to 
go from house to house repairing and making shoes. 
The above tannery was built on part of Mr. Keeney's 

farm. 

VILLAGE OF FABIUS. 

The Village of Fabius is pleasantly situated 
among the hills which form the most northerly 
spur of the Alleghany range of mountains. Along 
its western extremity flows a branch of the 
Tioughnioga, a beautiful stream whose waters flow 
southward and mingle with those of the Susque- 
hanna. The surrounding scenery is pleasing and 
romantic. It is studded with beautiful groves, 
fruitful orchards and the neat and substantial homes 
of prosperous farmers, and is walled in upon every 
side with hills that swell softly in the distance to a 
clear cut outline against the deep blue sky. This 
village had its origin about the year 18 12, at which 
time an ashery and dwelling house were erected 
near the east end. In the year 18 14 a hotel was 
built and the same now stands, with enlarged 
dimensions, on the corner of the road, and is known 
as the Old Cadwell House. In i8i6the Hamilton 
and Skaneateles turnpike was constructed through 
this town, and in that year another hotel was 
erected. Ira Smith is the present proprietor. 

The first store was kept by Aaron Benedict & 
Co., and erected on the corner now occupied by 
S. H. Corbin, as a fruit yard ; in the same year 
the turnpike was constructed. The first physician 
was Dr. Searles. The first Justice of the Peace 
was George Pettit. 

The Baptist meeting-house was built in 18 18, 
and rebuilt in 1870, the present pastor being Rev. 
Ira Taylor. The Methodist church was built in 
1821, was moved to its present position in 1835, 
and rebuilt in 1 860. The Free- Will Baptist Church 
was built in 1830, moved to the present location in 
1845, removed and a new structure placed in its 
stead in 1868. The Universalis! Church, now oc- 
cupied by the Roman Catholics was erected in 

1845- 
The completion of the turnpike in 18 16, was the 

sio-nal for the systematical laying out and building 



384 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



in this central part of the town a village upon this 
thoroughfare, and henceforward, for forty years, it 
sustained uninterrupted growth, prosperity and 
wealth, and was the scene of stirring business 
activity. It soon extended three-quarters of a mile 
along the turnpike, had one parallel side street and 
four cross streets, with a population of 600, with 
numerous dry-goods, grocery, boot and shoe, and 
clothing stores, cabinet and wagon shops, with 
the usual minor branches of business and 
trade. Prominent among the early land-holders and 
founders of this place may be mentioned Abijah 
Otis, Mark and Lucas Andrews, and Aaron Bene- 
dict, while to Jerry Benedict and John Wilson may 
be ascribed the original conception of the village and 
plan of the streets. The opening of the Syracuse 
and Binghamton Railroad in 1S54 was a damag- 
ing blow to the business enterprise of the place. 
Since that date this avenue has conducted a large 
percentage of the most valuable trade to the heavy 
stores and shops of Syracuse. And now the place 
of the business men of a former day is filled with 
a laboring class, retired farmers and men of leisure. 
Still the town is not devoid of life. It has a popu- 
lation of 500. It numbers 125 dwelling houses, 4 
churches, 3 mi.xed stores, I grocery store, 2 restaur- 
ants, I tin and hardware store, i hotel, 4 shoe shops, 

2 carriage shops, 4 blacksmith shops, 1 large flour- 
ing mill, I undertaking establishment and 4 physi- 
cians, together with one graded school, employing 

3 teachers in charge of 100 pupils, in the large and 
commodious house formerly built for an academy 
and subsequently converted to the use of a district 
school, and was recently improved and enlarged 
by the addition of the edifice formerly occupied by 
the school of district No. 8, which, at the time of 
this addition with three of the other large districts 
in the central part of the town, was consolidated 
with the present district No. 9. One of the pres- 
ent teachers, Miss Mary E Persons, has held a 
position in this school for the last three years. 

The principal store of the place is conducted by 
Hotaling & Case. George H. Gallinger, the 
former partner of Mr. Hotaling has recently retired 
from the firm. Their sales amount to S35.000 an- 
nually. The postofficc is kept at this store. O. 
Hulbcrt, Postmaster. 

The carriage manufacturing and repair shop of 
Ellis & Barnes has a conspicuous position on one of 
the corners at the west end of the village. 

Among the physicians is Dr. Milford L. Pine, 
who has recently established his office in this place. 

Rev. C. L. F. Howe has recently entered 
upon the first year of his services with this people. 



Rev. I. H. Beman has charge of the Free Will 
Baptist church. 

Fabius Evergreen Cemetery is an important ad- 
junct to the vil!ai;c. The Association was organ- 
ized March 22, 1S64. The first Trustees were, O. 
Hills, H. F. Williams, A. Bramcr, J. E. Pettit. S. 
Cad well, E. Andrews, L. S. Thomas, H. Adams 
and D S. Sprague. The present Trustees are H. 
F. Williams, D. H Johnson, D. S. Sprague, S. H. 
Corbin, H. C. Phillips, E. Wheaton, O. Pope, E. 
Peck and Lyman Osborn. H. F. Williams was the 
first President of this Association and has held the 
position of Trustee since its organization. The 
cemetery occupies six acres of land near the east 
end of the village. Its great variety of ornamental 
trees and shrubs make it a very attractive rural 
cemetery. 

B.\i>TisT Chukch of Fabius. — On the 24th of 
August, 1803, when there were no roads through 
this town east and west, and it was all forest where 
the village now stands, the Baptist Church of 
Fabius was recognized by a council composed of 
delegates sent from Hamilton, Cazenovia, Pompey, 
and DeRuyter. Elder Ashbel Hosmer was chosen 
Moderator, and Dr. James Pettit, Clerk. This 
council, composed of six ministers and nine lay- 
brethren, convened in a barn three miles south of 
the village, owned by Samuel Webster, and there 
recognized this little band of disciples, numbering 
less than twenty, as a " true church of Jesus Christ." 
Some of the original members were Thomas 
Keeney, Samuel Stone, Elijah Keeney, Gurden 
WoodrufTand Samuel Webster. 

The house of worship of this church was erected 
at Fabius Village, in the. year 1S18, and cost about 
$5,000. This year was an eventful one to the 
church. They engaged Elder Eliada Blakcsly for 
three years for one thousand dollars, and went with 
their teams to Connecticut to bring his family and 
goods; they built their meeting house, and baptized 
one hundred and twenty-three converts. 

The following are the names of pastors : 

Rufus Freeman, 1S05 ; Peter P. Roots, 1S07; 
John Upfold, 181 1 ; Salmon Morton, 1815 ; Rufus 
Freeman, 1 8 16; Eliada Blakesly, 1818; Ottis and 
Bell, 1822; Horace Griswold, 1823; Wheeler I. 

Cram, 1831; Brisbin, 1832; Jirah D. Cole, 

1833 ; Oreb Montague, 1834 ; A. Whcclock, 1836; 
H. V. Jones, 1S38; Enoch Dye. 1842; Luke 
Davis, 1843; Peter P. Brown. 1844; Walter G. 
Dye. 1847; Lark L. Livermore, 1853; Elijah G. 

Blount. 185S; J. D. Webster, 1864; Olney, 

1S66: J. M. Tolman. 1867 ; Ira Clark, 1873 ; 

Grain, 1875 ; Ira A. Taylor, 1877. 

The church was incorporated August 24, 1819. 
At that time the following Board of Trustees was 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



385 



elected : Elijah St. John, Stephen Tripp, Jonathan 
Stanley, Simon Keeney, Aaron Benedict, John 
Phelps, Benj. Lewis, Geo. Pettit, Nathaniel Bacon. 

Present Trustees, 1877 — Lorenzo Heffron, Du- 
portal S. Sprague, Jr., Albert G. Bacon, Orlando 
Hulbert, Elmore VVheaton, Dillis R. Webster. 

Free-Will Baptist Church, Fabius Village. — 
The first meetings of this denomination in the town 
were held in a school house, near Stephen Tripp's, 
in October, 1826. In 1827, the church was organ- 
ized, consisting of David Coats, Charles Moore, 
Rolen Sears, Joshua Sanders, John Smith, Eliza- 
beth Coats, Hannah Moore, Experience Sears, 
Sallie Sanders, Polly Smith, Polly Coats, Celestia 
Annable and others. 

The present church edifice was erected in 1869, 
at a cost of ^5,000. 

Elders Waldron and Bates preceded the present 
Pastor, Rev. I. H. Beman, who settled over the 
church in the Spring of 1877. 

The church has about 75 members and a Sunday 
school numbering 50. 

First M. E. Church, of Fabius. — The earliest 
meetings were held in a school house. The church 
edifice was erected in 1821. Among the original 
members of the church were Anson Cadwell, David 
Porter, Daniel Porter, Carlson Hodgson, Sallie Cad- 
well and Catherine Hubbard. The cost of the 
church edifice was §6,000. The names of the follow- 
ing pastors have been furnished us : 

Rev. Moses Adams, Dr. Luke Hitchcock, Rev. 
John E. Robie Dr. D. A. Wheadon, Rev. Thomas 
Harrow, Rev. P. H. Wiles, Rev. C. L. F. Howe, 
A. M., Ph. D., present Pastor. 

Present membership 105 ; Sunday school, 147. 

Bramer & Bennett, Foundry, Machine and Gen- 
eral Repair Shops, Fabius Village. Established in 
the Spring of 1 877. Building of wood, three stories, 
cost $2,000, erected in 1866. Manufacture lumber- 
wagons, sleighs and agricultural implements ; busi- 
ness prosperous. 

E. A. Fosmer, Cabinet and Undertaking Rooms, 
Fabius Village. Business established in 1872. 
Wooden building — not costly. Mr. Fosmer has 
made steady progress in building up a good business. 
Irving Smith, Custom Mills, Fabius Village. 
Mills started by Oregin & Griswold in 1817. Cost 
of buildings $5,000. Water-power — 14 ft. breast 
wheel. Capacity, 20 bushels per hour ; two millers 
employed. Capital, $10,000. 

Ellis & Barnes, Carriage and Sleigh Factory, 
Fabius. Wooden building, erected in 1837. Busi- 
ness established in 1856. 

C. S. Chaffee & Bros., Saw and Shingle Mill 
and Cheese-Box Factory, Fabius. Established in 

66* 



1837. Water-power ; employs five hands and do a 
large business. 

SUMMIT STATION. 

Summit Station is a young but brisk and active 
village. It is located in the western part of the 
town, five miles distant from Fabius Village, and on 
the line of the Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad, 
to which it owes its existence. There was not a 
building on its site when the road was built in 
1854. Since then it has become a center for 
marketing and shipping the produce from a large 
surrounding territory, and at the present time a 
larger tonage of dairy products is shipped from this 
station than from any other point on the line of the 
road. It presents a neat and attractive appearance 
to the traveler, its buildings being new and reared 
in the style of modern architecture. As the old 
village of Apulia is dying away, its business and 
population are accumulating about this point. It 
now has a population of something over one hun- 
dred ; and maintains one district school with an 
average attendance of twenty pupils, one church of 
the Methodist denomination. Rev. A. D. Webster, 
Pastor ; two well supported, well appointed and 
orderly conducted hotels— the Summit House on 
the western side of the track kept by John H. 
Snififin, the Colby House on the east side controlled 
by O. F. Gilbert ; one dry goods and grocery store, 
conducted by C. F. Gay & Co. ; one house for the 
sale of general groceries and farm implements, kept 
by J- Jay Blaney, who is also Postmaster ; one 
extensive steam manufacturing establishment, 
Green & Sturdevant, proprietors. It also contains a 
cheese factory, one blacksmith shop, one carriage 
factory and two custom flouring mills. It also has 
two dealers in farmer's and dairymen's stock and 
produce. Each year adds new industry, wealth and 
importance to the place. 

Green & Sturdevant's Saw Mills, at this 
village were established in 1871. The manufacture 
of chairs was added to the saw mill in 1874. 
employs twelve hands and $8,000 capital. 

Methodist Episcopal Church, Apulia Station. 
Organized in the fall of 1869. The following have 
served the church as pastors : 

Rev. Timothy W. Owen, two years ; Rev. J. 
Fletcher Brown, two and one half years ; Rev. 
Edmund M. Mills, two years ; Rev. Anthony C. 
Smith, three years ; Rev. Anson D. Webster, 
present pastor. 

The church edifice was built in 1869-70, at a 
cost of §2,200. The church has now thirty-nine 
members and a Sunday School of about thirty. 



386 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



DE WITT. 



DeWitt was taken from Manlius and erected 
into a separate town April 12, 1835. It was named 
in honor of " Moses DcWitt, Major of Militia and 
Judge of the County Courts ; one of the first, most 
active and useful settlers of the county. He was 
born on the 15th of October, 1766, and died on the 
15th day of August, 1794." Such is the inscription 
found upon a marble slab which covers his remains 
in a small family burying ground about a mile south 
of Jamesville. The same stone bears the further 
inscription : " Also of his brother, Egbert DeWitt, 
born 25th of April. 1768; died 30th of May, 
1793." Moses DeWitt was descended from a dis- 
tinguished family of Holland, which immigrated to 
New York, and a branch of which settled in Or- 
ange County. His father was Jacob Rutzen De- 
Witt, a brother of the mother of DeWitt Clinton. 
The family mansion in the town of Deer Park, on 
the banks of the Neversink River, in the County of 
Orange, N.Y., had been built as a sort of a castle for 
defense against the Indians, and during the French 
War and the War of the Revolution had been 
strongly fortified. The walls were of stone, of 
immense thickness, and surrounded by a row of 
palisades. It was occupied by a garrison during 
the Revolution. 

Moses DeWitt and his distinguished cousin, 
DeWitt Clinton, were in early life schoolmates, un- 
der the tuition of Thomas White, an English gentle- 
man of liberal education, who formed a strong at- 
tachment to Mr. DeWitt, " was with him much of 
his life, and closed his eyes in death." Moses D. 
Burnet and Thomas Rose of Syracuse, were rela- 
tives of Moses DeWitt. 

Moses DeWitt was associated with his uncle, 
Gen. James Clinton, and David Rittenhouse, Esq., 
as one of the surveyors of the boundary line be- 
tween New York and Pennsylvania, when the 
former two gentlemen were Commissioners ap- 
pointed by their respective States, to survey and 
establish the boundary line — a work which lasted 
about three years ; and during this time proved 
himself a skillful surveyor and engineer. When 
the Military Tract was laid out, the Surveyor- 
General, his uncle, Simeon DeWitt, appointed him 
as Assistant Surveyor, and with Abraham Harden- 



burgh, he laid out and surveyed the several town- 
ships, and, with the assistance of other surveyors, 
sub-divided them into lots. For this valuable ser- 
vice the Slate granted him several thousand acres 
of land, scattered throughout the Military Tract, 
and along the southern tier of counties, bordering 
on Pennsylvania. At the organization of Herkimer 
County, in 1791, he was appointed Surrogate and 
Justice of the Peace, and was the first man to per- 
form the duties of that office on the Military Tract. 
In 1793 he was appointed a Major of Militia, and 
with Major (afterward General 1 Danforth, had 
charge of a battalion. At the organization of On- 
ondaga County, in 1794, he was appointed Judge of 
the Courts, Surrogate and Justice of the Peace, and 
was chosen the first Supervisor of Pompey, in 
April, 1794. His residence was on Lot No. 3, 
Pompey. mow northeast corner of LaFayelte^ a lot 
which had been drawn by his uncle, General James 
Clinton. In order to secure a valuable water- 
power on Butternut Creek, on which he contem- 
jilaled making extensive improvements, he had pur- 
chased fifty acres adjoining in the present town of 
DeWitt But his untimely death brought all his 
labors and earthly prospects to a sudden termina- 
tion. He died at the age of twenty-eight years, 
August 15, 1794. 

The town of DeWitt has a surface of consider- 
able variety, and in many places the scenery is un- 
usually beautiful The northern half is level, and 
the southern broken and hilly. The declivities of 
the hills are usually steep, and their summits from 
five to seven hundred feet above the valleys. But- 
ternut Creek, flowing north, divides the highlands 
into two nearly equal ridges. Upon this stream are 
several fine mill sites. The falls below Jamesville 
are somewhat interesting as a curiosity. The water 
falls about thirty feet perpendicularly, and the 
breadth of the creek is about forty feet. Its rocky 
chasm and sublime scenery, connected with the 
immense beds of gypsum and water-lime, and the 
e.xtensive works for their manufacture, render this 
a very desirable place for the rambles of the tourist 
and the researches of the geologist. There is a 
tradition, that at the time the French colony, 
located a little south of Jamesville, were massacred, 




I'buto, 1<7 \V. Y. lUti|[er, Sjrmruae. 



IIOBKKT DUNLAl". 



Robert I>iiiila]> vma Ixirii in Allmiiy, N. Y., April 28, 
1810, aiitl wuM n son of Uobort and Joaiietto ( AiidrewH) Piin- 
liip. Hi.s fiitlirr wa.i n iiiitivc of Ayrsliire, Scotland, and 
fmifrnitod to America in the year 1805, locating; at Albany, 
where he cupi^ud in the brewing and uiiiltin^ businctw, which 
lie iMntinui>d till the day of Iiik death, which occurred in the 
autumn of 1851, in his wventy-fourth year, leaving a large 
estate. 

The subject of thitt Hkctch rcceivi'd his education at the 
Albany academy, and livi'd with \m father until he wiLt twenty- 
three years of age, when he moved to the town of I)e Witt, 



Onondapi County, and engaged in the milling busincxs, and 
alik) in the manufacture of gypum and hydraulic cement, which 
he haM followed up to the present time. 

He hiw been supervisor of his town, and was one of the 
original directors of the Syracuse and Binghamton railroad ; 
he has been for several years, and is at present, president of 
the Syracuse and Jamesville plank-road company, and is also 
trustee of the St. John's school at Manlius. 

Energy, prudence, and remarkable foresight arc his promi- 
nent characteristics. A gixnl neighbor, and a kind husband, he 
is higlily riwpectcd by all who know him. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



387 



one escaped and was pursued, overtaken and killed 
near these falls. 

The first gypsum was discovered northwest of 
Jamesville, on Lot 81, in 181 1. The first dis- 
•covered in the United States was in the town of 
Camillus, in 1792. It had previously been brought 
from Nova Scotia, and was called Nova Scotia 
Plaster. Before this it had been brought to this 
country from France and Germany in limited 
quantities, under the name of plaster of paris. Dr. 
Franklin first introduced it into the United States 
as a vegetable stimulant. Robert Livingston first 
introduced it into the eastern part of the State of 
New York in 1805. 

Water-lime was discovered in this town in 1818 
or 1 8 19, and is now prepared for market in large 
quantities principally in the towns of Manlius and 
DeWitt. (See Fayetteville Manufacturers.) 

Clark, in his Onondaga, gives the following ac- 
count of certain caves in the vicinity of Jamesville: 

" Nathan Beckvvith, in sinking a well, about a 
mile east of Jamesville, in 1807, discovered a large 
cavern. It has been explored to some extent in 
a southwesterly direction from the entrance at the 
well. The depth at the entrance of the cavern 
may be about twenty feet ; height of the cavern at 
the entrance, about seven feet ; width, near five 
feet. These dimensions continue six or eight rods, 
when the space becomes contracted to a width just 
sufficient for a single person to pass through. It 
soon becomes broader. The size is very far from 
being uniform, the top in some places being not 
more than three or four feet from the bottom. Dog- 
tooth spar, stalactites and stalagmites, are numer- 
ous. A small stream of water runs along the 
bottom. 

" There is another cave, about two miles west of 
Jamesville, on the farm of the late Mr. Brown, 
which is several hundred feet deep and which 
has never been thoroughly explored. The open- 
ing from the top is through a fissure about three 
feet broad by eight feet long. After descending 
some twenty feet, there is an extensive opening to 
the great valley below. It is supposed that this 
cave extends all along the great ledge of limestone 
rock, from the western part of DeWitt, nearly to 
Jamesville. The ledge is usually about two hun- 
dred feet high. The cave itself is a great singu- 
larity, if not curiosity. 

" At the time this cave was first made known to 
the settlers, tools which had been used for mining 
purposes were found at its mouth, and also a bar 
of solid silver two inches square and eighteen 
inches long, having a point of steel. It is also 
reported that a kettle of money was found about 
twenty rods from the cave, which was supposed 
to have been coined there." 

In the southwest corner of the town, about a 
mile and a half from Jamesville, is a small lake 
occupying a deep chasm in the rocks. It is nearly 



circular in form, about eighty rods in diameter, and 
is almost surrounded by perpendicular banks from 
150 to 200 feet high. This is one of the most 
singular bodies of water in Central New York. It 
has no outlet, but upon the eastern side is a low 
marsh through which the water might flow, but 
does not. In several places near the center a lead 
has been lowered three hundred feet without finding 
bottom, and within fifty feet of the shore the water is 
over a hundred feet deep. The water drawn from 
a considerable depth is highly charged with sulphur- 
eted hydrogen. Another lake of similar character 
lies two miles east of Jamesville. 

Messina Springs, three in number and twenty 
feet apart, are situated about three and a half miles 
east of Syracuse. The name was given them in 
1835 by the people in the vicinity, on account of 
their contiguity to Syracuse, as the place of the 
same name is in Sicily. They emerge from a lime- 
stone rock on the surface of which is found speci- 
mens of calcareous substances. The temperature 
is uniformly fifty degrees Fahrenheit. The water is 
strongly impregnated with sulphur and has consid- 
erable local notoriety for medicinal qualities. 

Early Settlement. 

Benjamin Morehouse, from Fredericksburg, 
Dutchess County, N. Y., was the first settler in 
the town of DeWitt. He arrived here, with his 
wife and three children, following the Indian trail 
from Oneida to Onondaga, April 26, 1789. His 
log house was erected on the flats a few yards west 
of the old church, three and a half miles west of 
Manlius Village, then called by the Indian name, 
Kasoongkta Flats. Mr. Morehouse here opened 
the first tavern kept in the county in 1790, and it 
became a noted place, no less than its proprietor, 
who, on account of his dignified deportment, was 
popularly known and addressed as " Governor." 
At Mr. Morehouse's tavern was held many of the 
early meetings, both of a civic and military" character, 
for this new region of country. When he first 
settled here his nearest neighbors were Asa Dan- 
forth and Comfort Tyler, seven miles distant at 
Onondaga Hollow. In 1791, he carried a plow- 
share on his back to Westmoreland, Oneida 
County, to get it sharpened, and while the black- 
smith was doing the work he proceeded to Herki- 
mer, purchased thirty pounds of flour and returned 
on foot with flour and plowshare on his back. This 
was the first wheaten flour introduced into his family 
after their arrival, except a small quantity brought 
along with them, and it sufficed for their necessities 
for nearly a year. 



388 



HISTORY OF OXOXDAGA COUXTY. XEW YORK. 



The tirsl settlers, (rom 1790 to iSoo, 111 Janies- 
ville and vicinity, were Moses DeWitt, Daniel 
Keeler, Dr. Holbrook, Jeremiah Jackson, William 
Bends, Stephen Angel, Stephen Hungerford, 
Jeremiah and James Gould, Roger Merrill, Caleb 
Northrup, Henjamin Sanford and others. Jeremiah 
Jackson erected the first frame dwelling house in 
'797 ; Joseph Purdy opened the first blacksmith 
shop about the same time. In 179S Mathew Dum- 
frie built a distillery, malt house and brewery, and 
manufactured the first beer and whisky made in 
the county. Oliver Owen erected a saw mill in 
1795. Mr. Trowbridge kept the first tavern at 
Jamesvillc, in 1804; Daniel Olmstead kept it in 
1806, when it was considered the best tavern west 
of Utica. In 1804, Benjamin Sanford built mills, 
and Mr. Hungerford started clothing works about 
the same time. John Post, from Utica, opened a 
store of goods, one mile east of Jamesville in 1802 ; 
Robbins & Callighan, in 1S04, and Mr. Keeler, in 
1805. Esquire Edgar opened a law office at More- 
house's Flats at an early day, and had for students 
Moses D. Rose and Luther Badger. Dr. Hol- 
brook, the first physician in the town, located at 
Jamesville in 1791. The doctor presided at the 
first public meeting held in this section of the 
country, convened at Morehouse's tavern for the 
purpose of taking preliminary measures for the di 
vision of Herkimer County. John Youngs was 
the first settler of Orville, in 1791, and kept the 
first tavern in that part of the town. The settle- 
ment, on this account, first went by the name of 
Youngsville. Mr. Youngs erected the first frame 
house and was for many years Justice of the Peace 
— the first in the town of Manlius. 

JAMESVILLE. 

Jamesville is situated on the Syracuse, Bingham- 
ton and New York Railroad, and on Butternut 
Creek, seven miles from Syracuse. It has a popu- 
lation of about three hundred and fifty inhabitants, 
and is a thriving village, the amount of business 
transacted being larger by far than is done in most 
places of its size. The principal interests being 
stone, lime and plaster. There are two firms en- 
gaged in that business, viz : Robert Dunlop and 
Alvord, Dixon & Weston. Mr. Dunlop is also en- 
gaged largely in milling, owning and operating two 
grist mills, one saw-mill and a pearl barley mill, 
also extensive limekilns. There are several parties 
engaged in the immediate vicinity of Jamesville, 
quarrying and cutting stone of a very superior 
quality, which is shipped to all points in Central 
New York, and very largely to Syracuse, where it 



IS used in building, many of the handsomest and 
most substantial structures being entirely or partly 
built of it. 

The commercial interests are somewhat limited 
at present, owing to the great conflagration which 
occurred here October 14, 1877, whereby all the 
business portion of the village was laid in ashes — 
two hotels, the " Kortright House," and the " Clark 
House." three stores, kept by Reed & Conkling, 
Connell & Co., and Daniel Quinlan, Avery's restau- 
rant and residence, a boot and shoe store kept by 
Isaac L. Sherwoo<l, and four dwelling houses, one 
church and five barns were devoured by the raging 
element. The loss by the fire was estimated to be 
about fifty thousand dollars, an amount certainly 
sufficient to make the hearts of the citizens of the 
unfortunate place sink with despair. Rebuilding 
has commenced with vigor and one block is already 
up and ocoupied by Daniel Quinlan, who keeps a 
general stock such as is found in country stores. 
The " Kortright House " is being rebuilt, and will 
be ready for occupancy about June i, 1878. It is 
to be a large structure, two stories in height with 
Mansard roof, and will be, probably, the finest hotel 
in the county outside of Syracuse. 

The industrial interests of Jamesville are as fol- 
lows : Two carriage and repair shops by Erasmus 
Green and Charles Cable ; one sash and blind fac- 
tory, by G. W. Burhans & Co.; one harness shop, 
by R. H. Bristoll, and two shoe shops. 

Isaac K. Reed is Postmaster. Two physicians, 
E. E. Knapp, M. D. , and R. S. Humphrey, M. D. 
B. S. Gregory, who has resided here for the past 
forty-three years, is the only attorney here. He 
was Justice of the Peace for eight years, and is now 
also engaged in the insurance business. 

The name of Jamesville was adopted at the time 
"The yamesvillc Iron and Woolen Factory" was in- 
corporated in 1809. The name was given by the 
Legislature in the act of incorporation, and was first 
published and proclaimed in a great Fourth-of-July 
celebration held herein 1810. In 1809 a postoflfice 
was established, Thomas Rose, Postmaster ; suc- 
ceeded by Moses D. Rose. The first school house 
for Jamesville was erected east of the village in 
1795. Polly Hibbard was teacher, succeeded by 
Susan Ward. The first school in Jamesville was 
established in 1806. 

"St. Makks" Episcopal Church, Jamesville. — 
As early as June 6th, 1825, meetings were held in 
the house of Elijah C. Rust although it was not 
until July 13th, 1831, that the society was organ- 
ized. The organization was perfected at Mr. 
Rust's, the following named persons being among 









fi;. 



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RESIOENCE &TfNEMENT HOl;SfS*^WARPE^■ 



-va=j* ""-ftci^. 




RAYTON, Ot Wnr,0NONOA&A Co.N.Y. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



389 



the original members : John Millen, Mrs. Ives, 
Mrs. Dibble, Harriet Gillespie, Helen Post, Hiram 
P. Holbrook, John Crankshaw, Mary Ann Holbrook, 
Mrs. Read, Phebe Wales, Catherine Littlefield, 
Abigail Salmon, and others. In the following year 
a church was built on a corner of the road leading 
north to Syracuse and the Seneca Turnpike. Rev. 
Seth W. Beardsley was the first rector and served 
this parish from 1831 to 1836. He was followed by 
Rev. Marshall Whiting, 1836 to 1839. After this 
came Revs. James SelUrig, Chas. W. Hayes, Julius 
S. Townsend, H. H. Loring, M. L. Kern, J. L. 
Gay, J. E. Barr, J. H. Bowman, whose respective 
terms of service we are unable to give owing to lack 
of records. Rev. J. E. Pratt, the present rector, 
has been connected with the church since 1873. 
The present number of communicants is twenty- 
five. 

The church building was remodeled in the sum- 
mer of 1874, at an expense of about $2,500. 
Burned, Oct. 14, 1877. Another church will in all 
probability be erected during 1878. 

The present officers are Robert Dunlop, and 
Edwin A. Knapp, Wardens. J. G. Holbrook, C. 
W. Avery, G. B. Low, H. D. Weston, H. G. Dixon, 
E. C. Conklin, J. E. Van Vranken, I. K. Reed, 
Vestrymen. 

M. E. Chlrch of Jamesville. — Most of the 
early records of this society have been lost, but 
from what we can find after diligent search, we can 
give the date of its organization and the names of 
the first Trustees only, which was in the year 1832, 
Hiram C. Snow and Joseph C. Green, presiding at 
the meeting called for that purpose, the following 
named persons being elected Trustees. Egbert 
Coleman, Moses Chapman, Abraham Van Chaick, 
Darius Sweet and Cornelius Cool ; all of whom it 
is thought are now dead. It was '• resolved that 
the organization be known as the Fourth Society 
of theM. E. Church in Manlius." 

The present membership is about one hundred. 
A flourishing Sunday School of about fifty scholars, 
D. E. Weston, Superintendent. A. H. Shurtliff, 
pastor, who supplies the M. E. Church at DeWitt. 
The church is supplied with a cabinet organ. 

The present Trustees are the following : O. M. 
Watkins, John S. Barker, A. A. Wright, P. B. 
Gove, and Albert Boughton. 

First Presbyterian Church of Jamesville. 
— This church was originally known as the Union 
Congregational Society, and was organized in Octo- 
ber, 1807. Soon after this they built their first 
church, which was situated about one mile east of 
Jamesville on the farm of Daniel B. Marsh, one of 
67 



the first preachers. Among the early members of 
this church were Deacons Ayer, Messenger, Bar- 
num, Levett and Hezekiah Weston. In 1827 the 
society began holding meetings in Jamesville, 
which was more centrally located, and the following 
year erected the house now occupied by them, un- 
der the pastorate of Rev. Seth J. Porter. Among 
the prominent members of that time were Isaac 
W. Brewster, David Smith, Horace B. Gates and 
Amos Sherwood. At this time there were two 
hundred and forty-seven members in the church. 
In December, 1843, the church voted to adopt the 
constitution of the Onondaga County Conference, 
consisting of members of the Presbyterian and 
Congregational order, within the bounds of the 
Onondaga Presbytery, and in March, 1870, the 
Trustees petitioning the Judge of the County, the 
name was changed to the First Presbyterian Church 
of Jamesville. In 1S32 there was a secession on 
the part of some of the members, who organized a 
Dutch Reformed Church, but this society only sur- 
vived five or six years, when they disbanded and re- 
turned to the old church. The present member- 
ship is but forty-five. The Sabbath School attend- 
ance, fifty. The present officials are Rev. H. C. 
Hazen, Pastor ; Daniel Marsh, Darius C. Avery 
and Benjamin S. Gregory, Trustees. The church 
building cost about $3,000. 

Methodist Episcopal Youngs' Society of 
DeWitt. — This society was organized in 1811, in 
the village of Orville, now DeWitt, under the min- 
istration of Rev. Dan Barnes, taking the name and 
title of " The Youngs' Society." The first Trus- 
tees were John Youngs, Sr., John Youngs, Jr., 
Zephaniah Lathrop, Benjamin Booth and Peter 
G. Van Slyke. This was then in the Pompey 
Circuit, of which William Case was then Presiding 
Elder, and the pastors were Rev. Dan Barnes and- 
James Kelsey. The first class consisted of the 
Trustees and John Russell, Freelove Russell, Eliza- 
beth Youngs, Seth Youngs, Jonas Scott, Mary 
Scott and Daniel Knapp. Immediately upon this 
organization they proceeded to erect their church, 
which stands upon the Turnpike leading to James- 
ville. The society was reorganized and reincorpo- 
rated in May, 1S26, as the Methodist Episcopal 
Youngs' Society of Orville. This society continued 
occupying their church until 1863, when the Pres- 
byterian Society disbanded and gave their church 
building to this society in consideration of certain 
repairs. A special act of the Legislature was pro- 
cured allowing this transfer, also empowering the 
Youngs' Society to convey their building to the 
School District, since which time the Youngs' 



390 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



Church has been used as a school house. The 
society at an expense of Si, 200, repaired the old 
Presbyterian Church, which the society still occupy. 
The present membership is fifty. Sabbath School 
attendance seventy-five. The present Trustees arc 
Emerson Kinne, James Moulter, D. C. Peck, U'm. 
Adams and G. C. Ferris. Rev. Shurtliff is pastor 
of this and Jamesville charge. 

FiKST Presiiytekian Chi/'rch of Coliamer. — 
Meetings were held in what was known as the 
Britton Settlement school house, where, in Oct. 1842, 
the church was organized with a membership of 
seventeen, among whom were John Furbeck, Sarah 
Haker, Deborah Furbeck, Prudence Smith and the 
present elders, Porter Baker, Samuel Baker, John 
Powlesland, and Orlando Spencer ; also Deacons 
Dwight Baker and Andrew Fuller. In 1843 the 
present church edifice was erected at a cost of S600. 
The organization was etiected under the pastorate 
of Rev. Amos VV. Seeley who was succeeded by 
Rev. A. C. Lathrop who remained three years, 
followed by Rev. B. Ladd, after whom came Rev. 
Marcus Smith who labored here for twelve years, 
then Rev. J. M. Chrysler was called and remained 
five years ; since then the present pastor, John M. 
Perkins. The present membership is seventy. Sab- 
bath school attendance fifty. 

First Presiiytekian Church, of East Syracuse.- 
This, the youngest church in the county, was organ- 
ized in 1S76, by Rev. J. M. Chrysler, who came as 
a missionary preacher and by his energy succeeded 
in organizing a society and erecting a commodious 
church on the corner of Carpenter and Ellis streets. 
The society was organized, January 27, 1S76, with 
twenty members — the most active of whom were 
Mr. and Mrs. John Jones, Mr. and Mrs. John A. 
Henry, Mr. and Mrs. E S. Walker and Evan J. 
Crans. There have been 17 accessions since the 
organization and the flourishinj; Sabbath School of 
seventy members is a strong au.xiliary. Rev. J. M. 
Chrysler still continues in charge and secures the 
hearty cooperation of his people. 

Methodist Episcopal Church, of Coliamer. — 
This was the first charge of the North Manlius 
Circuit and in 1828, when it was organized, was so 
designated. In 1S30 the society erected their church 
at what is now Coliamer Village then known as the 
Brilton Settlement, under the pastorate of Rev. 
Austin Briggs. There were then nine trustees who 
were, the pastor, Adam Harrower, Isaac Carhart, 
Walter Wright, James Wright, Erastus B. Perkins, 
John Rowe and Abraham Delamater, all members 
of the first class which was organized several years 



prior to this time under the ministration of Rev. 
Seth Youngs. 

About 1841, when the Rev. A. E. Munson came 
to this charge, he found the society in a condi- 
tion that required a reorganization and through his 
eflorts the society was reincorporated as the First 
M. E. Church of the northern part of De Witt. 
The church has been several times repaired and in 
1857 it was rededicated as the first M. E. Church 
ol Coliamer. It cost about 52,500. The present 
membership is 1 12 ; Sabbath school 137. Present 
pastor, Rev. M. A. Wolcott. 

Flouri.ng Mills — Lanark Mills were erected 
in 1823, by Robert Richardson, about 1-2 mile north 
of Jamesville. They contain four run of stones grind- 
ing about 30,000 bushels of grain, merchant and cus- 
tom, annually. They are run by P. B. Gove & Son, 
and owned by Robert Dunlop. Cost about 515,000. 
Frame building, water-power. 

Feeder or New York Mills.— Built by Robert 
Dunlop in 1847, at a cost of §10,000. Frame 
building, stone basement, situated at the head of 
the canal feeder, contain three run of stones, leased 
by James Doe who grinds about 12,000 bushels 
of custom and merchant grain per annum. 

Barley Mills were erected on Butternut Creek 
about one mile north of Jamesville in 1840, frame 
building with stone basement. Contains three run 
of stone for pearling barley. Capacity about 10,000 
bushels per annum, run mostly by lessees. These 
mills cost about 57,500. In connection with these 
there is a Mully Saw Mill, the only one in the 
town. 

DuNLOp's Plaster and Cement Mills. — 
There are two located near the Lanark mills, one 
erected in 1836, the other in 1868, owned and 
worked by Robert Dunlop. From these mills he 
manufactures about 1,000 tons of plaster and 30,- 
000 bushels of cement or water-lime, employing 
about twenty men. The stone is taken from his 
quarries in the adjacent hills. 

A. F. WiLco.x's Plaster Beds. — In 181 2 Asahel 
Wilcox discovered a bed of gypsum two miles west 
of Fayettevillc which he opened and which has 
been worked ever since by himself and the present 
proprietor, A. F'. Wilcox. From these beds, which 
cover an area of about eighty acres, Mr. Wilcox 
takes from S.ooo to 15,000 tons of gypsum annually, 
which he ships to parties owning mills. Most of it is 
shipped from Jones's landing by Canal. During 
the winter season he employs from twenty to thirty 
teams and hands hauling it to the docks for summer 
shipment. 





V \ 



VtitT C>»i»PcNrcR 




^SS. VLIir CABPENTtff 



f^ttS.VUlT CARnHriHltKCAia) 



►N«T|I ffT * V^ifcCI* S'WACUSC.WV 




HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



391 



E. B. Alvord & Co. — This firm is doing the 
most extensive business in cement, plaster, lime and 
stone done in the town. They began in 1868, pur- 
chasing the business of Hotaling & Co. Their 
quarry for cement and lime is situated about one 
mile south of Jamesville and covers twenty acres. 
In this quarry are eight kilns for burning the stone, 
from these kilns they take 125,000 bushels of quick- 
lime and about the same of cement, which, with the 
plaster, is ground in their mill in Jamesville. The 
plaster comes from a quarry north of the village. 
They employ about twenty-five men ; shipping 
2,000 tons of plaster annually as well as a large 
quantity of cut stone for building and bridges. 
Capital, ;$50,ooo. 

DuNLOP's Lime Kilns.— Just north of the village 
of Jamesville are three large kilns seven feet in 
diameter and forty feet deep, erected and worked 
by Robert Dunlop, from which he manufactures 
about 30,000 bushels of quick lime and 30,000 
bushels of hydraulic cement annually. 

DE WITT CENTER. 

This village, though rather small, is quite im- 
portant as a place for shipping grain by the canal 
and as a station of the Chenango Valley Railroad. 
In 1 87 1 a postoffice was located here and Mr. 
Stephen Headson appointed Postmaster. He 
also engaged in general mercantile business buying 
grain and produce, and in 1870 erected a substantial 
brick business block and warehouse, in which he 
does a business of $65,000 per annum. 

DeWitt Mills. — In 1821, Mr. William M. 
King erected a grist, plaster and cement mill upon 
the present site of the DeWitt Mills, about one and 
a half miles north of Jamesville, on Butternut 
Creek. In 1869, A. B. King became sole pro- 
prietor, and rebuilt the mill which now represents 
a cost of about §10,000. This mill furnished 
considerable water-lime used in the construction of 
the locks and masonry of the Erie Canal and was 
among the first cement mills erected. 

EAST SYRACUSE. 

In October, 1872, the New York Central and 
Hudson River Railroad Company purchased one 
hundred and fifty acres of land in Lots 42 and 43 
for freight-yards, round-houses and shops, and 
established a half-way station between Roches- 
ter and Albany. Since then a very fine village 
of about three hundred houses, several hotels, four 
stores, a market and one church have sprung up 
as if by magic, and are growing very rapidly. The 



railroad company have erected two substantial brick 
round-houses with room for forty-four locomotives, 
with turn-tables, shops, &c ; have laid twenty-six 
miles of track in the yard, erected extensive coal 
houses and chutes, and have graded and prepared 
the site for the building of extensive shops. This 
promises to become a very important and populous 
village, the surroundings being so favorable as to 
make it a very desirable place to live in, and already 
many engineers and trainmen are building them- 
selves homes and bringing their families from 
Rochester and Albany. 



BiOGi|APHic>L Sketches, 



RUFUS R. KINNE. 

Zebulon Kinne, the fifth son in the family of 
Cyrus Kinne, and father of the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Voluntown, Connecticut, June 
12, 1780. When twelve years of age he removed 
with his father's family to Fayetteville, Onondaga 
County, N. Y. In 1814 he married Lucy Mark- 
ham, of the town of LaFayette, by whom he had 
eight children ; four boys and four girls, six of 
whom are now living. In 1815, he purchased a 
farm in Manlius, now DeWitt, in East Syracuse, 
where he resided until his death. 

Rufus R. Kinne was born March 28, 1821, on 
the old homestead where he now resides, a view of 
which, together with the portraits of himself, 
father and mother, may be seen elsewhere in this 
work. Rufus R. spent his youth on his father's farm, 
and was educated in the common schools of Manlius 
and the Syracuse Academy, at Syracuse. On July 
25, i860, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia 
E. Clark, of Syracuse. By this union were born 
two children, viz.: L. Bell, born February 26, 1867, 
and Nelson C, who died in the second year of his 
age. 

Mr. Kinne is a Democrat in politics, but has 
never been an aspirant for office. He has led an 
active business life, and is entitled to the respect 
and esteem in which he is held by all who know 
him. 



VLIET CARPENTER 



Was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., July 2, 
1 80 1. He is the tenth in the family of twelve 
children, of Nehemiah and Ann [Bookhout] Car- 
penter, of whom none except Vliet are now living. 



392 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



His father, Nehemiah, was born in Queens 
County, N. Y., June 29, 1757. He left Queens 
County with Washington's army during the Revo- 
lutionary war, and settled in Dutchess County, on 
a farm of 100 acres. In the spring of 18 16, he 
sold his farm and removed to Onondaga County, 
town of Manlius, and purchased 420 acres of wild 
timbered land. 

With the assistance of his boys he cleared his 
farm. Here he resided until his death. 

Vliet spent his youth on his father's farm. His 
education was limited to the common schools of 
Dutchess and Onondaga Counties, supplemented 
by two terms at the Academy. He taught school 
for four terms, and summers worked for his father 
on the farm. 

On September 27. 1826, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Emily A. Wilcox, daughter of 
John and Amelia Wilco.x. of Pompcy, Onondaga 
County. By this union three children were born 
to them, viz.: Nehemiah, born September 3, 1828 ; 
died August 27, 1845 ; Ann Amelia, born June 15, 
I S33, (married Paul Fay, of Cicero) ; died February 
13, 1869; Juliette, born January 27, 1836; died 
November 22, 1S41. Mrs. Carpenter died March 
8, 1851, and on March 24, 1852, he married Mary 
J. Morley, daughter of Abraham Northrup, of 
Pompey ; no children by this union. 

After his first marriage he remained on the 
homestead farm until after the death of his father, 
when he became owner of 141 acres, which he cul- 
tivated until 1874, when he sold out and moved to 
Collamcr, where he now resides. A view of his 
residence and portrait of his wives may be seen 
elsewhere in this work. 

In politics he was originally a Whig, but upon the 
formati'on of the Republican party joined its ranks. 
Although he never sought office, yet he has filled 
most of the minor positions in his town. Both he 
and his estimable wife are consistent members of 
the Congregational Church, he having been a mem- 
ber for about sixty years ; has been Deacon of the 
church for a number of years. He has also been 
an earnest worker in the Sabbath School for over 
fifty years as teacher and superintendent. 

Mr. Carpenter, by a long and active life, has shown 
himself a man of character and a useful member of 
society, and at the ripe age of seventy-seven is still 
hale and vigorous. 



DAIRY FARM OF W. C. BRAYTON. 

About three and a half miles east of Syracuse 
lies the dairy farm of W. C. Brayton. It contains 



about two hundred acres, and was formerly known 
as the " Orchard Hill Farm," because a portion of 
it lies on a gentle elevation, and was years ago 
covered with an old-fashioned apple orchard of 
natural fruit, some of the trees of which are still 
standing and bearing. When Mr. Brayton moved 
on to the farm, eight years since, portions of it were 
covered with boulders, which occupied the soil and 
rendered tillage difficult and laborious, and other 
portions were pronounced nearly worthless because 
of their swampy character. But he had faith in 
underdraining and the good sense to see that the 
use of the surface occupied by the boulders would 
pay for their removal Little is now found to 
obstruct the free passage of the plow, and the 
swamps and swales have disappeared. The yield 
of the crops has correspondingly increased with 
the improvements in the appearance of the sur- 
face. 

His specialty is the production of milk for the 
market. In the management of his herd, and the 
husbanding of manures, coupled with his quick 
perceptions and good judgment, will be found the 
secret of his not only keeping up, but increasing 
the fertility of his farm. His dairy numbers fifty 
cows, and he keeps, in addition, the necessary young 
stock from which to replenish and improve his herd. 
His cows are mostly crosses of the Dutch Belted 
breed. 

Some idea of the luxuriance of his grass crop 
maybe inferred from the fact that he has summered 
fifty cows, on thirty-five acres of grass, and four 
of sowed corn, with the addition daily of two 
pounds of shorts to each cow. As he is producing 
milk for market, of course he must have a flow of 
milk the year round. But he avoids having the 
cows come in during the hot months. His average 
yield per cow is eight quarts daily during the milk- 
ing period. It is all delivered at the rooms of the 
Onondaga County Milk Association, which supplies 
the city of Syracuse with a'large portion of the milk 
used by its inhabitants. 

The larger of his two dairy barns runs east and 
west, and stands facing the south and the road. It 
is one hundred and fifty feet long by forty feet wide. 
Two rows of stanchions, one hundred feet long, 
running along both sides of the west end, accom- 
modate fifty-two cows. They stand facing a center 
alley about fifteen feet wide. 

In the stable two iron rails runs the whole length 

of the alley between the stanchions. On these 

rails the feed-car passes along the center of the 

alley and from it the food is shoveled to the cows on 

I each side. 





DAVID S. MILLER. 



Photos, by \V. V. Ranger, Syracuse. 



JlKij. DAVID S. MILLEK. 



DAVID S. MILLER. 



David S. Miller was born in Ulster county, April 24, 1796, 
and was a son of Samuel and Helena (Schoonmaker) Miller. 
His father was for many years a sailor on the ocean and the 
North river, and then settled on a farm. David remained with 
his father on the farm for several years. When a young man 
he removed to Schoharie county, where his father worked a 
farm three years, and then removed to the town of DeWitt, 
near Messina Springs, where he purchased a farm. In the year 
1841 he bought his farm of one hundred acres of timbered 
land, built upon it a log house, and cleared it up with his own 
hands. 

After a few years David purchased an acre of land near 
Merrill's mill, and erected upon it a hotel, which he kept for 
nine years. At the end of this time he sold out and moved 



back to his farm. On Sept. 20, 1818, he married Leah, 
daughter of Peter and Anna Miller, of Ulster county. She 
died March 3, 1875, aged seventy-four years. The result of 
this union was eleven children, namely, — John, Clark S., Anna, 
Elizabeth, Henry J., Alviua, Mary J., Chandler S., Matilda, 
Esther, and Edward F., of whom five are deceased. 

Although Mr. jMiller never sought office, yet he has been 
often honored with the most prominent offices in his town. 
For about forty-one years he and his wife have been members 
of the Disciples church, and he has been deacon for several 
years. He is now in his eighty-second year, with his mind as 
clear as in the days of his youth. His path down to the grave 
is being strewn with the beautiful flowers of filial love and 
veneration. 





KI.KKirxiK KINNK 



KMKKSON KINNE. 





im^^ 

^^m^ 



.llll.tim O. KINNK. 



MASON l>. KINNK. 



riioUM. Ii) W. V/Baiisi.r, Syr»ciM». 





Zebulon Kinne. 




PUFUS R. KlNNE. 



Mrs. Zebulon K/nne. 



PHOTOS SV W V HAKdEK. SrRACUS£.H Y. 




HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



393 



THE KINNE FAMILY. 

There are few examples more heroic than that of 
the pioneer who resolutely bids farewell to his friends 
and kindred, and to the comforts and enjoyments of 
a civilized home, to boldly face the stern realities of 
frontier life. It is, indeed, a pleasing task for the 
biographer to record his hardships and triumphs, 
and to make honorable mention of his descendants. 
Cyrus Kinne, the progenitor of the Kinne fami- 
ly of this county, was born in Voluntown, Wind- 
ham County, Connecticut, on the nth of August, 
1746, and grew up under the chaste Puritanic in- 
fluences of a New England home, a young man of 
excellent habits, which clung to him through life. 
In the year 1779, having married Miss Comfort 
Palmer, he moved to Petersburg, Rensselaer Coun- 
ty, N. Y. In the city of Troy, in 1791, at a public 
sale of State lands, now lying in the County of On- 
ondaga, he bid off some of the "survey fifties." 
His first visit to his lands was on horseback by In- 
dian trails west of Oneida. He was so well pleased 
with the general appearance of this section of the 
State, that he immediately bought considerable 
land adjoining his first purchase. In the month of 
March, 1792, having disposed of his property at 
Petersburg, he started with an ox-team, and one 
horse before a sled, with his four oldest boys, viz : 
Ezra, Zachariah, Prentice and Ethel for a permanent 
residence upon his lands. 

He experienced great difficulties on his journey, 
particularly west of Oneida, where he was obliged 
to cut roads through the dense forests, and cross 
the streams on fallen trees. About the first of 
April, he arrived at where Fayetteville now is, and 
settled on some of the land which he had bought. 
In the following month of June, he returned to 
Petersburg, to bring to his wilderness home the re- 
mainder of his family. His lands were soon cleared 
and brought under cultivation. At that time Albany 
was the nearest market for his surplus products. 
He gave to each one of his sons, when they mar- 
ried, 100 acres of land, lying in Manlius and adja- 
cent towns. Being a blacksmith as well as a farmer, 
he did the first blacksmithing in the town of Man- 
lius ; and as Justice of the Peace, married the first 
couple. Perhaps no man was more prominently 
identified with the early growth and development 
of the town of Manlius than he. Kind, generous, 
and humane, he proved one of the most valuable of 
neighbors and the staunchest of friends. His ten 
sons and two daughters, viz : Ezra, Zachariah, Pren- 
tice, Ethel, Zebulon, Moses, Joshua, Cyrus, Japhet, 
Palmer, Rachel and Comfort, reared 84 children who 



arrived at mature age. He died Aug. 8, 1808, in 
his 62d year, beloved and respected by all who knew 
him. 

Prentice Kinne was born October 16, 1773, 
and passed his youthful days in alternately attend- 
ing school and assisting his father on the farm. On 
June 16, in the year 1800, when 27 years of age 
he married Miss Elizabeth Kinne, of Plainfield, 
Windham County, Conn., and in the spring of 
1801, he settled on the farm in Manlius, given him 
by his father, upon which he resided till the day of 
his death. He struck the first blow upon his 100 
acre farm, and lived to see it covered with beautiful 
fields. In his domestic relations he was a kind 
and loving father, teaching his children by his 
upright life the value and importance of virtue and 
inspiring them with the worthy ambition to be 
men and women, in the loftiest sense of the word. 
His teachings were not forgotten, but were fully 
exemplified in the lives of his children. 

Julius C. Kinne, the oldest son of Prentice 
Kinne, was born October 19, 1802, in the town of 
Manlius, now DeWitt. By severe application he 
obtained a good common school education. 
Thoroughness and perseverance were prominent 
characteristics which marked every transaction of 
his life. He was a close observer of political 
affairs and often took an active interest in them. 
In the fall of 1845, he was elected to the State 
Legislature for Onondaga County, and discharged 
his duties in such an acceptable manner that he 
was reelected the following year by a fine majority. 
While in the Legislature he gained the confidence 
of Governor Silas Wright, by his honest and able 
career as a legislator. He left the impress of his 
pure character upon the town of DeWitt too indel- 
ibly to be effaced by the rude band of time. In 
the year 183 1 he married Mrs. Rachel Willard, by 
whom he had four sons and one daughter ; two 
sons died in childhood ; Howard, the eldest, is mar- 
ried and resides in Iowa. During the Rebellion he 
enlisted in an Iowa regiment under General Sully, 
of the Regular Army, and went to Dakota Terri- 
tory, where he did gallant service. At the close of 
the war he received an honorable discharge. Ed- 
mund D. was born Feburary 9, 1841, in DeWitt, 
Onondaga County, N. Y. He attended the High 
school at Syracuse, graduated from Cazenovia Sem- 
inary, Michigan University and Columbia Law 
School at Washington, D. C.,and was admitted to 
the Supreme Court of that district. In 1867 he 
moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan ; was admitted to 
the bar and commenced the practice of Law. In 
1868 he was admitted to practice in the U. S. 



394 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NPIW YORK. 



Court. He has been Recorder and District- 
Attorney, and was Mayor in 1875 and reelected in 
1876 In the year 1867 he married Mary C, 
daughter of OIney Hawkins, and has one son. Few 
young men can show a finer record or have brighter 
prospects. 

Kmerso.v Kinne, the second son of Prentice 
Kinne, was born Feb. 16, 1804 By self-improve- 
ment, principally at home, he obtained a good edu- 
cation. Although never seeking civil office, yet so 
well known was his integrity and ability that he re- 
luctantly accepted the most prominent offices of his 
town, such as Supervisor three years, one of which 
was unanimous with the exception of a single vote ; 
Assessor in the town of DeWitt for several years ; 
and Commissioner of Highways, in the old town of 
Manlius. ■ 

Always from a boy up, he took an intense in- 
terest in military affairs. In 1828, he was com- 
missioned ensign of a company of infantry, by 
acting Gov. Nathaniel Pitcher ; and was rapidly pro- 
moted through all the intermediate grades to 
commandant of the regiment ; and was subse- 
quently appointed Brigade Inspector of the 27th 
brigade of infantry by Gov. William L. Marcy. It 
is a very rare occurrence that men are so rapidly 
promoted. As an officer he was pleasant and aft'a- 
ble to his associates and rigidly strict in discipline. 
Politically, he was a Democrat till the close of the 
Rebellion, when he joined the Republican party. 
He married Miss Janet Luddington, in the year 
1833. Their children are all deceased. In 1831, 
he united with the Baptist Church of Syracuse, of 
which he is still a member. During that long and 
honorable period he has labored incessantly, in his 
humble way, to advocate the cause of Christ. 

Mason P. Kinne, third son of Prentice Kinne, was 
born in Manlius, (now DeWitt, 1 Nov. 30, 1808. He 
teceived as good a common school education as the 
schools of those early days afforded, and assisted 
his father on the farm till the death of the latter, 
when he received a portion of the farm which he 
still occupies. On Jan. ^o, 1840, he married Mary 
J. Spaulding, of Clarkson, Monroe County. There- 
suit of this union was five children.viz : Chas. Mason, 
Mary E., Ansel L., Porter S. and Arthur B. Mary 
E. and Ansel L., are deceased. Chas. Mason, was 
born April ii, 1841, graduated from the Syracuse 
High School in Jan. 1859, and immediately sailed 
for San Francisco, Cal , where he was employed in 
an agricultural ware-house, until 1862, when he en- 
listed in the '• California Hundred," which sailed 
for Boston, and joined the 2d Mass. Cavalry. For 
his gallantry he was made Captain, and also Ass't 



Adj. Gen. of the Regular Brigade, ist Cav. Divis- 
ion, under Gen. Gibbs, and in July, 1865, received 
an honorable discharge, with a recommend for brevet 
Major for faithful services and meritorious conduct. 
He is now Judge Advocate on Gen. Macomb's 
Stafi" ; an honorary member of the First Cal. Guard, 
San Francisco ; and, also, a life member of the 
" National Guard," Vice-President of the " Micro- 
scopical Society," of San Francisco. Porter S., is 
practicing medicine in Patterson, N. J. Arthur B. 
is practicing in Syracuse. Mr. Kinne voted the 
Democratic ticket until 1853. In 1854. he joined the 
Republican party. He is a consistent Christian 
and endeavors to live in accordance with his pro- 
fession. 

Elbridge Kinne, fourth son of Prentice 
Kinne, was born in Manlius. May 26, 18 10 On 
October 17, 1837, he married Sophronia, daughter 
of Rev. Seth Young, of DeWitt. They have had 
si.v children, of whom Theodore Y., who was a 
surgeon in the army, is now practicing medicine in 
Patterson, N. J., and E. Olin, who graduated from the 
Syracuse University in the class of '76, and from 
the Ann Arbor Medical School in the class of '7S. 
Mr. Kinne is now living on a portion of the farm 
formerly owned by his father. He was a Democrat 
until the formation of the Republican party of which 
he became a member. He has been Supervisor, 
Justice of the Peace, and Clerk of the Board of 
Trustees of DeWitt, and also class-leader in the M. 
E. Church for over forty years. 

Salome K., daughter of Prentice Kinne, was 
married to De Witt C. Peck, of DeWitt, October 
29, 1840, and has had seven children. Herbert D. 
was Second Lieutenant in Company E of the 
Twenty-second N. Y. Cavalry, was under General 
Grant and was captured at Reams' Station. He 
was paroled from Wilmington Prison March i, 
1865. After the surrender of Lee, (the parole be- 
coming void) he again joined his regiment and 
received a Captain's commission. 

Emily Kinne, second daughter of Prentice 
Kinne, was married to Mr. Curren Elins, and has 
had seven children, four sons and three daughters. 
Their eldest son, George, served in the civil war 
until its close. Their second son, Byron, was two 
years in the service and was honorably discharged. 
Fraternity is written in golden letters over the 
hearts of these brothers. Their hearts beat in 
unison with a rythm which the passions cannot 
disturb. I'rom childhood to manhood, their 
thoughts, their purposes, their lives, have been 
devoted to the noble aim of keeping aglow upon 
the family alter the embers of brotherly love. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



39S 



Living near one anotlier, they keep up a constant, 
pleasant, social family intercourse which never has 
been marred, but is increasing in intensity as the 
years roll along. They have felt the need of, and 
placed before their children the opportunities for 



obtaining, a liberal education ; and a glance will 
show that their efforts have not been fruitless. 
Religious, moral, temperate and humane, they are 
endeavoring to realize in practice the grand truths 
inculcated by Christianity. 



POMPEY, 



PoMPEY was originally Township number ten of 
the Military Tract, and was named with the other 
townships by the Commissioners of the Land 
Office. Upon the organization of Onondaga Coun- 
ty, in 1794, it became one of the original eleven 
towns of the county, comprising at that date the 
townships of Pompey, Fabius and Tully and that 
portion of the Onondaga Reservation lying south 
of the Genesee Road and east of Onondaga Creek. 
Fabius and part of Onondaga were taken off in 
179S, and LaFayette in 1825. 

The town of Pompey is located upon the great 
dividing ridge from which the waters flow north 
into the valley of the St. Lawrence and south into 
the Chesapeake Bay. Its surface is principally oc- 
cupied by the high, rolling ridge, or rather, series of 
ridges, which lie between the east branch of the 
Limestone Creek, on the east, and the Butternut 
Creek, on the west. The highest summit is in the 
cemetery ground at Pompey Hill : it is nine hun- 
dred and six feet above the Butternut Creek at 
LaFayette Station, one thousand three hundred 
and forty-three feet above the Erie Canal at Syra- 
cuse, and one thousand seven hundred and forty- 
three feet above tide water. The general ridge 
forming the surface of the town, is sub-divided into 
three ridges by the two west branches of Limestone 
Creek. These valleys are from two to three hun- 
dred feet below the summits and are bordered by 
steep hillsides. The streams which drain the south- 
ern part of the town flow in a southerly direction. 
Pratt's Falls, upon the west branch of the Lime- 
stone Creek, are one hundred and thirty-seven feet 
in perpendicular height ; and within a few rods of 
them are several other fine cascades. Near the 
north line, upon the same creek, is a cascade of 
seventy feet fall. Just east of the county line, near 
Delphi, on the east branch of the Limestone, are 
two other fine cascades. Carpenter's Pond, in the 
southeast part of the town, covers an area of about 
thirty acres. 

The soil is rich and productive ; chiefly of a 
clayey loam. It is generally underlaid by the 



Hamilton group of shales, with Genesee slate upon 
the extreme highest portions. Swamps are ex- 
tremely small and there are but few gulfs and 
ravines. It has been estimated that out of the 
original 60,000 acres of the township, not more 
than one thousand two hundred are unfit for culti- 
vation. The reduced limits of the present town, 
together with the improved methods of drainage, 
render even that proportion too great at the p(^ent 
time. 

Although .^e < ^cjimate is s ubje ct tn sudden 
changes, and is characterize^-by "ftr^h winds, which 
in the vicinity of Pompey Hill often blow with ter- 
rific violence, yet the average temperature is three 
and a half degrees less than the general average of 
the State, and the cool breezes of summer render 
the locality remarkably pleasant and healthy. 

The natural scenery is rarely equaled. The 
vision, from one stand-point on Pompey Hill, is un- 
interrupted, being bounded by the horizon at every 
point of the compass, and embracing views in 
seven difierent counties — Onondaga, Cortland, Her- 
kimer, Madison, Oswego, Oneida and Cayuga. 

The first settler in the original town of Pompey 
(now in LaFayette) was John Wilcox, in 1789. He 
employed an Indian chief at Oneida to guide him 
into the country, and settled at Indian Orchard 
about two miles north of the Village of LaFayette. 
In 1791, Ebenezer Butler, of Harwinton, Conn., 
located at Pompey Hill, being the first settler within 
the limits of the present town of Pompey. He 
had settled at Clinton, Oneida County, in 1788, 
whence he came to Pompey Hill guided by marked 
trees, and erected the first cabin near the spring 
which supplies the watering-tub in the present vil- 
lage. Mr. Butler purchased Lot No. 65 of a sol- 
dier for a horse, saddle and bridle, and in the same 
year (1791) moved his family, consisting of his wife, 
four children, father and maiden sister. 

In 1792, Jesse Butler, brother of Ebenezer, 
erected the second cabin a few rods north of the 
present M. E. Church, having purchased of his 
brother one hundred acres on the north half of his 



396 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



lot. He brought his family from Connecticut in 
April, 1793, on an ox sled, in company with the 
family of Mr. George Catlin. The latter opened 
the first tavern at Pompey Hill in a house a little 
south of the one lately occupied by Judge Asa 
Wells. 

The first settler at " Log City," north of Pompey 
Hill on the Jamesville road, was Jacob Hoar, who 
moved from Onondaga in the spring of 1793. 
'■ Log City " and the Hill were for a time rival set- 
tlements. It contained at an early time a school 
house, tannery, turning lathe, shoe shop, and a 
store and ashery, owned by Justice Fowler, uncle 
of O. S. Fowler of New York. 

The first frame house in the vicinity of Pompey 
Hill was erected by Judge Ebenezer Butler, Jr., on 
the west side of what is now the public square, in 
'797- The second frame house was erected by the 
same party for his father in 1798. It stood on the 
site of the wagon shop long owned and occupied by 
Joseph Beach. The same year Jesse Butler built a 
frame house on the site of the present M. E. 
Church. 

Among the settlers in 1793 and 1794, were True- 
worthy and Selah Cook, the Olcotts, Holbrooks, 
Jeromes, Hibbards, Hinsdells, Messengers, West- 
erns, Aliens, Burrs, and others — settling in different 
parts of the town. Sally Hoar was the first white 
child born in Pompey ; Orange, son of Jesse But- 
ler, the first male child. 

The following are some of the early settlers of 
Pompey, with dates of settlement : Asa Barnes, 
Peter Benson, Josiah Holbrook, 1793 ; David Hib- 
bard, Samuel Clement, 1794; Henry Clarke, 
Hczekiah Dodge, 1795; Pundason Avery, Joseph 
and Rhoda Gold, David Green, David Hinsdcll, 
Jonas Hinman, Lcman H. Pitcher, Manoah Pratt, 
Sen., 1796; Noah i'almer, 1797; Joseph Baker, 
1798; Paul Clapp, father of Paul Clapp, Jr., John 
Chester and Carlton Clapp, 1798; Stebbins Ball, 
Hon. Daniel Gilbert, Elijah Wells, Deacon Asa 
Wells, (then an infant with his parents,! Daniel 
Wright, 1799; Dr. Silas Park, Willard Hayden, 
Daniel Knapp, (father of Harry Knapp,) 1800; 
Elihu Barber, Col. Ensign Hill, 1801 ; Hezekiah 
Hopkins, 1802; Addy Anderson. 1803; John 
Smith, Esq., 1804 ; Rev. Artemus Bishop, iborn in 
Pompey. I Dr. Hczekiah Clarke. 1S05 ; Caleb 
Green, 1806 ; Victory Birdseye, 1807 ; William^T 
Fargo, 1 809 ; Augustus Whcaton, 1 father of Hi2iace, 
Homer, and Charles A. Wheaton 1, 1810; Luther 
Marsh, Millard Robinson, 181 i ; Reuben Billings, 
1812 ; Rev. Joshua Leonard, Preceptor Pompey 
Academy, 1814 ; Peltiah Hayden, 1816, Thomas 



Rice and family, 1818 ; Samuel Flint, 1819: Amos 
Rice, Nicholas Van Brocklin, 1821 ; Rev. Eleazer 
Storrs Barrows, 1822. 

Timothy Sweet, Jathcr of the Sweet family, set- 
tled in Pompey in 1704 ; Edward Wicks, in 1816 ; 
Joseph Shattuck, with his nine grown-up sons, was 
one of the early pioneers. 

Town Meetings. 

The first town meeting for Pompey was held at 
the house of Ebenezer Butler, Jr., April i, 1794. 
Moses DeWitt was chosen Supervisor, and Heze- 
kiah Olcott, Town Clerk ; Ozias Burr. Allen Beach, 
Wm. Haskin, Geo. Catlin and Ebenezer Butler, Jr, 
Assessors ; Thomas Olcott, Jeremiah Gould and 
John Lamb, Commissioners of Highways; John 
Lamb and William Haskins, Overseers of the 
Poor; John Wilcox, Samuel Draper, and Joseph 
H. Smith, Constibles and Collectors ; 'Joseph 
Atwell, Daniel Allen, Peter Messenger, Joseph 
Bartholomew, Samuel Sherman, William Rin, 
John Wilco.x, Samuel Jerome. Trueworthy Cook, 
Overseers of Highways ; Timothy Sweet, and 
Elisha Clark, Fence Viewers ; Elisha Clark, Pound 
Keeper. 

At a special town meeting, September 20. 1794, 
William Haskin was chosen Supervisor xia- Moses 
DeWitt, deceased. 

The present Supervisor, Mr. Marshall R Dyer, 
has held the office since 1873. 
Lawyers. 

The first lawyer who settled at Pompey Hill was 
John Keedar, about the year 1800. He located 
near the site of the Academy. He was succeeded 
in 1806 by Daniel Wood, Esq. Mr. Wood was a 
successful practitioner and a man of large influence, 
till his death, which occurred in 1838. He was ap- 
pointed first Postmaster at the Hill in 181 1. 

Samuel Baldwin, Esq , was the next lawyer, in 
1806. and Victory Birdseye. Esq.. in 1807 ; the 
latter was a partner of Mr, Wood. Daniel Gott 
afterwards came, taught school for a while and then 
commenced the study of law with Wood & Birds- 
eye. After these were a host of others, either as 
law students or practitioners ; among the latter may 
be mentioned Charles Baldwin, Charles B. and H. 
J. Sedgwick, Lucius Birdseye, LcRoy Morgan, 
George H. Williams and R. H. Duell, Esqs. 

William W. VanBrocklin, Esq., is the only 
lawyer at the present time in Pompey, and he is 
also Justice of the Peace. 

Physicians. 
Dr. Holbrook was the first physician ; he settled 
at Pompey Center in 1793. At Pompey Hill, Dr. 




DANIEL GOTT. 



riiutd. by Austin, Syriii-'nse. 



AUhoiigli his nume is incidentally mentioned in this volume in 
several places, this book would fail to meet the expectations of the 
public without a biographical sketch of Daniel Gott. For so many 
years of his brilliant life was he identified with the history, 
growth, and prosperity of Pompey, that he and his family occupy 
a large place in the memory and affections of the jjeople. He was 
born July 10, 1794, at Hebron, Conn., and died July 6, 1804, at 
Syracuse. Within the measure of tho.se years he acquired wealth, 
distinction, and fame ; and his memory will grow brighter as years 
roll round and the asperities of life's conflicts are forgotten. His 
early education was limited only to enjoying the advantages which 
the common schools of his native town afforded. At the age of 
sixteen he commenced teaching, which he continued up to and in- 
cluding the first years of his residence in Pompc}', having taught 
in the west room of the old Pompey academy. At the age of nine- 
teen he thought to learn the clothier's trade, and for that purpose 
entered the service of his uncle, Ebenezer Snow. This not being 
congenial to his taste, he soon entered the ofBce of Lawyer Gilbert, 
of Hebron, Conn., and commenced the study of law. 

About the year 1812 he visited his uncle, Elihu Barber, in 
Pompey. It was probably then that he resolved to make Pompey 
his future home, and in 1817 he located permanently on the Hill, 
and continued his studies with Daniel Wood, and after his admis- 
sion to jiractice, became the law partner of Samuel Baldwin, who 
afterwards located at Pompey, West Hill, now Lafayette. On the 
12th of September, 1819, he was united in marriage to the widow 
of Stephen Sedgwick, of Pompey, a brilliant genius and eminent 
lawyer. Her maiden name was Ann Baldwin, a sister of Samuel 
and Charles Baldwin, a lady of large scholastic attainments and 
fine literary taste. By this union Mr. Gott also became the foster- 
father of Henry J., John, and Charles B. Sedgwick, the second of 
whom died when a youth. Charles B. and Henry J. Sedgwick 
both lived to become eminent lawyers, and they both held high 
and responsible positions in the State and nation. Henry J. was 
a State senator from 1844 to 1848, and postmaster at Syracuse 
under Buchanan's administration. Charles B. was a member of 
congress for two terms, from 1859 to 1863, and has acquired a 
brilliant record as a lawyer. Charles B. is the only survivor of 
three brothers, and his residence is in Syracuse. 

Thus we find Mr. Gott at the age of twenty-five with the care 
and responsibilities of a family devolved ui)on him, and he assidu- 
ously applied his energies to the practice of his profession. Being 
both physically and mentally u man of remarkable power, he soon 
developed those qualities of indomitable energy, untiring industry, 



and jiersuasive eloquence that won for him wealth and fame, and 
made him the peer of Noxon, Porbes, Jewett, Spencer, Sibley, 
and extended his practice through the central counties of New 
York. In 1828 he became afflicted with sore eyes, which seriously 
impaired his usefulness for about twelve years. At times, so severe 
was this affliction, he was obliged to confine liimsolf to a dark 
room. It was during this time that his powerful and retentive 
memory came to his rescue, and enabled him at times to continue 
in a business that otherwise he must have abandoned. In 1840 he 
became permanently cured, and his practice continued to increase 
till 1846, when he was elected a member of Congress, which office 
he held two consecutive terms. When in Congress he was the 
author of the famous " Gott Kesolution" for the abolition of the 
slave trade in the District of Columbia. In 1851 he was nomi- 
nated by the Whigs for justice of the supreme court, and was 
defeated by Hon. Daniel Pratt by a largely reduced majority. In 
1844 ho was on the electoral ticket for Henry Clay. In 1853 he 
removed to Syracuse, where he resided till his death, continuing 
the practice of the law in company with his son, Daniel P. Gott. 
His office was the law school of Pompey, and with the solicitude 
of a father he watched the progress of the numerous students who 
sought his instruction ; and prompted by his kind and genial 
nature, and remembering the obstacles he had encountered and 
overcome, he was ever ready to counsel, advise, and encourage. 
Among the large number of gifted and eminent men who entered 
the legal profession from his office were Seabred Dodge, Charles 
Mason, John M. Pettit, Harvey Sheldon, Cliarles B. Sedgwick, 
Henry J. Sedgwick, George H. Williams, Le Roy Morgan, L. H. 
Hiscock, Charles Poster ; and these and all others who were students 
in his office bear concurrent testimony to his kindness and anxious 
solicitude for their welfare and honor. During his residence in 
Pompey he was trustee of the academy for many years, always 
laboring for its prosperity. He was a constant attendant of the 
Presbyterian church. 

His children in the order of their ages were Saekett, Ann, 
Amelia, and Daniel P. The two eldest are dead. Saekett has 
never married. Ann married Hon. George H. Woodruff, a grad- 
uate of Hamilton college, and a lawyer and writer of distinction of 
Joliet, 111. He and one child survive. Daniel F. graduated from 
Hamilton college in the class of 1849; became the law partner of 
liis father in Syracuse ; married Sarah Clary, a daughter of the late 
Dr. Lyman Clary, of Syracuse ; is register in bankrui)tcy, to which 
he was apjiointed in 1867. Amelia married Frank H. Hastings, 
a nurseryman, of Rochester, N. Y. They have three children. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



397 



Colton was the first resident physician. About the 
year iSoo, came Dr. Daniel Tibbals, who remained 
in practice many years, and removed to Erie, Pa. 
Dr. Jehiel Stearns settled at the Hill as a physician 
in 1814, and is still living there, and, to some extent, 
continuing his practice. Hezekiah Clark, who had 
been a surgeon in the war of the Revolution, settled 
east of the village in 1805, and practiced medicine 
in that locality for a great number of years. Dr. 
Rial Wright and Dr. Stevens were partners in 
practice for a good many years. Dr. L. B. Wells 
was the first Homeopathic physician in Pompey. 

Dr. J. Deblois Sherman settled at Pompey Hill 
about 1825, and was a physician of high rank and 
extensive practice. 

Honorable Mention. 

Among the persons of note who were either resi- 
dents or natives of Pompey, may be mentioned the 
following : 

Hon. Henry Seymour, father of ex-Governor 
Horatio Seymour, was one of the early settlers. 

Hon. Horatio Seymour was born at Pompey 
Hill in 181 1. 

Hon. LeRoy Morgan, Judge of the Supreme 
Court and the Court of Appeals, was born in 
Pompey March 27, iSio. He was a graduate of the 
old Pompey Academy in 1830. His father, Lyman 
Morgan, was one of the pioneers. 

Hon. Daniel Gott located permanently at Pompey 
Hill in 18 1 7, and for many years of his brilliant 
life was identified with the interests of the place. 
He finished his law studies with Daniel Wood, Esq. 

Hon. Victory Birdseye, Member of Congress, 
Member of Assembly and of the Constitutional Con- 
vention of 1 82 1, was a lawyer of eminent abilities 
and an untiring friend and supporter of liberal 
education. He settled at Pompey and began the 
practice of law in 1807. 

Rev. Artemus Bishop, born in Pompey in 1805, 
was a distinguished missionary to the Sandwich 
Islands, where he spent more than thirty years 
translating Pilgrim's Progress and considerable 
portions of the Bible into the language of the 
natives. His father, Sylvanus Bishop, was one of 
six brothers who settled in Pompey in 1 793-' 94. 
He bought and cleared land in the vicinity of 
Pompey Hill, and the following year brought his 
wife and eldest child, then six months old, on horse- 
back from Kinderhook, Columbia County. 

Hon. Henry W. De Puy, was born in Pompey, 
in 1820. He was a lawyer and a writer of con- 
siderable note ; the author of " Kossuth and His 
Generals, with a Brief History of Hungary," with 
69 



an Introduction by Henry J. Raymond ; also 
" Louis Napoleon and His Times with a Memoir of 
the Bonaparte Family," and " Ethan Allen and the 
Green Mountain Heroes of '^6, with the Early 
History of Vermont." 

Mr. DePuy was Consul to Carlsruhe and Sec- 
retary of Legation at Berlin. President Lincoln ap- 
pointed him Secretary of Nebraska, in which 
capacity he organized that Territory, and served as 
Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature. He died in 
New York, Feb. 2d, 1876. 

Besides these, Hon. C. B. Sedgwick, Hon. Luther 
Rawson, Grace Greenwood (Sarah I. Clarke,) Hon. 
Charles Mason, since Justice of the Supreme Court 
of Iowa, Hon. George H. Williams, United States 
Senator from Oregon, and International Arbitrator 
in the Alabama Claims Case, and Gen. H. W. 
Slocum, Major-General in the late War of the 
Rebellion, deserve to be mentioned among the citi- 
zens of Pompey who have attained to honorable 
and distinguished positions. 

There are a host of others, scattered through the 
various relations of life, equally worthy of mention, 
did space permit. Biographical sketches, or at 
least some notice of most of the early and promi- 
nent citizens of the town, will be found in the "Re- 
union and History of Pompey," published in 1S75, 
from which most of the matter for our present his- 
tory of the town has been drawn. Speaking of 
Pompey Hill, Mr. Clark says : 

" This village was, within the memory of men still 
living, as prominent a place as any in the county. It 
gave more tone to the surrounding country and set- 
tlements, on account of its refinement and wealth, 
its intelligence and learning, than any place in the 
vicinity. People came here for legal advice ; they 
came here for medical advice ; to do their trading; 
and they came here for fashions ; they came here 
for military parades, for political discussions, and 
for general consultations of a public nature ; they 
came here to engage in all the events incident to 
men in public life." 

Pompey Academy. 

The first movement for the establishment of 
Pompey Academy was made in the year 1800. 
The Trustees named in the original petition for a 
charter were the following : Ebenezer Butler, Jr., 
Timothy Jerome, William Stevens, Jeremiah Gould, 
Phineas Howell, Elihu Lewis, Dan Bradley, Com- 
fort Tyler, James Knapp, John Lamb, Elijah Rust, 
Deodatus Clark, Hezekiah Olcott, David Williams, 
Walter Colton, Joseph Smith, James Beebe, John 
Kidder. 

The petition, accompanied by a subscription 
amounting to $1,315, was laid before the Board of 



398 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



Regents of the University, at a meeting held in the 
Senate Chamber, at Albany, on the 17th of March, 
1800, and was referred to a Committee of the 
Hoard, consisting of Judge Hcnson and Simeon 
DcWitt, who reported at a subsequent meeting hcTd 
on the 31st of March, 1800. At this meeting a 
resolution was passed referring the question of a 
suitable location for the Academy to the Board of 
Supervisors of the County of Onondaga, who, at a 
meeting on the first Tuesday in October, 1800, re- 
ported favorably to locating the Academy at Pom- 
pcy Hill. At a meeting held on the 23d of March. 
i8ot, the Regents resolved to make the granting of 
a charter to the Academy conditional upon the 
erection of a suitable building for its use. 

The first building for the Academy was com- 
menced in or about 1803. William Lathrop was 
the builder. On the 20th of July, 1807. William 
Lathrop and George ^^^ Wood entered into an 
agreement with Manoah Pratt, Henry Seymour, 
and Samuel S. Baldwin, the Building Committee, to 
do certain specified carpenter work in completing 
the building, for the sum of S200, the same to be 
paid by the assignment of subscriptions which 
should be good and collectable. Mr. Wood soon 
after retired from the job, and Mr. Lathrop pro- 
ceeded with it for a time ; finally, March 2, 18 10, 
he relinquished the unfinished part of the job, 
agreeing to accept Si 40, in full of what had been 
done. In July, 1810, a new subscription was 
raised, and in the same paper the committee en- 
tered into an agreement to procure the completion 
of the Academy for the sum of S450. In the 
autumn of 1810 the building for the Academy was 
completed and paid for, and there remained $1,450 
to serve as an endowment for the yielding of the 
net annual revenue of Si 00, required to warrant the 
granting of a charter. 

In February, 181 1, the final steps for the incor- 
poration of the school were taken. A petition 
numerously signed was sent to the Board of 
Regents. In this document the petitioners say : 

" Your petitioners have at great expense pro- 
cured a suitable site, consisting of two acres of 
land, near the center of said town, and erected a 
large and commodious building, forty by fifty feet on 
the ground, two stories high and completely finished 
and painted inside and out, and paid for. 

" Your petitioners have also procured a fund of 
S 1,450, to be subscribed for the purpose of pro- 
ducing a net annual income for the support of the 
said institution, and that the same is well secured 
to Samuel S. Baldwin, Henry Seymour and Manoah 
Pratt, as trustees, for the sole use of said academy, 
at an annual interest of seven per cent. * 

" Wherefore, your petitioners request that the 



said academy may be incorporated and be subject 
to the visitation of the Regents of the University 
of the State of New York ; and they nominate for 
the first trustees of the said academy, the following 
persons, to wit : Henry Seymour, Senior Trustee, 
and Samuel S. B^dwin, Daniel Wood, Manoah 
Pratt. Ithamar Coe, Asa Wells, Hezckiah Clark, John 
Jerome, Silas Park, Jacobus DePuv, Daniel Allen, 
Chauncey Jerome, Daniel Tibbals. Joshua Johnson, 
Dirck C. Lansing, Benj. Sanford, Charles C. Mosley, 
Wm. J. Wilcox, Jonathan Stanley, Jr, Levi Parsons, 
William Cook, Victory Birdseye, Jasper Hopper, 
James Geddes ; which persons we pray may be in- 
corporated by the name, style and description of 
' Pompey Academy,' with a condition in the act of 
incorporation that the said principal sum of the 
said fund shall never be diminished or appropdated, 
and that the income of the said principal fund shall 
be applied only to the maintenance or salaries of 
the professors or tutors of the said Academy. " 

This petition was signed and sealed by sixty- 
three prominent citizens of the County ; it was 
drawn up by the late Victory Birdseye, and sworn 
to by Henry Seymour, before Daniel Wood, Justice 
of the Peace. 

On the nth of March, 1811, by vote of the 
Regents, the Academy was incorporated by the 
name of "The Trustees of Pompey Academy." 
The persons named in the Petition were made 
Trustees by the Charter. At a meeting of the 
Trustees, held April 4, 181 1, Henry Seymour was 
elected President, Victory Birdseye, Secretary, and 
Daniel Wood, Treasurer. 

November 3, 181 2, the following officers were 
chosen : Asa Wells, President ; Victory Birdseye, 
Secretary ; Daniel Wood, Treasurer ; Asa Wells, 
S. S. Baldwin and D. Wood, Prudential Committee. 

October 6, 181 3, the following oflScers were 
elected : Rev. J. Leonard, President ; V. Birdseye, 
Secretary : H. Seymour, Treasurer ; D. Wood, C. 
Jerome and D. Tibbals, Prudential Committee. 

Henry Seymour remained Treasurer till January 
10, 1 82 1, when his duties as Canal Commissioner, 
to which he had been appointed March 24, 18 19, 
compelled him to resign. He soon after removed 
to Utica, but he continued to be a Trustee of the 
Academy till October 30, 1833, and upon the ac- 
ceptance of his resignation, Mr. Samuel Baker was 
chosen in his place. Luther Marsh was chosen 
Treasurer in 1821, continuing till May 15, 1827, 
when Mr. V. Birdseye was elected to the office, 
which he held till his death, September 16. 1853. 
Levi Wells was then elected to the office, and held 
it till his death, March 31, 1872, when Dr. O. G. 
Dibble was chosen to succeed him. 

The Academy building, as first erected was 40 
by 50 feet, two stories, painted yellow, with its 




ABRAHAM //Of?THRUP. 



f^OTOS Bt W, V RikitOCm.SvRActJSi 



^/7S. Abraham Northrup. 

/ffACUSt ' 




( ta TavetteJ 




HoMEf? Cases Monument, PoMPEYCEMtTEpy 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



399 



gable fronting to the south, and had a hall ten feet 
wide running through the middle of the first floor. 
In 1834 the old building was vacated and the new 
one commenced, which was finished and opened in 
the fall of 1835, the school, meantime, being taught 
in the district school house. The Preceptor's house 
was completed in May, 1836.* 

Early Schools and Teachers. 
The first school kept in Pompey was in a log 
house near the present residence of Mr. Daniel 
Kellogg. It was taught by Miss Lucy Jerome, 
afterwards wife of Judge James Geddes. The first 
house erected for school purposes was a frame 
building located in the forks of the road on the 
village green in 1798. In the rear of this was the 
first burying ground. The house was afterwards 
moved north to near the present site of Mr. Gott's 
office, and was occupied till the Academy building 
was erected. (See History of the Pompey Academy.) 
Among the early common school teachers were 
Miss Hepsabah Beebe, Mr. Lyman Pitcher and Mr. 
James Robinson. The latter first taught English 
Grammar to a few of his most advanced pupils. 
The interest of education has always been felt to 
be an important one by the people of Pompey. 
School No. 3, Pompey, was taught by Levi Jerome 
from December 4, 1799, to March 4, 1800; and 
among his pupils were many prominent heads of 
the early families of the town. 

Churches. 

The First Congregational Church of Pompey 
was organized October 19th, 1796, by Rev. Ammi 
R. Robins, pastor of the church at Norfolk, Con- 
necticut. The church was originally composed of 
twenty-two members, as follows : 

Ebenezer Butler, Daniel McKeyes, Moses Lilly, 
James Olcott, Benjamin Butler, Joseph Shattuck, 
Ichabod Lathrop, John Jerome, Selah Cook, True- 
worthy Cook, Levi Jerome, Desire Butler, Dorathy 
Butler, Molly Jerome, Lucy Cook, Truelove Cook, 
Amarilla Jerome, Lucy Jerome, Susanna Carrol, 
Hannah Griftes, Zeruiah Catlin, Louisa Butler. 

In 1797 there is no record of the officiating 
minister. In July, 1798, we have the name of 
Rev. Mr. Hallier, and in October, the name of 
Rev. Mr. Williston. July 19, 1799, Rev. Joseph 
Gilbert was chosen moderator. August 14, x8oi, 
we have the first record of the labors of Rev. Hugh 
Wallis. October 15, 1802, he received a unani- 
mous call and was installed January 5, 1803. The 
first association of ministers and churches on the 

* For list of Principals and Teachers in tlie Academy, see Pompey 
Reunion, pp. i5i-'53. - 



Military Tract, was organized June, 1803. Rev. 
Mr. Wallis resigned January 10, 1809. 

In October, 18 10, the Presbytery of Onondaga 
was formed whereby this church became a member 
of Presbytery on the plan of Union. The first notice 
of any Thanksgiving service occurs as early as 
November, 1805. The following April there was 
the observance of the fast day so long customary 
with the churches of New England. 

October 19, 1812, Rev. Jabez Chadwick entered 
upon the duties of pastor. The year 18 13 was 
signalized as the most prosperous year of his 
ministry and in some respects the most prosperous 
year in the whole history of the church. 

December 3, 1814, the church met to consider 
the question whether the labor of collecting hay 
and grain on the Sabbath in a catching season is a 
profanation of the day. The question being dis- 
cussed at very considerable length was unanimously 
decided in the affirmative. 

The church building was erected in the sum- 
mer of 1 8 17, but was not finished and dedicated 
until January 20, 1819, at which time Rev. Jabez 
Chadwick was installed pastor of this church. For 
about ten years previous to the erection of this 
church the public services were held in the old Pom- 
pey Academy. 

March 31, 1822, the church extended a call to 
Mr. E. S. Barrows to become their pastor and he 
was ordained and installed September loth, of the 
same year. Mr. Barrows was an able and success- 
ful pastor and accomplished a most blessed work 
during his ministry. He was dismissed October 6, 
1828. 

March 22, 1829, Rev. B. B. Stockton became 
pastor. During his ministry fifty-eight persons 
were added to the church, forty-six in 1831. 

Rev. James B. Shaw, now Dr. Shaw, of Roch- 
ester, became pastor November 6, 1832 ; for two 
years he served the church with great acceptance 
and ability. There were received during his short 
but most popular ministry sixty-eight persons, fifty 
during the memorable year of 1833. 

Rev. Ethan Smith commenced his labors some 
time during the latter part of 1834, but must have 
remained less than one year, for September 23, 
1835, Rev. John Gridley commenced his ministry, 
and was installed October 25, 1836. Rev. Asa 
Rand commenced his ministry December 29, 1837, 
and remained about four years. During his minis- 
try thirty-nine were received. 

Rev. Mr. Wheelock succeeded Mr. Rand in the 
spring of 1842, and remained at least two years. 
February 26, 184S, Rev. Clinton Clark was ordained 



400 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



and installed pastor, and sen-ed the church till 
December 26, 1847. 

November 5. 1848. Rev. S. P. M. Hastings as- 
sumed pastoral charge. During the si.\ years and 
ten months of his ministry there were added to the 
church ninety-eight members. He was at his own 
request dismissed November 26, 1855. Among 
those who united with the church during his labors 
and have since entered the ministry were Rev. 
Hiram C. Hayden. D. D , pastor of the First Pres- 
byterian Church, Cleveland, Ohio, and Rev. Delos 
E. Wells, of Aurora, 111., one of the promising and 
rising men of the West, and Rev. Carlos Swift, an 
honored minister in the Haptist church. This use- 
ful pastor has lately entered into rest. Rev. E. P. 
Smith succeeded Mr. Hastings, but only remained 
si.x months. He left the reputation ot a godly and 
earnest minister. He was for several years Com- 
missioner among the Indians and afterwards elected 
President of Howard University, which position he 
held at the time of his recent death. 

July 6, 1856, Rev. A. A. Graley became pastor ; 
his ministry continued si.x years, and there were 
added "to the church twenty-three members. 

November i, 1862, Rev. J. H. Moran commenced 
his labors for the term of one year, and was fol- 
lowed February 21, 1864, by Rev. Nathan Bos- 
worth. There were added to the church during the 
two years and two months of his ministry, fifty- 
three. Mr. Bosworth will long be held in grateful 
remembrance for devotion to his work. He closed 
his labors April 22. 1866. 

October i, 1866, Rev. R. S. Eggleston com- 
menced his ministerial work. He was uniformly 
acceptable to the congregation and closed his labors 
October i, 1868. 

April 9, 1870, Rev. Alvin Cooper commencedhis 
labors and continued until August i, 1871. 

February 15, 1872, Rev. J. Petrie, present pastor 
commenced his labors. 

It will be of interest to know that the whole 
number of members of this church from the be- 
ginning is 1/39. The deacons of the church who 
served the longest and will be held in most grate- 
ful remembrance arc Levi Jerome, Israel Woodford 
Elijah Wells and Samuel Baker, now called to their 
reward, and A. H. Wells, who is still among the 
living. Deacon Jerome was the early clerk of the 
church, and the history of its organization and its 
records for a number of years are in his handwrit- 
ing. He was evidently an active member of the 
church and was frequently its delegate to Presby- 
tery and Association. He united with this church 
at its organization, and departed this life June i ith, 



1838, and was seventy-seven years old on the day 
of his death. He was a deacon of this church 
nearly thirty-nine years, though in the closing 
years of his life not in active service. 

Daniel Dunham, the colleague of Levi Jerome, 
united with this church July 12th, 1 799, by letter, 
from the second church in Lebanon, Conn. As he 
is called deacon in the record of his admission, it is 
fair to presume that he held the office previous to 
his removal here. He was elected deacon of this 
church December 27th, 1799, and probably dis- 
missed sometime between 1809 and 1812, as his 
name does not appear on the records subsequent to 
this date. 

Ithamer Coe united with this church by letter 
April 1st, 1803, from what was then called the 
church in Clinton settlement, now the beautiful 
Village of Clinton. He was dismissed by letter to 
the church in Volney, March 9, 1816. Ezra Hart 
was received as a member of this church December 
29th, 1799. His first notice as deacon of this 
church occurs January 13th, 1813. He was dis- 
missed by letter December 31st, i8i8. 

Israel Woodford united with this church by 
letter from the church in Farrington, Conn., Sep- 
tember, 18 12 ; he was chosen deacon of this church 
April 4th, 1818, and died January ist, 1S52, eighty- 
three years of age. Elijah Wells united with this 
church on profession of his faith, February 2d, 
1 8 14; was elected deacon April 4th, 181S; the 
colleague of Israel Woodford, and died 1830, at 
filty-five years of age. 

Pliny Porter, united with this church April 16th, 
1817, on profession of his faith ; was elected deacon 
July i6th, 1831, and died November ist, 1840, at 
fifty-three years of age. Abraham Northrup 
united with this church on profession of his faith 
January ist, 1813 ; was elected deacon December 
22d, 1S34, and died November 7th, 1846, at seventy- 
two years of age. 

Asa H. Wells united with this church November 
30th, 1826; was elected deacon Dec. 22d, 1834, 
at the same time with Abraham Northrup, and was 
acting deacon forty years. Samuel Baker united 
with this church November 22d, 1826 ; was elected 
deacon April 26th, 1840, and died August 8th, 
1874. The present deacons of the church, George 
Wells and I. L. Woodford, were elected soon after 
Deacon Baker's death. 

Mrs. Dcbby Judd, united with the church March 
1 8th, i802. She died not long since at the Sand- 
wich Islands. Rev. Artemas Bishop, who was born 
in Pompey, and, was to some extent assisted in his 
education for the ministry by this church, was an 



■,*««»■■ 




\ ^^'i 



^ - T 




FHOTOS BY M.BJsUAU. SyRACUSK ■ 



El UAH y^ESTON. 



MhsMaranda Weston, 




Residence or JUSTIN r. GATES, Pompev. Onondaga County, N . Y. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



401 



honored missionary to the Sandwich Islands, and 
died only a few years since at a ripe old age. 

The Bible presented by Mrs. Henry Seymour, 
mother of ex-Governor Horatio Seymour, at the 
dedication of the church, is still in a good state of 
preservation. At a late visit of Governor Seymour 
to his friends at Pompey, it was suggested that 
this precious Bible should be presented to him as a 
family relic, and the clerk of the church was in- 
structed to write accordingly. Mr. Seymour wrote 
a beautiful and characteristic reply thanking the 
church for their kind offer, but said that he had 
come to the conclusion that the cherished Bible 
should remain in the possession of the church and 
continue its mission of blessing, to be read by the 
successive pastors of the future as it had been 
read by the preceding pastors of the past. 

The bell presented by Hon. Henry Seymour to 
the church and society for their first house of wor- 
ship has not been so fortunate as to endure to the 
present, but was broken quite a number of years 
since, and has been twice replaced. 

The present membership of the church is 130 ; 
attendance at the Sunday school about 100. 

Church of Disciples of Christ, Pompey. — 
This church originated in a separation from the 
Baptist Church of Pompey under the ministry of 
Rev. J. I. Lowell, in the year 1834. Mr. Lowell, 
at the time of his settlement as pastor of the Baptist 
Church, was known to hold views differing some- 
what from that body, particularly with reference to 
certain beliefs and usages of the Baptists which he 
held to be unscriptural and sanctioned only by human 
authority. Believing in the all-sufficient authority 
and guidance of the Bible in all matters pertaining 
to religion, Mr. Lowell earnestly sought to conform 
his teachings to that standard, irrespective of* the 
cry of " heresy " that might be raised against him. 
He was, however, very soon pronounced a " Camp- 
bellite," as similar views about that time began to 
be promulgated by the late distinguished theologian, 
Alexander Campbell, of Virginia. The adherents 
to this so-called " new doctrine " at Pompey were 
among the most intelligent and estimable men 
and women of the Baptist Church ; nevertheless, 
for the sole cause of their honestly holding views 
differing from the rest of the church, quite a number, 
in May, 1834, were excluded from fellowship. These, 
together with several converted under Mr. Lowell's 
ministry, naturally desiring religious affiliation and , 
communion, were drawn together in a separate 
body, and on the 3d of May, 1834, as the records 

show, " The First Congregation of Disciples of 

70* 



Christ, of Pompey," was organized with twenty- 
eight members, as follows : 

Calvin Peck, Asa Wells, Thomas M. King, Alson 
Nearing, Charles Little, Malcom Bennett, A. H 
Squires, Uriel Wilson, Jr., Samuel Talbot, Harry 
Knapp, Willard Hayden, Darius Wilson, Jacob 
Bush, Alvin Talbot, J. I. Lowell, Mary P. Lowell, 
Eliza Nearing, Polly Wilson, Mary A. Bush, Tem- 
perance Wilson, Paulina Talbot, Mindwell Thomas, 
Harriet Pratt, Catherine Bennett, Betsey Wright, 
Rhoda Parsons, Polly Thomas, Mary Knapp. 

The church prospered. By the end of the year 
1835 the membership had reached ninety-three. 

In 1837 the society built the house in which they 
worshiped till 1868, when a new church was built, 
the old one having been sold for the use of the 
district school, in place of the school house which 
was burned down on the night of February 11, 1868. 

The first pastor of the church was J. I. Lowell ; 
the first Elders, Calvin Peck, Asa Wells and Thos. 
M. King ; Deacons, Alson Nearing and Charles 
Little ; Treasurer, Malcom Bennett ; Clerk, A. H. 
Squires. 

The following ministers have served the church 
as pastors : 

J. M. Bartlett, M. H. Clapp, M. H. Slosson, H. 
M. Selmser, J. M. Shepard, Andrew J. Smith, W. 
T. Horner, L. Southmayd. J. B. Marshall, J. C. 
Goodrich, A. S. Hale, William Grimes, and W. H. 
Woolery, the present pastor. 

WATERVALE. 

WATERVALE.a village situated on the west branch 
of Limestone Creek, about four miles northeast of 
Pompey Hill, was settled by Col. James Carr about 
the year 1809. Mr. Carr built the first saw-mill 
erected on the stream in this vicinity. He was 
soon followed, about the same year, or in 1810, by 
Willoughby Millard, who, almost simultaneously 
with Mr. Carr, erected the second saw-mill. The 
place was first called Carr Hollow, then Hemlock 
Hollow, also Slab Hollow, on account of the great 
quantities of slabs made by the mills. 

Ansil Judd settled in the Hollow in 1812, and 
built the first wool-carding and cloth-dressing estab- 
lishment in town. The postoffice was established 
here in 1820, Ansil Judd, Postmaster. Selecting 
the new name for the place, Mr. Judd announced it 
poetically as follows : 

" The hemlocks are gone, 
The slabs are set sail, 
And we'll call it Slab Hollow 
No more, but Watervale." 

Mr. George Ostrander, who settled in the place 
about 181 5, built a distillery of considerable dimen- 
sions for that early day. He used about ten 



402 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



bushels of grain per day. For a considerable time 
Benjamin Wheeler carried on the business of tan- 
ning and shoemaking. The first store was opened 
by Ira Curtis, who also, for many years kept the first 
hotel. William C. Fargo, O. Abbott, Benjamin 
Patten and V. R. Taylor, were among the first 
settlers. 

Anson Sprague, in 1818, settled on the farm on 
which, in 1820, was found by Philo Cleveland the 
celebrated Monumental Stone. iSee Antiquities 
of the County.) 

DELPHI. 

This place, formerly called " Pompey Four Cor- 
ners," was changed to " Delphi " by some of the 
early settlers familiar with the classic scenes of 
Italy. It is situated in the beautiful valley of the 
Limestone Creek, about six miles east-bysouth of 
Pompey Hill. 

The Pompey " Reunion " gives the name of El- 
nathan Griffith, a gentleman ninety years of age, 
residing at Delphi, formerly a resident of the town of 
F"abius, as authority on the early settlement. Sam- 
uel Sherwood, probably the first settler in this local- 
ity, settled on Lot No. 84, about one mile north- 
west of the present village, in 1795. He came from 
Saratoga county, and was a Major-General of militia. 
Rufus Sheldon, father of a very talented family, 
among whom is Harvey Sheldon, Esq., of New York, 
settled near Gen. Sherwood's in the year 1800; 
Elijah Hill, 1798 or 1799; Col. Ensign Hill, 1800; 
James McClure, 1802 ; Samuel Draper, 1803 ; 
Ozias Burr and William Cook, 1802. The former 
was Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Court of 
Common Pleas. 

Capt. Theophilus Tracy, who settled a half mile 
south-east of the village, erected the first grist mill 
on Limestone Creek, or rather put up the frame, 
about 1S03. He sold to Moses Savage, who em- 
ployed Elnathan GrifTith, who was a mill-wright, to 
complete the mill. The two run of French Burr 
stones, which cost $100, and were brought from Al- 
bany by teams sent thither with loads of wheat, are 
still running in the mill. In 1825 or '30 Deacon 
Moses Savage built the grist mill now owned by 
Edgar Pratt. 

The first tavern in the place was kept by Dr. 
Joseph Ely, also a practicing physician, on the site 
of the present hotel. His frame house was erected 
in 1806. In this year there was a frame barn and 
several log houses in the vicinity. Elisha Litch- 
field, settled here in 18 12. He was a prominent 
citizen — Major of a regiment. Member of Assembly, 
Speaker of the House and Member of Congress. 



Reuben Benton was an early settler and Justice of 
the Peace. 

In 1805, Hubbard & Willard opened the first 
general assortment of goods. His successor was 
Esli Squires, who built a new store in 1810. Her- 
rick Allen was for many years a prominent mer- 
chant in the place. At an early time, Schuyler 
Van Rensselaer was also a merchant here, and sold 
out to Matthew B. Slocum, father of Major-Gencral 
Henry W. Slocum, U. S. A. 

The following physicians have practiced their 
profession at Delphi : Dr. F"resy, Dr. Shipman, 
brother of A. B. Shipman, recently of Syracuse ; 
Dr. John L. King, Dr. Pettil, brother of Judge 
Pettit of Fabius: Dr. Hiram Adams ; Dr. Goodell, 
and Drs. Marsh, Wiggins, Cook, Baker, Todd and 
Porter. 

The Edge Tool Factory, now owned by John 
Salisbury, one mile south-east of the village, was 
built by Clark Rogers in 1823. It was afterwards 
owned and conducted by Holmes & Sampson, 
whose work attained a wide reputation for e.xcel- 
lence, the tools being known as the best make in 
the country. 

The village of Delphi is still thrifty. There are 
two churches, an excellent school, in which many 
celebrities have taught, among them Jesse T. Pock, 
one of the Bishops of the M. E. Church, Dr. Amos 
Westcott, recently of Syracuse, and Hon. D. G. 
Fort, of Oswego ; several stores, (among them a 
drug store,) a good hotel and several shops. The 
beauty of the residences and tasteful grounds, render 
the village one of the most pleasant and desirable 
in the country. 

Delphi has one cheese factory or creamery. It 
has been run as a cheese factory about eight years, 
but is now a creamery, owned and managed by M. 
S. Allen. The building was erected in 1872 at a 
cost of $3,800. Capacity 15,000 pounds milk daily. 
Capital, $4,500 ; employs five hands, and is worked 
by steam power. 

ORAN. 

This portion of Pompey was first settled by Mr. 
Asa Barnes, from Stockbridgc, Mass., who pur- 
chased the farm on which his son, Elias Barnes, 
still resides, in 1793. Elias Barnes was born on 
this farm in 1796, and still lives upon it, a remark- 
ably well-preserved old gentleman, and having a 
clear and distinct recollection of the early events of 
.this vicinity. Two brothers of Asa Barnes, Phineas 
and Roswell, came here at the same time, and in 
1794 they brought their families, iw Albany and 
Utica, arriving at their new home March 5th, of 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



403 



that year. They settled upon Lot No. 1 1 of the 
original township survey. Job Bartholomew, an 
ancestor of the late Rev, J. G. Bartholomew, D. D., 
settled upon the west part of the same lot in 1793. 
About the same time Daniel Thomas and Captain 
Peck settled on Lot No. 22, and Thomas Foster and 
James Scoville, father of Joseph Scoville, settled on 
Lot No. 1 1, near the present village of Oran. 

Joseph Scoville, in 1875, owned the original farm 
upon which his father settled, and probably owns it 
still (1878), although his residence is on Lot No. 
10. James Milder, a Revolutionary soldier, and 
grandfather of Columbus C. Milder, of Pompey, 
and of Philip P. Milder, of DeWitt, came with his 
brothers, Christopher and Philip, about the year 
1800, and occupied his soldier's claim. 

George Clark was the teacher and the merchant 
at Oran. He settled on the farm where Morgan 
Lewis now lives. Charles Thomas settled on the 
Sanford Lewis place. Deacon Hart, Captain Pun- 
dason Avery and William Barnes, settled near the 
present residence of Silas B. Safford. Shubel 
Saftbrd, father of Silas B., settled on Lot No. 10. 
Francis Hale, in 1802, purchased of Judge Butler a 
farm on Lot 12, on which he settled. Selah Good- 
rich settled the land where Mr. Bowen now lives. 

The first hotel in Oran was built by Job Barthol- 
omew in 1796, and kept by him till 1808. In 1809, 
another hotel was erected on the site of the present 
hotel, and was kept by William Scoville. The first 
school house was erected about 1800, George Clark, 
teacher. " The Pleasant Valley Congregational 
Church" was erected in 1808. The first physician 
was Dr. Daniel D. Denison, who came about the 
year 1810, and remained till his death, some twenty 
years ago. He was the father of H. D. Deni- 
son and William Denison, of Syracuse, and D. 
D. Denison, of Oran. 

Formerly Oran was a more thriving village than 
at present. In 18 10 there were two stores, two 
hotels, two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, two 
tanneries, a grist mill, a distillery, an ashery, and a 
population greater than now. 



BiOG[i_APHic>L Sketches. 



DR. HEZEKIAH CLARKE. 

, Dr. Hezekiah Clarke, late of the town of Pompey, 
was born December 19th, 1757, in Lebanon, Conn., 
and was the son of Dr. John Clarke, of the same 
place ; grandson of Moses Clarke ; great grandson 
" Oaniel Clarke, Jr., of Hartford, Conn.; great- 



great-grandson of Daniel Clarke, who immigrated to 
America in 1640, and settled at Hartford, Conn. 

His maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Ed- 
wards, daughter of Rev. Timothy Edwards, and 
sister of President Jonathan Edwards. 

He qualified himself, under the tuition of his 
father, in the profession of medicine- and surgery, 
which he had chosen for the business of life, and 
received his diploma before he was out of his mi- 
nority. He received the appointment of Surgeon's 
Mate at the age of twenty-one years, under Dr. 
John R. Watrous, Surgeon of the Third Connecti- 
cut Regiment, in the army of the Revolution, com- 
manded by Col. Samuel Wyllis, General Parsons' 
Brigade, subsequently, on the reorganization of the 
army, denominated the First Connecticut Regiment. 
The appointment was the more flattering, inasmuch 
as his warrant was presented to him by Governor 
Trumbull in person, unexpected by him and un- 
solicited by any one. 

He was stationed with his regiment on the Hud- 
son River, and while there, was detailed with a 
body of soldiers, on an expedition to Long Island ; 
but on his return to his regiment, he was obliged 
to encamp on the wet ground, with only his blanket 
for a covering, and in the morning found himself 
enveloped in snow ; the result of which was a violent 
fever which prostrated him for many weeks, and 
brought him to the verge of the grave. When able 
to be moved, he was conveyed to his father's resi- 
dence, but did not return to the army, by reason of 
his protracted illness. He was in active service 
two years. 

When Fort Griswold, situated on Thames River, 
opposite New London, was attacked by the British, 
under the command of the arch-traitor Arnold, 
(Fort Trumbull, situated below the town, having 
fallen,) the alarm was spread throughout the sur- 
rounding country ; and in obedience to the call, he 
repaired to the scene of devastation, pillage, and 
murder, to render his professional aid. The enemy 
having destroyed all the craft on the river, by 
which aid could pass over to the scene of the 
massacre, he found, on his arrival, a company of 
men with stout hearts, who were unable to cross ; 
but after searching for some time, he found a 
ricketty skift", utterly unseaworthy. Here he found 
himself in an unpleasant dilemma ; for he could 
not cross in it alone, and those standing there, 
refused to accompany him, concluding, in their own 
mind, that if it could not carry one, tzuo must cer- 
tainly go down with it. After much eff"ort he pre- 
vailed upon one man to row the skiff, while he him- 
self bailed the water out of it ; and thus by their 
united efforts they arrived safely on the opposite 
side. He immediately repaired to the scene of woe, 
and assiduously devoted himself to the unfortunate 
victims, by dressing their wounds and rendering 
any other assistance of which they stood in need. 

As a testimony of grateful remembrance of the 
services rendered on that memorable night, and 
subsequent cheerless days, three of the men whose 
wounds he dressed called upon him thirty years 
after to express in person their gratitude for his 



404 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



timely and kindly aid. Dr. Clarke was then a resi- 
dent of Pompey. 

One of the men received a gunshot wound 
through the knee, another had received a similar 
wound through the elbow, and the third was 
wounded in the forehead by a blow from a clubbed 
musket in the Jiands of an enemy, the cock of which 
penetrated the brain. All were restored without 
the dismemberment of a limb. 

Soon after the close of the war he settled in Pitts- 
field, Mass., where he remained about one year. 
He then married Miss Lucy Bliss, daughter of 
Hon. Moses Bliss, of Springfield, and grand-daugh- 
ter of Timothy Edwards, and settled in Lanesbor- 
ough, Berkshire County, in the same State. There 
he devoted himself to his profession for about eigh- 
teen years, and until he moved with his family to 
Pompey, Onondaga County, where he arrived Nov- 
ember 3, 1805. He remained on Pompey Hill one 
year and then settled on a farm two miles south- 
east from the Hill, and there continued his profes- 
sional labors. 

Few physicians have had as extensive a practice as 
he. His reputation as a surgeon did not consist so 
much in the number of limbs amputated as in pre- 
serving them. And frequently, when other sur- 
geons had given the patient up as incurable, without 
amputation has he restored the limb to its wonted 
soundness. But when it became necessary to re- 
sort to the tourniquet and knife, he knew how to 
use them. He was a skillful operator. 

In the winter of l8i3-'i4, an epidemic, in com- 
mon parlance, spotted fever, prevailed to an alarm 
ing e.xtent. Dr. C. had about three hundred 
patients, who were prostrated by it, of whom only 
three died. His treatment of that disease was his 
own, and not another's. Under other treatment 
many cases proved fatal. One cause of his success 
in his professional labors generally was in some 
measure, attributable to his untiring devotion to 
those under his care. He spared not himself. One 
incident, illustrative of that will here be related. 
During the prevalence of the epidemic, one stormy 
winter evening such as is sometimes seen on Pom- 
pey Hill, Deacon Levi Jerome, the father of Hon. 
Amasa Jerome, came in great haste for Dr. C, as 
three of his family were down with that disease. 
Mr. Jerome was informed that the Doctor himself 
was sick, and had been on the bed most of the day, 
and that he could not go. He stood 1 for he had de- 
clined a seat, ) with tears trickling down his check, 
and exclaimed, " Must my family lie there and die ?" 
He then asked, ' Cannot a bed be put in the sleigh 
for him, and he be covered up well, and taken to my 
house.'" (which was five miles away.) " We will 
take good care of him while there, and he can lie 
on the bed and tell us what to do." Thus he went, 
and so he returned. Deacon Jerome lost none of 
his family by that disease. 

On the train of cars, at the formal opening of the 
Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad to the public, a 
son of Dr. Clark was providentially seated with Dr. 
John Miller, of Truxton, N. Y., then quite ad- 
vanced in life, and who bore a high reputation as a 



physician, and once represented his district in Con- 
gress. In the course of conversation Dr. Miller 
said that he was a young man when Dr. Clark was 
on the flood-tide of his profession, and that he fre- 
quently called him in counsel in critical cases, and 
spoke of him in high commendation as a physician 
and surgeon ; and stated that he witnessed one 
operation of his, which required a thorough knowl- 
edge of the human system, and great skill to per- 
form it successfully. The case was intussasccption, 
that is the doubling of the intestine into itself, 
which cannot be reduced to its normal state by in- 
ternal appliances, but requires the skillful hand of 
the surgeon. Dr. Miller also said that the opera- 
tion was most skillfully and successfully performed. 

Dr. Clark was a member of the first Board of 
Trustees of Pompey Academy. 

His children who lived to adult age, were Henry, 
Harriet, Charlct, Lucy, John Huntington, William 
Metcalfe, Moses Bliss, Theodore Edwards. 



ELIJAH WESTON. 

Elijah Weston was born in the State of Vermont, 
January 23, 1778. being the son of Nathaniel Wes- 
ton. He removed with his father to the town of 
Pompey, Onondaga County, in 1795, and settled on 
the farm now owned and occupied by his son-in- 
law, Justin F. Gates. He was married November 
I, 1796, to Betsey Cotton, who was born March 19, 
1777, by whom he had nine children. She passed 
away September 18, 1816. He was afterwards 
married to Miranda Jobes, who was born December 
5, 1795, in the town of Galway, Saratoga County, 
N. Y. ; their family consisted of six children. He 
ended a busy life May 15,1867. Jane, the fourth 
child of the second marriage, was born in Pompey, 
November 2, 182S, and was married to Justin F. 
Gates, August 24, 1S47, he being born in the town 
of Cuyler, Cortland County, N. Y , March 16, 
1825, and removed to this county in 1844. Their 
union has been blessed with five children, all of 
whom are still living. Politically he belongs to the 
Republican party, and is also a member of the 
Methodist Church. He is one of the most liberal 
and enterprising citizens of the town of Pompey. 



ABRAHAM NORTHRUP. 

Abraham Northrup was born in Tyringham, 
Mass., April 9, 1774. His wife was born at Bark- 
hamstcd, Conn., February 14, 1779. He removed 
to Onondaga County in about the year 1800, and 
settled on a farm in the town of Pompey where he 
resided till his death, November 7, 1846. She 
survived him and died January 24, i860. 

They reared seven children, three of whom are 
now living, viz : Lorenzo, Ashley and Mary Ann. 
Mr. Northrup was a public spirited and popular 
man in his town. Captain Northrup, as he was 
called, was a Deacon of the Congregational Church 
for several years ; all his family were members of 
the church. 



Roster of Enlisted Men 



OF 



PETTIT'S BATTERY, AND THE 12TH, i22ND, 149TH AND i85TH 
REGIMENTS N. Y. S. VOLUNTEERS. 



l^t f\egmieiit, I^igllt SrtiUei'y, >f. Y. 0. Vol^. 

BATTERY B. 

George W. Abbott, died in Hospital; Jerome "W Ayerill, died at 
Fort Monroe, Va , May 5. W02; William Acker, John Archer Benjamin 
Ambrose, John Barclay, James H. Brown. Ezra H. Brown pischarged 
January W 1SB3 ; John Brown. George F. Barlow, Wounded at Savage 
Station. Va., and taken prisoner. Discharged Nov •■.0. Ibby. John 
Barry, killed at Gettysburg; CharlesP. Borden, wounded atFairOaks, 
Va- DriaP Blain. transferred to Invalid Corps: John Bailey, dis- 
chareed Dec S'J, 1S63 ; Thomas Brosnau; Johu Buckley, wounded at 
Gpttvsburg- Timothy Burns. William Broderick, Walter Bogan ; John 
TCouover 'discharged October ST, ISM; Lewis Clark, died in Hospital; 
Philander H. Calkins, Chester Cooper, Francis D. Chapman; Charles 
W Christian promoted Corporal March 1, ISliS, wounded at thancellors- 
viile John Converse, died at Washington, Oct. 31. IWi : Archibald 
Campbell, wounded at .^ntietamand Gettysburg; John Cowell, deser- 
ted Sentember 17. ISM ; Warren Cox. died at Harper s Ferry, \ a., Nov. 
17 WW Elbert Corbin, Pro. Q M. Sergent, returned to ranks by re- 
mlesf David Coey, Pro. Sd Lieut., July 30, lis6:3. discharged without 
mustering Morrill P. Childs, Pro. Corp^lay 19. 1862, Pro. Sergt. Deo. 
■14 iK(,a wounded at Gettysburg; Benjamin Clow, discharged January 
•ik' IHi;-'- EdWd Dickey; Robt. G. Donahue, wounded at ChaucellorsviUe, 
report'ed drowned; Peter Denoyer ; Theodoi-e Denoyer, w-ounded at 
Gettvsburg; Wallace R. Dunham. Reuben H Doxtator Wil ham H. 
Dvkeman Thomas Donahue; Patrick Davis. Pro. Corp July 33, 1863; 
Thomas Dair, Thomas Duggan; John Donovan arm D«.ken at Chan- 
cellorsville; James E Decker. Pro. Corp.- Dec, 10. 1862. Pit. Sergt. Sep. 
fia-V. Lewis D. Darvcau. Pro. Corp. Dec. 1861 ; Sergt March 3, 1863, 
killed at Gettysburg ; John E Eggleston discharged March 4 1863 
losenh English, William Fadling ; Joseph Finn, prisoner at White Oak 
Swamn Patrick Flynn ; Peter Farrell, wounded at Savage Station, 
mn"fei-redtol Corps; Job G. Fuller, discharged Jan. 17, 186_3; Pat- 
rick Foy discharg d\.ct6ber 35, 1862 ; James Fltzpatriok, Pro. Bugler, 
TiP.'pmher :3 1863; Chas A- Gates, wounded at Savage Station, Pro. 
r^rn Tanuarv 15 1863; Lewis H. Gifford, William F. Gillon, Orson H. 
Eoo^drich"Hngh Gavin, killed at Gettysburg; Darius Hall, Edwin C. 
House- Nicholas House, killed atAntietam; William H Howard, dis- 
charged May IK, WHi; Martin Henry, Dennis Hess; Michael Hanoran, 
killed at Gettysburg; Arthur A. Hart, discharged January 1.,1H63; 
Morgan Jones, deserted August 26, 186-3. Eugnotlensler; Edward Ke- 
hoe reported deserted from Hospital; Patrick Kelley, killed at Gettys- 
bS?g I?enry King, discharged January 26,1863; Elisha Lewis: Henry 
Leatheiman Pro Corp. July 2:!, 1863; Peter Leavcnbrewer William 
Lk^hlr™ Davis W. Linsday.^ro. Corp. September 1 186;^; Charles E 
Minard Clerk at 3d Corps Headquarters; Albert Magee, discharged 
October -JS 1803; Stephen C MoCabe. died in Hospital; Geo. M. Moro- 
bouse, deserted June S'J. 1863; Joseph Marshall; Amos F. Maynard, 
kil led at Gettysburg; Isaac Mattison, Lafayette Mead; John JIcMahon, 
deserted Sepiembe?16. 1863; Timothy McLaughlin, taken prisoner at 
White Oak Swamp; Patrick Malone, transferred to Invalid Corps; Jos. 
Mve ■» wounde^at White Oak Swamp, discharged May 31, 1863; Wm. 
McMahou John Murphy. Pro. Corp. November 1, 1863; Richard Mur- 
nhv Thoiiias MuUin, wounded at Chancelloraville, tTansferrsd to Inv 
E-orps James Murray, Michael McGriel, Thomas McKenna; Patrick 
McCiowan. wounded it Gettysburg, transferred to Invalid Corps; Jas 
McVally ost an arm at Chancellorsville; Bernard McBride. wounded 
at Chancellorsville; John McDonnell ; John MoNally. discharged Janu- 
tJy irisu" G^eorg^ W. Morlev, discharged March 9, 18.13; SethC..New- 
comb James SooSan; Peter Noonan. deseited June ,,1863; William 
Ofl^ld James Ofleld; Albert J. Osborne, discharged July 8, 1862; James 
0-Har'a Bernard Oates; Edwin S. Pierce, discharged December 2, 1862; 
Jesse Palmer discharged November 26, 1863; Ambrose J. Palmer dis- 
cha, Bed January 13, 1863; John B. Palmer, William Price, Abel Palmer, 
HeniTKedman;\esUe P. Russell, discharged February 16, 18r.3; Au- 
gustus Rodgers lost a leg at Gettysburg; Henry C. Rosegrant, killed 
It GettTsbur-; Benjamin P. Rathbone ; John Raymond, deserted from 
HosmVal Ha°ryJ. feobinson ; Patrick Ragan. deserted February '.'J 
Isol!^ Charles W. Radue, killed at Gettysburg; Geo. A Rabb wounded 
at.Gettvsburg- John Ryan ; George M. Rogers, Pro. Corp., discharged 
rebrSa%3,"[|3: Daniel Rodgers,1>ro. Corp. Oct. Ill, 1863; Charles H 
Stuart John L.Sickels; Francis D. Slauson. died in Hospital Nov. 10, 
IlS-O^ar L.- States wounded at Gettysburg; John Al" ScoviUe 
funded at Gettysburg, transferred to Invalid Corps; Michael Shell, 
dficbaSd SteXen R*! Sherman, wounded at Gettysburg ; Julius H. 
2 del Ter ance^ Scanlan, transferred to Invalid Corps ; Joseph A 
siansburv discBargerfebruary 16, 1863; Theodore CTaggart; Robert 
F Thorn Pro Coi-S May -38. 1862, wounded at Gettysburg ; -nilliamH. 
?iiorn Napoleon LTwitchell, wounded at Chancellorsville, killed at 
Gettysburg Mauf ice Temple, Frederick Thompson, James Tearney, 
J A V Sia wounded at Chancellorsville; John Van Valkenburg. Wm. 
VanVa^euburg. H. Wright, killed at Gettysburg; Henry Warner San- 
tord Weeks Jno S. WasWrn, discharged May 31, 1863; C. Wallace, 
•'°'unded at Gettysburg; Edward Wells, James Wheeler, S. Warren; 
*o(i Corporal, November 1, 180,3. 



12tli l{egiii-(er)t, Ii^fkiitfy, X- Y, $. Vol^. 

COMPANy A 

r«/'^ni)i— Morris H. Church. 

LU'jfenaut—lra Wood. 

.£>(-v/;//(— Charles B. Randall. 

]a? Ser(/eant— Porter R. Alger. 

Serr/ea Ills— Ahiaham Fredandall, Abram Fairnie. John Cross. 

Co/-/)ora;.«— William B. Patterson, George W. Pratt, Charles E. Fur- 
man. Jr.. Harrison Waggoner. 

Zfrxani>ur—Danie\ Relyea. 

P;-;i-.f((!.i— Hiram A. Allen, Lauren Babcock, Jarres N. Baker, Willard 
Bixby,ThomasD. Brown, James Case,George N. Cheney,Charles A. Col. 
well, George W. Dakin, Hiram A. Dunham, Lockhart Duff, John Edgar, 
Samuel A. Edgar, Samuel J. Edwards, Stephen A. Estes, John Fergu- 
son, Charles W. Foote, Charles W. Ford, John W. Fritcher. John P. 
Gardner, Lerov Gray, William W. Harrington, John H. Harrison, Har- 
rison B. Herriek, William S. Herrick, Henry H. Hitchcock, Charles S- 
Hyatt Joseph La Beff, Joseph W. Lipe. Hiram McGoncgal. John W. 
McMullen. Jerome S. Mosley. James S. Murphy, Lawrence W. Myers, 
James Nixon, John E. North. Frederick Oliver, Aloiizo S. Ostrom, 
Miles Penfleld, Alhcrt W. Phillips, Otis D. Phillips. Clark Pierce, Root 
Pierce Ransom Place. Eben G. Rector, Edwin H. Rector, Martin L. 
Rohrabacker, Charles B. Rosegrant, Schuyler Seager, Michael Shea, 
John Snyder, John T. Taylor, Edward R. Trull, Frederick O. Waters, 
Jediah Wells, Peter Welch, George Williamson, Anson G. Worden, 
George H. Wright, Edward Younglove, James H. Young. 

COMPANY B. 

Capfdif'—J^coh Brand. 

Lieiileniint—Feter Straus. 

Eifii'jii— John V. Spanier. 

Ut 6V/-i/<?<i;i;— Michael Auer. 

&i-r/«(H(«— Julius Hintz, George Boiteu, Max Fix. 

Carporats— Michael Welter, Jacob Simmon, Albert Hoftmann, John 
Dauer. 

lii-umuier—MonU Schwarz. „.,,„, t • „ „ 

P(-u-«(e.«— Frank Baar, Anthony Baurus, Nicholas Becker, Lucius Bell, 
Charles Bohmann, John Briggs. Pius Caggey. Henry Christ. Liander 
Darling John Durr, Conrad Eberhard, Valentine Eberling, Bradley C. 
Farnham, Killian Faulstieg, Martin Felsenheimer, John Fickeys, 
Joseph Fuechter, Fredi-ich Gies. Thomas Gilbert, George Gordon, 
Philipp Greenwald. John Greiner. Simon Greis, Anthony Gross, Her- 
man Hamilton, Nicklas Henui. Christian Herpel, George Herr, Her- 
man Hilt Henry Hof. Killian Hover. Louis Huber, George Eaufmann, 
Thomas Kendall. Charles Kenyon, Philipp Kohles, John Kurz, George 
W Lampman Peter Lang. William Lettermann, George Looby, John 
Maurer Michael McCue, John Melcbior, William Michael, Gebbard 
Moll William Muehlhauser, John L. Newman, Jnmes Osborn, George 
Pollmann, John Rietmann, Conrad Ring, Peter Sattler, Ernest Fredrich 
Sauter, John George Sauter, John Schick, John C. Seliroder, Martin 
Schroder, George Schuder, Fredrich Seidel, John Warner. John 
Weber, Edward Wolf. 

COMPANY C. 

C'dplain—Vemns Driscoll, Jr. 

Luutenuni—} a.mes Randall. 

.EVlsiV/ii— John P Stanton. 

ls< &;-!/«!'"'— Michael Foley. , ,, ,. ,, 

&/-»e«n(.<— George Travis. John Lighton. John Carroll. 

0)/v<oi-<ife— Richard J. Wright, James Lewis. William Stanton, John 

Xi)-««i/»c/-s— Hiram Foote. Frederick Kaufman. , „ „ 

Prieates-deovge W. Benjamin, Edward Blaney, Floyd H. Brougbton, 
Charles W. Brown, George W. Button, William Caffrey, Robert Cle- 
mence, Francis M. Coan, Michael Conlan, William Davern, Hugh 
Davison, Patrick Dervin, Timothy Desmond, Francis Doyle, John 
Dwvre James Fceney, William Fickland, Garett Fitzgerald, John Fitz- 
gerald Edmund Fitzmaurice, John Fox, Francis Gillespie, John Guidar, 
William Hallem, Thomas Hart, Patrick Hennesy, George Hoose, 
William Kennedy, Dennis Kennedy, Jeremiah Killbride^ Lemuel Ladd, 
JohrL^wirSSell McCallen, Samuel MeCormick Patrick McCue, 
John McDonnell, James McGough, John McGough, John McLoughlin, 
Hm-h OBrien, Edward O'Brien, Martin O'Brien, James O Donnell, 
Patnck Parsons. Horace Pratt, Frederick Price, Patrick Quigley, 
John W Randall, Patrick Ready. John Regan, John H Rnh»rf» 
Michael Slattery, George Slicer, Charles A. btockmg, 
Thatcher. James Thompson, James Warn. 



Roberts, 
William K. 



COMPANY D. 



Caijhii7i—Qeoige W. Stone. 
Zieulemuit—hnQius C. Storrs. 
^nsi'l/ii- Cieorgo Snyder. 



406 



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I 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 

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EI.M 

niMii. '»■ 
Wrigbl. 



' aDdCUtk. Ttiimu J. Drban 
li}tuo UIILcrt. Blrim (I. Howlkud. 

'T 

• rli'. A. Tajlor. 

.1 A.l,.r..l Ui:;i.. .. \i:.-iL 11. t.n AI.Ih.Il'.- AKinln 



ktiward \^ lihaiuKuii. tiiiii«*'ii Young*. 



_•■ II, MiKitr, 

irl.n H Vro- 

A ^ Ijb, Loroy H. 



COM PA .W F 



Ciift'iln- yUlnW Licke 



LUnlf 

r 

1- 



Wllllnm OlfinoD. 



/ 

; 

Br 
Ca- 
ll.. I 
llx 

Hoi. i-iiit. .i.-r.ii 

Oeorcr T l.aiii' 

Orors- I. Mill" 

Al.i 

Cur 

lor 

Wi, 

lUr 



r.ltiM. 
W«t^oD K. Hart, Era»tUH P. KIddp. 
At)'iic. Uioriio W. Ulackmaii. Handlcjr Lamb. 



n Rni.(t)w»n, 



rF.(.L\ Kilward [laker. Geurfte liarnfa. Louis 

.m.-ii II Itowff) rharl<<H B<^ydoD. Joseph 

' ' ..-.-, |,ipr^ iirlando Cong- 

II ItallnutT, Kcubfti 

...1 HlLlir. Warrru 

t^-- ' ii._-.i--i. Jiimt'ii T Kittlp, 

Juiiii-a Main r. lii'orgu I) Maxi>b, 

r .i..bii T Myrto. wnilaiii PcltoD. 

n Putrifv. I.tirliin F Kaiidolpb. 

' ■ KCf». <'liarlf»< J HoiiiM-li, <.'b*?t* 

I Snillb. (liarli'H N St,.rllii|i, 

■ 1 urd Ward, WlMlBiii Wll- 

' harlo L Wray. Kldrod 



COMPANY O 



Cail'li" J I'b r Iii-li 

/. ' -..U 

/ rd. 

!•■ t ,.,.||„u. 

Si¥^,.ih:~ uluii 1. Mu), LovlJ. Irlub, Riiab Parkbiirat 
C(>r/i«i.i(<-lr«lug Tiiitl», J«bn II LIgbl. Kraucln A. Darling, EUaklam 
Win. 1.1 
/, 

/ 
/ 

Jbl 

Clu 

Oil 

Di.i 

all 

11 I 

Lyi 



Il.i.ry S Il„il,.-i. II..|,r> W Hf. 



.ka. 
H 



.y...'.lili Wi|.._y. W| 



llnli. II » 1- 
roMPANY I 



ll<-ui> I 
rl W Ktu 

V I ii>;. I 



Jar 

Vl. . 
WI.Ul 



1- 

bo H. Pbllllpa. Jobn W Mercer 

< _ u, DclliT S-Uillh J.lin H !.<■.. nard, 

Aa« 

/ iliion, 

/ . % 

/ I. 

Cb.. 
Jot" 
I) I 
D. 
Ha 

lUUI ' ti 

F 1 
Ji— 
Ml. V 

X..I 

HOI.. ' - - - , ■! 

lU'.d I Iml,.. W !(.. M 

Smllh, .Ifr. ni.' P .-• \1 

Warn-ii. Willlani H w . ' .. 

Ham Wbltury, Lvwia U. VVuuti. lliriun D. Wuilucl> 

COMPANY K 

r.iy.f/i/n— Augustus J. Root 
i,>,,/,i,.,.i»_W|lllain P. Town. 

r • -- 'th 

1-- D Sudilt-n. 

,-■ I Rami. Jainra F. Tarlor, Tbomaa Tancvr 

I ri,.i. . McClu'iiney. Wllllain P. Jonea. Jamea P Taylor, 

Jo- 

/' 

/ 

/ 

C. I. 

Brik'i:- il-nrj iv ...-i.i .i. ' ''-' * " 

way. Juiiu'i* i. I'rniiH, I liai 

Delnii.. l|.iirl..« Hurail. W 

B. I ■ ' V r ■ 

Jo- 

A. I' 

La' ; 1 .'M r .'11-. I...; 

H ( .irn,lhi» W 1 

Ml. t.'yati, Kiauk S* .. 

Ci,'..r^... r-ii.m. iiiriiii. '»^ Miiltb. ParnjPDla >»,iiii 

John stoni-. William Tbooipaou, Timothy Tlcmey, Horace F. Tracrj 

William Whfclrr 



It A M.'ad 



(itorgx W. Uaara, John W. tlaiili-tt, John 
Klalitlyii BllHnK», Jant^a llravl. r .loho 



r. 



i ^ui(,i<. 



I2iid 4{cginieiit. Infhnti'y, }i. Y. g. Vol^. 

COMPANY A. 



1..I...T \l llr. 



,'on. 

... V. ; Hold. 

or H lilaaa. 
.1. Buck 
- "■ M-'r..n 



Onl- 

P..pi.l.. : 
All.rri J 
Hlonc, All 
II. Town, Lu. 



L, 'r.^«ii. NN liliaiii 11. Tij.-ii. NmLuii J. Van I'allcD. 



Ellaa Vaoslykr. Jrrrrolab Wormulh, (Irorgn W. Wlnchcl 

COMPANY H 
(>i/.r<j(n-a»orKf< W. Col«. 



Ji-r 

/■ 



I 
Bn.:. 



"tell.' 



n, Ihomaa Barllrtt, Bllaa Carprntnr. 

iiriia Coon, Lcater C. Horrick. Aiiguallno H. Wllktna. 

.1 ill Pbllllpa 

vvton. Albert Beecham. Myron B*«nrdlcl, George 
Uoland, Emory BrIdgford. Jake Bticba. Qaloo' 



/'i-if fti 
aon Brui 
Cot.i . , 
L 1 
F... 
H' 
Int 
W. 
II.. 
L 

tl.i 
M.. 
rl. . 
L. 

Pi 
W 

81.. 



rn. Ml 

Ml ... • 



. Iillv. William A nirliop, Addl- 
(adv. Wilhnm II I ar.li-ll, Wm. 

11. .. 1' li. " J.«a. 



.1- 

I. 



^ll• 
li. 
II. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



407 



J. Trenhara. Ezriab Teabroeck. John H. Tallmadge. Holland Twinum, 
Hiram Vosburg, Edward WiUiams, Edward Wilcox, Francis Yosset, 
Mitchell Zoelner. 

COMPAXY B. 

Coy/^«in— Webster R. Chamberlain. 

Uf Lieutenant—Charles G. Nye. 

2d Lieutentinf- -Vtilliam J. Webb. 

Iiit Seryeajit—George H. Gilbert. 

2*/ Serffeanf— Samuel D. CutlifC 

'id &er(/etit.(—L\xcieQ Robertson. 

4M .Sergea7if—Phi]o E. Ruggles. 

5th Serf/eitnf— Charles H. Lang. 

Ut C"r/foni/—Ja.meeF. Sparldck. 

So? Ooryyora^— Charles W. Steele. 

Zd Corporal — William J. Anderson. 

4th Corponif—Vrn lam H. Paul. 

5ffi f'tjrporal — Isaac B. Steves. 

Gth (''orporat— 3 a.mes J. McKioley, 

7th Corporal— Thom&fi 31 Shoens. 

8^/( Corportil—Hxidson C. Marsh. 

3/«*/oi'/H— Rufu3 A. Hughes. 

JIuAir tan— AM red Sole 

TP/;/<>He/— William FairfieH. 

P//r'/'e«— William Auburn, Laristen Adkins, Prince E. Bethel, Daniel 
Bowley. Henry C. Brand. Stephen Blake. Jonathan J. Brownell. James 
H. Bowen, Josiah Bradley, Ethan A. Bennet. Jonathan J. Bingham. Pe- 
ter Bradt. Charles F. Carlisle, Ezra Cole, Michael Cooney, John W. 
Conway. Andrew J. Criss. John J.^Conway. James Crampton. Thomas 
Crampton, Abit Davis, Slilton B. Evans, Dempster Eaton, Dewitt C. 
Edwards. Joseph Fabings, Silas Guernsey. Eli W. Gleason, Thomas S. 
Green. John Gipsel. Jerome Howe. Oscar P. Hughes, Alexander H. 
Hubbs, Walter W. Hall. Charles H. Henry. Chryst ilenry, Robert Hoav- 
land. William Herrick. Joseph Hollenbeck. James H. Halkings, John 
H. Hartwell. James G. Hart. Joseph Juthen. Daniel Jones, Wm. Jones, 
Horatio Knight. William C. Kennett, Patrick Kelly, James F. Lilly. Ro- 
selle E. Luce. George R. Loop. George E. Maxon. Abraro Marcellus, John 
J. Potter. Jesse H. Prindle. Semuel Phillips. Miron L. Reynolds, Wm. 
E. Ruggles. Clarence A, Roberison, Martin Ryan, Albert Randall, Mar- 
shall F. Smith. Lorenzo Scott. Allen 31. Stuben. James W. Smith, Tho8. 
H. Scott. John Simmons, Thomas L. Scott, Elias R. Sloat. Daniel H. 
Smith. Elisha A. Smith. Jonathan Trlpij. James Trowbridg«, David 
Thompson. Daniel Van Hoosen, William Van Netta. Charles Wooden. 
James Wilson. Elias Wells. Caius A, Weaver, Gilbert Welch, Jeremiah 
Ward, Eugene C. Wiggins. 

COMPANY C. 

CV//>(«i«— Alfred Nims. 

Ut Luufenant— Joseph E. Cameron. 

2'f LieutfJiaiit —Arthur .J . 3Iead. 

Ut Senjfa lit— George W. Bowen. 

2<^ 6'«/'^*^/n'— William F. Will. 

Zd Serfjeaiit — Colonel J. McLyman. 

4th Sern^'Utt — Tames B. Hall. 

5th .St/v/*an^-Hi^am G. Hilts. 

Drumnur—VBXnxer Worden. 

\nt ro/yyortf/— William H. Remington. 

2c/ 6'or//o/-rti— Charles A, Eaton, 

Zfi Cor i-oraf— Thomas D. Chapman. 

4th /V/r/>ora/— William P. Abby. 

5th CorjfOra f—Fr^nk H. Eaton. 

bth Corj'oral—Vi' iUiam H. 3Ialtby. 

7th Corporal — David W. Clark. 

8M Corporal — Calvin S. Hammond. 

Wagoner- -3 am^s Hudson. 

PWctf^ex— William H. Allen. Hiram Agan. Charles J. Bellinger, 
Buel P. Buzzell, George W. Bettinger. Robert Br^ese. William 
Breese, Charles Brooks. John Behan, Oscar A. Barne>>. William Bums, 
Amasa Chase, Andrew Casler. Warren Colgrove, Charles H. Crane 
Dennis Curamings. George W. Chase, George B. Chandler. Philo Dutch 
«r, Charles Evingham, John Evingham, Azeriah Fargo. Patrick Fan 
ning, James Gorman. James Goodfellow, Jason Giftord, Orville T, 
Graves. ShipmanO. Griffln. Wesley Goodfellow, Stephen H. Goodfellow, 
Jacob Houser. DelosHotaling. William Huntly. Harlem A. Hoag. Jas, 
D. Hebbard. Charles L. Hilts. Alfred Houser. Charles Hotaling, Chris 
tion Hilts. Luther D. Hale, John Hale. David Enapp. Jo.seph Kean, 
John Kennidy. John Slyers. William H. Mosier, Francis 3Ionroe. Fred 
■erick Monk. Patrick Ma^ahan. Adolpbln Moss. Alanson ilosier. Albert 
H. 3Ionroe. James Miles. Ebenezer Northrop. Elliott 0. Page, James 
Price, Herman Poole. Thomas Kiley. Wm. 31. Reals. Wm, K. Raymond. 
Henry J. Russ. John Ralph. Henry J. Sanderson, Calvin Smith. John 
Sanderson. Edwin Smith. William Sheldon. Philemon H. Tuttle. Joseph 
Totton. Abrara Thomas. Patrick Thompson. Stephen C. Thompson, 
Thoma.« Und*frwood. Charles V. Wright. Byron A. Wright. William A. 
Walker. 3Iitchell D. Walters. Charles 31. Williams. Benjamin Walker, 
Edwin L. Wright, Isaac Worden, Charles Wright. Alfred Worden. 

COMPANY D. 

Caj/taiu— ComeW Chrysler. 

1*? Lieutinaj't — Davis Cossitt. 

2</ //cu^«'/n?— Edward P. Luther. , 

Ut .Senjf^finf— John W. Taylor. 

2d .SVr//^'//!'— Gates D Parish. 

-V 5*/-i/^'i'<'— Phineas B. JIarshall. 

4ih .S«ry</in^— Francis E Whaley. 

.VA Sergeant—Altred Crysier. 

]*r Corporal— Dudley G. Shirley. 

2^7 Cor/^>ra I -EMiott L. Booth. 

3^/ Corporal— George G. Gilaon. 

4th Corporal— OBc&r Austin. 

5th Corpora/— Ch&rles H. Field. 

fith Corporal— Oliver Nichols 

•7th Corporal — Lewis Amidon. Jr. 

wA Corporal— \.\xman Day, 

J/uAi>/<yn— Willis H. Look. 

.^ui>cm7.— Charles Enos. 
Jr*'jy-''»er— Saroael Williams, 

Pririttr — Henry F. .Amidon. Wm, H. Amidon. George Amidon. Dwight 
Annable. Oscar Adams. Andrew J. Allen. William C. Barron. Loren W, 
Barker. Theodore P. Barker. Charles L, Brown. James Butler. John 
Bartlett. Samuel Brown. Joshua Carr. Jr., Charles B Catee. 3Iichaei 
CarUo, Nicholas Cummings, Uaac Calbum, Joseph Crittendeo. Joseph 



Coons. George W. Calburn. Sidney Case, David Crysier, Enos O Dar- 
ling, \alentine Denick.Van Bur. n Davis, Stephen Drury, Alonzo Eaton 

i-f , «.'^n° ^''l-'^'^fTK' ^'"".'('^^^^•"j*"''" ^^- lillfiworth. Thomas A 
Fisk William L. Fisk. Dwight Fitzgerald. Joseph Grodevant. Georce 
H. Houser. Horatio Harrington, George Hunt, Jr., Giorge W Ham- 
mond. Armegal W. Hancock. Hiram F. Harroun, Charies H Ives 
Walter E, Jenks. Thomurt H. Joyce, Patrick Klncle. Henry Korb. Chas* 
G. Lathrop. William Lee. Edward Lee. Rodman Mc<"amley William H 
Morri88.3lichael3Iurphy.WillardH.MoH8, Joseph H. 3Iiichell James 
H. Noble, Loren M, Norton. Caesar Perdue, Erasius B Palmer' Frank 
E. Picket. Francis Patterson, George A. Patten. Eli Perry, Charles M 
Quick, Joel Reed, Horac^e Russel, James E Ross. Baltzer Rowe Ch>is'. 
Shepherd, John A. Shenheni. George Sheeley. Lewis .Smith: John H 
Coudan Smith. Orren W. Secor. PeterSegar, Henry Sag*?. John Uncless 
Jeflferson Vinten, Charles Warker. Benjamin Wood, Andrew F West* 
George Wilkinson. * 

C03IPANY E. 

Captain— Horace H. Walpole. 

\»t LUnifjioiit— J Af-oh Brand. 

2*J LUtitcvn Ht— Hewry H. Hoyt, 

1«; .Ser;/<;ra*/— Charles W, Orttrander. 

2// Sertifai'*— George N. Phetiplace. 

•id -S>r:/e«^/r'/— Charles N, Eldridge. 

5fh -S'trf/^rtw/— Daniel F. Hammell. 

Ut Corporal — Noah Gale, 

2d CorjfOral—FfrgyiB 3Iadden 

'V (^v>r/>c*/Y//— Edward McCarthy. 

4th Cfrj/ontl—Hahuyler Seager, 

bth Corporal— "SftlHon Nichols, 

6th C'ofjioral — George Wilson. 

l/h 6V//ywv/'— William Giinilan. 

Hth f'nrjiorat—OVwer P, Ives. 

Mu/tififtn — Samuel Osboru. 

Jfuificiati — Dempster Randall. 

Wa(/oner— Charles Reynolds. 

/'Wrrt^^-William Ashfield. Thomas Burns. Charles Boucher, Qaraer 
Bentley, Charles Baxter. John F. Conner. Henry roburn, Jas Doran 
Stephen W. Daniels. Joseph Dunn, John H. EggleMton. Jacob Ehorllng, 
David C. Fountain, Julius Fix. ZenoT. Griffin. Henry Ghep Aaron Gr^ 
ham. Thomas Gardner. James Gallagher, William Gilbert Jackson 
Houghtaling. Austin Hodge. Benjamin B. Houghkirk. Abn*T Hubbard, 
Thomas .s. Hueht-s. Daniel L. Hogeboom. 3Iathia8 Hollenbeck. Daniel 
Harrington. Charles HIcox. Franklin House, Wm. R, Johnson Joan 
Keller. Robert B. Kennedy. Christian G. Koebnieln. Sylvenus S. Lewis 
John Lewis. George Lauterniilk. Isaac 31anheimer, Clark H. 3IcAllister' 
Alexander A. C.Martin. Samuel McFeeters, Henry W. North James 
Nolan. Lorenzo Newport. James Orr. John Orr. John Oertel Gerrge H 
Perry, James H Powell. John Pfetfer. Daniel Wm. Pine Franklin 
Phillips. Oscar Penojer. Eugene A, Perry, Albert B. Perry. Henry A 
Petrie. Joseph R, Richardson. Edgar Rogers, Wm. Richard. Henry 
Stricnltz. David Smith, Charles F, Spear, Christopher P. Steadman 
George V. Scobey, Francis V. Schafer. Gotfried Spitzer, Gotlieb Stern- 
ners, Thomas Temnleton. James D. Truganza Wm K Teller Phillip 
Vroman, James White. Hezekiah Walratb, Kllis 31. Williams, Charles 
H. Wiesmore. James W.Wickham. Wm. Henry Wilson, Ephraim Yerdan. 

COMPANY F, 

Captatn-huciiis Sloses. 

ut IJetifeniitit— George W. Piatt. 

2d Lie'itfinent— J amen Burton. 

1ft i«/-{/*^'/«(— Adolph Wilnian. 

2d Seii/eant—Otin L. Fi»hor. 

■V'V*/-//e</Hr— Robert H 3Io8eB, 

4th .'<frfjeant — Stuart 3Iacdonald. 

5th 'Stirg^.ant — Irving W. Davy, 

lnt Corj-oral— Henry C. Sennett. 

2'/ Co r J >or a I— J am>c& Burlington. 

Z^i Cor/ioral^JameaK. Lawrence. 

4th Corj,oral — Aaron C. Gaylord. 

5t/i Corporal— Davit} Donaldson. 

O'/i Corporal — Stephen B. Thorp. 

•jfh Corporal— Curtis L. Rich. 

Hth Corporal— Henry Kochenburger, 

J/«*/c///n— Justus Williams 

Jfimician — Perry F. Woodworth, 

M'o(/ori*:r—'W ilHdm Raymond, 

pr!rati—Vfm. J. Atbins. Will. Abbott, George Axten, Geo. H. Antho- 
ny, Edward V. Raker, Clark Blanchard. Benjamin Burlington, Silas W. 
Benton, David Broom, Elian Bennett. Joseph G. Bennett. Gf-o A. Bar- 
nett. Joseph Bessey. Warren Eessey. Edmund Brown. Wiu. L. Burton, 
Andrew W. Beach, James Black. Wright Christian, Phillip L. Crysier, 
Isaac N.Clements. George W. Cumrain.i. H.C. Chapman E. G. Clements, 
Samuel B. Carriers, himeon Dunham. Porter Davis, Charles L. Dunton, 
Thomas Edds. Isaac Eanton. Henry Vry. Leonard Gensiver, Edward F, 
Glynn, 3Iariin Graff. Auguntus Hughes. Myron Hinman. Robt. B. Hum* 

Shreys, George H. Hinklev. Albert D. Hitchcock, Jenks Harrington. 
osephJones, Andrew H. -Jones, George B. Kenyon. Anthony KIne, Den- 
nis Lowland, William Leroy. Henrj' Lamb. Alvah Lamphere, Amos O, 
Lee, Adln 31. C. Lamb. Harlow Lamb. William 3Iay, George W. Max- 
son, Amos S. 3Iay, Uriah D. 3Ioore. William 3Iaoumber. Henry B. 3Ior- 
ean, William 3Iohs, Willjrd Norlon. Belas F. North. R. E. Prentice, 
George W, Ripley. Anthony Raymond. Isaac Richards, Pa'rick Ryan, 
Jdo. M. Rust. Isaiah V. Spenks, John Salvad^e. E. D. Spaulding. Sur- 
reno S. Smith. Charles Snedlker. Orriu J. Smith. Russell Sweet. George 
W. Turner, Eugene H. Wormwood, W, W. Worlock, 3Ielvin B. Walker, 
Joseph Young, 

COJIPANY G. 

C'a/'^«/ft — Harrison H. Jilson. 
Ut L''eute/ajjit— Drayton Eno. 
2^/ Lie"t€tianf—Veter A, Blossom. 
Ijrf S^rgeauf —y\orr\s E. Wright. 
2</ ,S>r:/*'//*'— Robert J. Donoghue. 
3d Sti'j*-jin.t — Czar Dunning. 
4th Hf^^i <jf.aiit —ia\uft% Wyatt. 
Wi ,SVri/<'/«*— Alexander Toms. 
!«/ t.orporal-^antoT'l Van Dyke. 
2d Co/y/o/v//— Lucius D. English. 
'4<1 Corporal— y^ai. Kitter. 
ifh tS'orporal—Hiram Woolsey. 



408 



6/' 

JU 

M 

I 

flrl 

tlo' 

■Icr 

.Tr 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



M 
.1/ 



r Trowbrlclje. 
• A Mmwell. 



TniMdcU. 
itnorth. 



/ 
Brr 

sill 



M ■ 
Tri. 



S.' 

M< 

&/■. 

I.- 

*/ ■ 

>■/ 

4(.'. 

«/'. 
TfA 
(t/A 
JV 

c 
/'. 



■ irr. Johu L. 
!run. Ht.'nrj 



COMPANY H. 



i««r<». 

II L. Starki. 
P Swift. 
' 'Vllkln*. 



•■\%»t Mrif tr. 



. Henry Alli-n. Porter AukIId. Henrr 
TMHin lloirmnn. Win Prl.ftn. Yiil.- if 



Aiuicr 'iu< ! 
Ilenrj: U. \ 



Oij'l-ilu- 3-hn 
I./ / 
*/ / 
J/.. 

1./ • 



'' '-ImttT VoMfller. 
k-lit 



lOMPANV I 

M IlwlKht. 

II. Chiinli. 
A. iJllliUKltaDi. 



'•iiry. 
\' uii Wurpier. 
Ni>rthw»y. 

II ini.y. 

••ok. 



-.iinaii 



111'. 

Kri .. 

Au(;ui' h. I i.;t*, I'-I.t,.^ ,^l.^^r■■ 

Tbnniftn M'-iit^ciiMTV. Atithi'in- 

Northwnv ,l..!ii: H I'ttinn.lcr f" , 

Kevi • 

H.V 

I.eil 

Meli7i< ^ ^ii I I .i.H I, 

wllilcer, Wllli«ni Tci 

Jobu Vill, '.M . lllrair , 



^-*L'ti, JftU4f» T«r- 
Wm TbiimpsoD, 



149tl) l\egin»cnt, Infanti'y. >'. Y. $. VoM- 



COJIPAXV A 



r.i;f.i;-i-<!,,i..i„..„ i.ii;i,i 

a/ 
I.' ■ 

DeiroonO. 

ror;.or,.;»_W«!ter Dlxon^John H. Kuwel, J.mu JUo.furt. J«<.-ob 
Mii.ni..n.. Michael Lo»let, TUom«» W. D«TI». Alf.rd L. Ho»»t. WIIUud 
Alur]jby. ' 



Kruiiti. i.. lli<.k», Nathan Wyman. Jamo Muriij. Jobu 



/■ 

Bla. 
Can 

Clill . 
Mik 

llv. : 

Ktall. . r. t. 1 1 ...I. 'J 

Jai'iib HviiniK, Juhn II> 

.'.,ii.,-» If. Hi.oi..-. (- .\ 

J. V. Kdi.i 

^ L>-)'iiiinii 



■ A Alger. Daniel IlllllnK». ilathew 
llfti.rll, Willuni llowitiiiiii. M V. 

■ I'anUii >i 11, I ,1 i.ri. •! . ... \v 
1 Hilrev. ni 

III lirv II. 
I'um' .1., 



I 



I 



Cur''" ■ 
i.t ,' 

Si/ . 
Ur 

*■<■ 

C- 

0.»ii 

/'. 

Chai 
CLai;. 

Heck. I l.i.i 
Krev. Mull 

l..'t. rl II 



.11 Uo.iii.lulf, 'n,..ui«a !)u,^tli, Iharlm Miaril«nk. 
II. Anthony Weaver, Edwin Wklto. Cbarlro A Wrlubt, 

COMPANY B 

.., l.r,,M,l.„.h. 



■ Eckel, 
r Jr.. Jacob 

>>k. 

F Bepla, 
V i'"tnier<»r. 



II li. 



IIIIL- ll|.> 



i.r; L: H uulilull.l..;. 1 
la. II II. .war. I Wni II 



>■ 111:, Ail'.lt |1. U lIUllUj!. 



COMPANY K 



M..>war<l. 
'I Wuoater. 
!-■ v.ii li MIckeU. 



btrauaa, William J. - 
"k Velter. Iharlo « 
,. ■■■,■ N. Warner. Jatob \\ n.-n, 

t-iiilxri... Vebllug, Wllllan) Zobel, Frcilerick Zopf. 

COMPANY C. 
Cn^'fA^n—Jarura Lyncb. Jr 

Itl /.In:;: < • K,|«i,r,tn Murray 



Edward While. Wni. O'KeilleT, Jerrmlab 



.. -^''■''•'I "'Brlen. Edward Cunnilnga, EraatuaC. Uerrlok, 
' .irthy. Michael Commao. Wm. Kelley. Frederick Kin(, 

■ Aiken, Auibnny Buckley, Barney Boyle. Tbomaa i 
,■.""■ •'"hn A Brooka, Auauat BloM, Marcua Ballweg, 
i.ii.. 1 ,v < -i.Uii, Jubn Cook, TInioIbyCronfn, Peter Colwell. Jr., Daniel 
lain. Jacob Clatta, kinieo Claffy, Jatnea Dunlgan, Michael Doyle, Jaa. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



409 



Drum, Patrick Do^'le, James Daley. Roger Daugherty, Samuel G. 
Elwood, Goorpe Ehvood. A<!«)li'hus Fellows, Charles Feeize, Jas. Foley, 
Lawren<re Flood. Robert Faulkner, Daniel Gere, James Gere. Patrick 
Garvey. James Gilbraitb, Georee W, Harger, William Hays. Dennis 
Hogan, Joseph Harvey, Martin Harrou, Augustus King, Michael 
Kuller, Thomas Kenimett. Maurice Leahey, Stephen Landers. Cornelius 
Lyons, Aaron Latiders. Patrick Lannon, Thomas McCarty, Jeremiah 
Murphy, John McGraw. Martin Meagher. John McGra'w, Patrick 
Murphy. Thomas McCormick. George Miller. John Miller, Thomas 
O'Shaughnes&y, Michael O'Connell, .Jc»hn Powers. Michael Ridden, 
Jacob F. Ran, John Row. Jcjhn F Smith, Frederick tfchuert, John Shea, 
Michael Sulliv«ri. Patrick Sullivan, John F, Sherwood. Miles Tobin, 
James Tallon. Michael Tiemnay. Francis White. 

COMPANY U. 

Ctipt'iin — J. Forman Wilkinson. 

1*/ Lieutenant— Puvk Wheeler. 

'2il Lieutenttiit — William W. Moseley. 

lift Seri/etnif—Ahvata H, Spore. 

Serffeiintv- J aa\es A. Scott, Jonn F. Wheeler. John Kitter. Marcus N. 
Gridley. 

Co/7'(»v(/«— William C Lillv. James H. Winnie. James H. Burr. Henry 
L. Purdy. John J. Walter. William S. Rawson. Lott Phillips, Roswell 
young. 

.)/uMc../«— Thomas W. Hunt. 

/-/■nv/^r.-.— Aaron Abbey. Henry A. Aldridge. William Anderson, Geo. 
W. Arnold. Grego Baker* Daniel Becker. Frank Blair. Willard Brooks, 
James Burke. Albert Carpenter, Avaudo Carver, Tliomas CassoD, 
Christopher Cone. Michael Conlan, Heuty Crouse, Alonzo Crusback, 
Joseph A. Davis, .\mos Day. Albert Dolittle. Stephen Duell. Loren 
Eaion, Hanford Everett, Augustus Fall. John W. Falvey. Freeman 
Farrer. Barney Fister. William P. Foreman. Robert Gibson. Paul 
Goodrider. John Govise. George B. Greene, Thomas Gulliver, Benjamin 
Haight, Calvin Hai-ht, Benjamin Haight. David Harrown. Alvin 
Haynes. David Hayue.s. John Henhofer. John Hixon. John Hogeboom, 
Michael Hoolahan. William F. Hubbiird. William Hunter. Duane S. 
Hurd. Jonas Jarv is. Pet'r Jennings. Albert Jones. Jos, Kelley. Walter 
Lawrence. Kdward C. Lewis. George G. Lloyd, Sylvester Leroy. Ferdi- 
nand Lernsh. George Martel. Eli S. McAllister. "Fau«tin Nasler. Louis 
Nelty. William .Newman. John Nolan. Phllo S. Nottingham. J. H. Pat- 
terson. Joseph Perkins, George S. Rice, After Root, Richard Sevenoaks, 
Jacob Sheeley, PeierSnell. Heth K. Smith. Wellar S. Sperry, William 
VanSlyke. Robert H. VanValen, Thomas VanValen, George M'haley, 
Peter "Wire. 

COMPANY E. 

Captain — Ira B. Seymour. 

Ist Lieutenant— Orson Coville. 

2(1 Lieittenant— Edward F. Hopkins. 

1«( .'»>*-(;'f<r/i(~Alexander McKinstry. Jr. 

AVrj/t"fii^«— Daniel E Hayden, Norman F, Potter, Edward C, Gray, 
John H. Brown. 

(.v*»7/"/(/^-Charles J. Jeffreys, Edward C, Fay, Edsin Fay, Oliver 
Ormsby, Oscar J, Bailey. Edward N. Morrison, John R. Pallock, John 
S. Knapp. 

J/«a7ci</»«— Sylvester Yoran, William Aiken. 

ir</[/ffne/-~Westley Wright. 

/v;ra^*<(— Henry C Allen. George P. Burch. Miner D. Bayley. John C. 
Berry. Patrick Boland. Alonzo Cronk. Hiram Coates. WiUiam'H. Cham- 
plain, Jacob Derrick. Florence Donahue. George W. Delong. Patrick 
Day. James, B, Eustis, Merrick D, Frost Milton 0. Frost. James P. 
Frost. James Furlong. Adelbert F. Gates, Wj^lis C. Griffin. John Geary, 
Henry Graham. James F. Gates. Peter Goodrich, James Gowdy. Wcstley 
J. Hodges. John M. Heath, Augustus R. Holms. Miles Hemgrin, Closes 
Hills. David Holleubeck. Lester E. Hotclikiss. Richard Heath, Franklin 
B. Holbrook. Archibald Hamilton. James Hines, John Hart. Henry 
Hays. Nathaniel Jones. William Jones, John Keeuan, Ren. Kenyon, 
Seymour Knickerliocker, John M, Losey. Alexander Lashnay, Charles 
Mitchell, Wm, H Mercer. James A. Morrison. Alonzo Milieu. James 
Meben. Lorenzo Nichols. Herrick Nichols. Wm. D. Orr. James 
Powderly. Peter Parslow, Clark Phelps. Lizadore Parison. Nicholas 
Palmer, * George W, Pierce, John Quin, George W. Phillips, Joel 
Rogers. William F. Smith, Edwin R. Smith, Jr.. John Smith, Jr.. Lanson 
Smith. Mortimer Stevens, Alonzo Spaulding. J Andrew strong. Moses 
Tappin, Wii iam Tisdale. George W. Way, Rofeter O. Wright, George 
R. Warner, Henry H. Widger, iSaniel Hay?. 

COMPANY F. 

Caj'tain — Judson H. Graves. 

Ut Litntenant—'Henvy H. Burhans. 

■Jr? Lieutenant — Theodore E. Stevens. 

l.s/ 6'6rf/«(/;(f— Moses P. Boynton. 

S(iyeiintH—3uhn Barrager, William P. Burdick, William Eaton, Jos. 
H. Kaiker 

r«y. ();■(//»,— Seymour R. Lewis, James Noakes, John H. rjiham, Bela 
P. Hitchcock, Frederick M. Potter, Welsey M. Dewey, Jefferson R. 
Kimball, Asahel Hitchcox. 

JtfniieianM—Titz A. Thatcher, Orlando Miles. 

Wa(/oner — Monroe Carr. 

/•ruri/o— Peter Adolf. Wallace Paisley. David Busbnell, Seth Baitin. 
George J. Clarke. Stephen Cook. Adelbert C. Clark. Lucius J. Carey, 
Wm. Cummings, Lewis Cosleman, James Commaae. David Callison, 
Charles A. Ellis. Charles Fisher, George Felt, Wm. Fargo, John Gay- 
ing, Geor;re W. Havens. John S. Hews, Thomas Hodgson. Jacob Hager, 
Jonn Hutchius, Wm. H. .Tohnson, Harrison Johnson, Jra Jones. Edward 
Karker, Andrew Karker. George W. Kipley, Samuel Lake, Thomas 
Mosher, Frank Miller. Daniel Miller. Lorenzo Morse. Horace A, .Miller 
Thomas Moss. Samuel C. Potter. Henry D. Pratt. Wm. M. Pettet, Law- 
rence Plank, Fred- rick W, Rice. Homer H. Reed, Wm. A. Robinson. 
Theodore S. Root, Albert Shaffer. Win. Sneveley, Perry Stoughtenger', 
Christian Schwaits, James Seibert. Joseph Seon. Adam Smith. John 
Stressner, Seymore H. Stearnes. Michael Snyder. James S, Shearer, 
Edwin Smith. John Seibert. Parker J. Snow. Seymour D. Torrey, Wm. 
Teggs, John Umbrach. James R. Walter, Calvin 'H. Wilson, Jacob Wal- 
ing, Nathan Yerden, Joseph Yerden. 

COMPANY G. 
Captain— E. G. Townsend. 
Ut Litutenant—B^rOB A. Wood. 
Sit Zittitenant— Thomas A. Benedict. 

72* 



Ut Sergeant— O. L. F. Brown. 

Seri/eantt—Ediy B. Townsend, George G. Tiuair. D. D N Marvin 
James L. Decker. ' 

CV/i-//r<r«/«— Miles B. Amidon. William Crosier, Charles H Nichols 
William H. Davis, Joseph Jay, George Davharsh, C. F. Cook. E j' 
Browne. 

Prii-ates— Perry Adams. Henry Aiist, Robert B. Batternv, Joseph 
Bennett, Frederick Bigler. Philo E. Boom, Daniel Brokaw; Seth H 
Burgess, Henry J Calkins, Patrick Carrigan, Thomas Chapman J H 
Chawgo, Wm. Claxton. Daniel Cole, Timothy Collins. J. H Collins 
Charles Coss, James Cottle. William Cross, James Craig. Jos Culten 
John Dayharsh, Edmund Durbin, Svlvester Edwards. Ruben Evans 
Isaac Foster. George Frickert, Z B. ftirman. Wm. Gamble, Christopher 
Gbebhard. John Ghebhard, James Gill, O. J Hand, Geo. B Harwood 
Patrick Heenan, Morris HefEermaii. Lewis Huntley. Frank M. Irish 
Conrad Jehiie. Martin Joy, A. C. Lewis, J. S. Little, James Mallan, 
Edgar Marshall, Thomas Morrissey. Daniel McCord. Lewis McLain 
Michael Mc.Manice. Wm. Nesbitt. Homer Northrop, E. R. Oliver. Jas. 
O fionrk, John O'Rourk. John O'Riley. Edwin S Potter Avery 
Res.sctiuie, Alex. Sawyer, Paul Sherman, Daniel Skinner, J. M. Smith, 
John Snell, Earn Spaulding, J. G. Stevens. Amos Ward, J. C. Stevens, 
J. W. Ward, Obadiah Welch, William Whitfield, A. A. Whitman. Levi 
Zeller. 

COMPANY H. 

Cffy//rtiw— Robert E. Hopkins. 

U/ Lieutenant — Ahio L. Palmer. 

'i<f Litntenanf~Thoma.s Merriam. 

}vt Herf/eanf—W iUium PuUen. 

deraeiintK—hevi D. Tarbell, Edward V. Carr, John II. Johnson, Jr., 
James Loomis. 

Ovv.ori//,.— .Milton Miller. Augustus P. Brown, Phillip Messer, Chaun- 
cey J. Congdon. Webster Miller, Willard H. Spear, John Heron 
Nathan G. Brown. 

iVttiji'tirr — Henry Bristol. 

Priratfr-Elien H. Angell, Spencer Boots, Lorenzo Bavington, 
Abraham Becker, Albert Button, Hamilton D Borden. Wm ■■iurnell, 
Sanford Button, Henry Came, Wm Cullings, John Cobell, Nicholas V. 
Carpenter. Ephraim Congdon. Henry Coon. Jr., Paul M. Dinehart, Levi 
Dunbar. John Dings Levi Dyer. LeRov A Emmons. Jonathan Emmons, 
Charles Frank, Augustus Flue, Adolph J. Fix. George Frank. Ashley 
Graves. Gabriel Houghtaling. Selah D. Hall. George Hines. Casper 
Holsetseazar. Ezra Haynes. Lewis Kiiine, Harvey Kiune. William H. 
Ketchum, Ethel Kinne. William L. Klock. Jolin P. Kline, Adam Lucas, 
Otto Layer. Harvey Loomis. John A. Little, Supreme Lewis. Henry 
Lieber. Wm. McKinley. Francis L. Manning. Calvin McNeil. Henry 
Moore. John S. Ostrander, Marquis D. Perkins, Henrv Rogers, Firdinan- 
Riddinger, Jeremiah W. Smiih, thatles Sivers, William W, Sotherdon, 
LeRoy Shute, Andrew J. Springer, Peter Sheffer, George Shild, Stanton 
Sugne, Albert J. Snow, John L. Stevens, Jr., Alfred Shafer. Alfred 
Shute, Howard B Sloan, Robert Telford, David Ten Erok. William J. 
Taylor, William Tucker, Joseph F. Thomas. Robert Vincent. Henry 
Van Wormer. Simon Vrooman, Elias Van Wormer, Cornell Wood, Jr., 
Charles P. Wntson, Wm. W. Ostrander. 

COMPANY I. 

Caj. fain— Davi(i J. Lindsay. 

1«; Lieutenant— Georgfi K. Collins. 

2d Lieuttnant—iobn T. Bon. 

l^t Senjeant —ilonimer B. Birdseye. 

^eif?"""*— George W. Chase, William Bridgford, George J. Lager, 
George H. Deitz. " 

to<7«-;<//»— >amuel B. Ward, Elisha B George, James Gordon. John 
Waugh. Thomas Chase. Elias Houghkirk, William McCiure, James J. 
Burrill. 

J/««/ci<i«,!-Ch(ster W. Colton, George H. Quiiin. 

H'*/f/o»(»/-— James R. Noble. 

PriniteK-Herrii-iin Auringer Rufus J. Beckwith. John E. Bell. James 
V. Butts. George Bean, Thomas Cannon. John T. Carmichael. Ebenezer 
B. Cogswell, Henry W. Crawford, Oscar Derrick. James S. Everingham, 
Peter Evans. John Bustin, Edgar A. Eddy. John W. Fox Robert 
Goodfellow. Nelson Gilbert, Robert H. Glassie. John Greer Francis 
Hamlin, John W. Hoyt, Asa Houghtnling, Samuel B. Harrison, Amos 
Howard, George Haight, James N. Huson, John Howard, Samuel 
Ingersoll. Thomas Juson, James W. Kelsey. James Kennedv, Thomas 
Kittains, John Kampf Kerne, John McGraw, Benjamin Mallett, Harricon 
Miles, Michael McEvoy, James Mill-. .Michael Murray. Mathew .Mc- 
Bride, John McAlister; Wm. Moon, Perrv Norton. Jerome Patterson, 
George W. Philips, David Patterson, Abram L Philips, Warren Patter- 
son, Jacob Pollock. Cavilian Petty, Abner Quimby, Daniel Rose, Michael 
Rohan, William Sharp, Wm. Sandford, Thomas Shanesay. Joseph 
Turner, John Taylor, Edward Wells, Charles F. Woodford, David G. 
Wheeler, Albert Wilcox. 

COMPANY K. 

Captain— James E. Doran. 

1st Lieutenant — John Van Wie. 

2d Lieutenant— Benjnmia F. Breed. 

ist ^ert/ennt-Cone Williams. 

iieri/eants— Jacob M. Doren, Thomas Hamilton, John Hopkins, Revilo 
Smith. 

Cmpnrats— Barman Carr, Jewit Pellett, Smith J. Loveridge, Jothen 
R. Williamson, James L. Sanders, Sherman Betts, Jacob Fink, Philin 
Pelton. "^ 

-l/i(«ici«rM— Charles Miller. William W. Tappen. 

\l'a{/onei— George B. Baker. 

/•/■(></?«— Anthony Brazflle. Charles Babcock, Dorathel Butten 
AuL'usius Bailing. George H Carley, Thomas Colehan, Michael Clary, 
Leonard Cornell. Isaiah Cunningham, Wm. Deacons, Deighton Dean 
Frederick Dox.stader, John Michael Dick, Elliott Dann. Chauncy 
Foster, Vedder Green, Charles C. Holmes, Charles S. Henderson. Wm 
H. Hutchings, Anthony Hollenbaek. James Houser, James Honer, 
Wm. Havens, Eli Evens, Spencer C. Jackson, Henry J. Linman, John 
LaFilare, James Lawrence, Richard Lanfare, Willet Lunibard, Horatio 
Morse, Charles McQueen, Joseph McQueen, Woolsev Mage, ,Tames 
Mackey, George W. Moshier. Henry Magee, George .McMillan. Dennis 
Martin. John Nelson. John Pickard, George Pellett. William Pellett 
James Pelton, Ammi C. Pool, Orry Rowley. Mathews Storr, Sanford 
Spore. James Smith, George H. Sheppard. Alexander Sands. Henry 
Tyler. Jeheile Thorn. George B. Toles, William R. Topping, Frank V 
van Atten, Harman Widger. Jr., Amos W. Warner, Jas. M. Waterman 



4IO 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



i85th l{cgiinci)t, Infiiitfy, >'. Y. fs. \oU. 



COJIPA.NV A 






fnrr\m S BuiUr Kphralm F. 



I'tiijii »^«./ iiriirT II i\r try . 'tf'i^i' man in 

ciiXPASV E 



utb 



I.' 



COMI'A.Sr B 



t. All. .I.rf.t, K Atr.f-Mt, Prr-ilfrlrk 



Walcotui (;. Puiirr. 



(■■: 
I 



rf>MPASY r 



IV. L^ 

(>,„■ 



Vuin, I'ntrr 2l|>f. Jiibu Zirglrr. 

COMPANY C 



Oti>'i>< Hrnrr T Cn-hnrl 
1.- 

«: 

/ 



^hhi»r .!rff»-r«m f, Hmwn Th^miii 



\V 1, Pa^i-l I- ^^mi.f- II- III V n 

Abnm C. Wattn. Aatlrcw J Olni«t«d. 



HI roiiN. i» 



CUM PAN V O 



fVip/nl"— Albert H B»rti»r 

U- ■ - ••■' • ' 1-^- 

«•< 
I- 



■ H. Atklna. WII)>Fr U Arnold. Clr- 

■ ]. . K IU..U I. i .Iw.tt.l t ll.t...w 



J II 

lU 

I lll>: 

D>ll >tl.. I. W l!l nl >«Ilu>li > " 

Karll, b*(tirp«l WlilarU. 

COMPANY D. 



/ 
II.. 
Ill 
c «■ 
( I.. 
Wi 
D I 
III I 
(Ir- 
Hi. 
H 
H. 

Ln 
(<' 



1 .i-.'.il« .V » ..1.1.1. '. l.u 1 



JOI:. 

Nm 
Mn- 
SU 
A - 



till 
Jol. 
Tolui 



A. I 
Bi. 

iti.i. 
II. I 
IK 



COMPANY II 



Mrr..n « 
Wll.v.i, Jm, 



MuT| 1.7, r..l«iii 11 Jiii> ti.ai.] r..iwiii II iTMH »iiiiHii> invii... ii)..nia« 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



411 



LuuQ. Albirau Larkio. Charles F. Lonsbury, William Jlackay. Thomas 
Millay. James W. MoDaniels, John McKentJio, Timet;y Mangou, Geoi(;e 
W. Meigs, Patrifk O'Brien. Cyrus C. Phillips. George Phippen. James 
Patterson. Peter Parker. Heiiry Pratt. Kussell Quackenbush. James 
Quinn, Amos Rogers, Wm. H. Rockefeller. Alexander Rass. Isaac 
Kouel, Orlondo P. Rooks. Selah Strong. Andrew Spencer, Isaac Senell, 
Charles Senell James Shear. Waterman P. Shurles. James N. Stokes. 
Dewitt Smith. Daniel Straie, George Stormes. JSepter Smith. Pomeroy 
Smun. Stephen A. Tyler, Wm. 11. Thomlon. James Vranderlurg. Chas. 
Vanrormer. John Yauhusen. Bray ton J. Wheloek. Amos Weller, JohnR. 
Waiter, James Whitmore, GargeWhitmcre. William Whitmore. Benja- 
min I. Yark, Henry E. Sturns. David Cbrisler. Stephen S. Jordan, 
Stephen H. Hitchcock. 

COMPANY L 

Caplain — Jared T. Abbott. 

Ut Lieutena/if—B.. Wurisworth Clarke. 

2(1 Lifvtenat't—J&cob M. Dnran. 

PrivaU-s—A\he A. Abbott. Trnman Albro, Jared T. Abbott. Henry H. 
Brown. George Bond. Trunian Bacon, Ji^hn Brannon. Nathaniel Bean, 
Hiram Babcock. Eugene R. Bureess. W'jlliain A. Bishop. Charles S. 
Cook, John Carroll, Wilbur F. Chidester. George R. Clark. Fernando 
Castle. Richard Chaffer, Janie.< H. Coon. Charles H Doolittle. Oscar B. 
Dennis. James Doran. Daniel (*. Fox. Frederick R. Gurdiuer. Truraan 
P. Green, Warreu Gilbert. Stephen Gilderoy. Siduev V. Gage. Milo "W. 
Raskins. James Hobart. Charles Hudson. "George B. Harvty. Martin 
Hogan, George HoUenback, Morris Henneasv. Daniel J. Hartuett. Chas. 
C. Hill. Jacob Jacobs. William Kavanab. fjavid Keuyon. George Kel- 
ley. Peter Lacker, fclugene K. Lansing. Jas. D. Lewis. Michael Lannigan, 
Dennis McGuire. John Moshier, John McDonald, Franklin H. Marshall, 
Wallace McWain. James Nicholson. Stephen R. Nyo. Hiram Neal, 
Simeon Nea'. Michael Neffinaer. Wesley Porter. Eben A. Powers, Wil- 
liam Pencille. Joseph I'ilcher. Christopher RIckley. Edward Red, 
Christian Renn. Oiriu H. Sisson. Welcome Scott. ZebinaSmith. John 



Sullivan. John Thorndill. William S. Vedder, William H. Van Cleeck 
Orlando D. Wheadon, Rositor O. Wright. Isaac N. Webster, William H* 
White. Pbilo Wilbur. John C. Whitney, Charles Webster. John R Wells' 
John Walters. Lemuel W. Wood, Henry S. Redfleld, Cornelius Hickey 
George W. Lansing. 

COMPANY K. 

Crt;*''*'"— Abram H. Spore. 

!.«' l/u"fenar.f— Cyrus Ji. Phillips. 

'2d L'wUnnht — Lewis S. Edgar. 

fri/v^^^.*— Alfred D. Ashcralt. George Atkins. Vernon B. Ayer. Charles 
M, Barber. Myron Burns. Lewi^ G, Boucher. Harvev Bowman. Urvin 
Bowman, George W. Brown. Oscar 31. Bailey. Charles'Bahcnck. Edward 
L. Beebe, James Bodiue. Alexander Breg, Timothy L 'Jarley, Patrick 
CaUill. Henry Coykendall. Martia Dwyre. Francis .\. Eaton, t'humas H. 
Eden, Lewis S. Edgar. Edwin W. Ftyer. John Furman, John Jackson, 
John Fletcher. Jr.. John W. Fitzgerahi. James Flood. Henry Ferris, 
George P. Farra:\ Frank Fuller. James Garvey. Jerome C. Gates. Nel- 
son Greer, Mavlon Goetscbius, John P. Hougbtaling. Joseph Hoatland, 
George W. Hill. Nicholas Hook. Abner Jackson. William H. Lawton, 
Martin Lawler. David Lee. Lawrence Lynch. Joah W. Mercer. James 
Miles. .Mmou A. McGili, William McDonougb, Aaron B. Neal. Kufus 
Owen. Cyrus A Phillips. James H. Partridge. Reuben R. Porter. Bird- 
sey Phelps, David Reese. Edward S. Radway. Chas. H. Rosendale. Car- 
los E, Rogers. Edward Ryan. Michael Ryan. Abraham H. Spore. James 
A. Smith. Andrew J. Smith, Stephen S. 'Smitb. John Smith. Nelson T. 
Smith. George S. Stanard. Daniel J. Salisbury. Charles Stokes. Theo- 
dore Stickeis. Charles Sihler. William G. Stephen-. Simeon L. Stillwell, 
Fredrick N. Tehune, Martin Thornton. Charles Van Wormer, Lcdroit 

E. Washburne. Benton H. Wilson, William Welch. James Widger. Cor- 
nelius White. Ingersoll White. John H. W*ilson. John E. Whiston, Chas. 

F. AVithey. Edward W. Wiley. John Wise. Chauncey Wyman. Patrick 
Quigley, Francis W. Brown. \ViUiam Ward, Edward W. Manchester.* • 



NAMES OF CITIZENS 

WHO ASSISTED AND COXTIilBUTED TOWARDS THE PUBLICATION OF THE IlISTOEY OF ONOKDA(JA COUNTY. 

WITH PERSONAL STATISTICS. 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 
ACCOUNTANTS. 

Gardner, Geo. J., General Acoouutaut aud Private Banker, 
Onondaga Savings Bank Building; b. Boston, Mass., s 
1829. 

Mann, R. DeWitt, 2-3 Larned Block; b. Dutchess Go., s 1870, 

AGENTS (INSUBANCE.) 

Hanohett, M. W., room 4 Wieting Block; b. SufiBeld, Conn., 

s 1826. 
Mix, Jamea C, 33-2,5 Syracuse Savings Bank Building, Man- 

asjer Globe Life Ins. Co.: b. Hartford. Ct., 1826, s 186.5. 
Smith, Silas F.. Onondaga Co. Savings Bank Building ; b. 

Lanesborough, Berkshire Co., Mass., 1812 s 1827. 
Truair, T.S., iS}i S. Salina St.; b. Chenango Co., s 1819. 

AGENTS (Real Estate.) 

Grumbach, Nicholas. 215Lodi; b. Detroit, Mich.; s 1838. 
Kirk, Wm. B., Jr., .52 S. .Salina St. ; b. Onondaga Co., 1850. 
Nelson, John. 9 Lamed Building; b. Sciitland, 1816, s 1840. 
Rayuor, J., bds. Empire House: b. Ciuoudaga Co., 1816. 
Seager, S. A., G5 S. Salina St. 

AGENTS iSewin-o Machines.) 

Ayres, James G., 70 South Salina St., General Agent Wheeler 
& Wilson S. M. ; b. Peekskill, N. Y., s 1846. 

Schieder, George, 57 North Salina St., Agent for Best Im- 
proved S. M. ; b. Bavaria, 1830. a 1S65. 

AGENTS (Transportation.) 

Beers, Charles G., 60 W. Washington St. ; b. Cayuga Co., s 
1874, Agent International Fast Freight Line. 

AGENTS (Express.) 

Higgius, Alfred, residence 86 Warren St. ; b. Cape Cod, Mass., 

s 1837. 

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 

Davis, Frederick L., (firm of Foster & Davis) 19 East Water 
St.; b. Loudon, England, s 1870. 

* Compiled from Adjutant-Generars Reports. 



ARCHITECTS. 

Revoir, Battese, 1.35 E. Fayette St.; b. Clinton Co., 1847,3 

1867, (also Builder.) 
White, Horatio N., 12 Wieting Block; b. N. H., 8 1840. 

ARTISTS, (Fresco and DECORATn'E.) 

Allewelt, Henry C, 278 N. Salina; b. Prussia, 1834, a 185.5. 

ATTORNEYS. 

Anderson, Wm. C. 10 S. Salina St. ; b. Onondaga Co., 1830. 
Andrews, Charles, Judge Court of Appeals. 
Beach, Wm. A , room 8 Stevens Block; b. Baldwinsville, 1842. 
Bailey, B. N., 10 S. Salina St. ; b. Onondaga Co., 1849. 
Brewster, Thurston D., room 12 White Memorial Building; b. 

Jefferson Co., s 18.58. 
Byrne, Thomas, room 5 Yates Block; b. Ireland, s 1854. 
Comstock, George F. 

Costello, J. H., (of Arm Costello & Ide,) rooms 10 aud 11 Ste- 
vens Block; b. Buffalo. Erie Co., s 1870. 
Evarts, F. M., room 5 Barton Block ; b. Oswego Co., s 1870. 
Fuller, T. K.. (firm of Fuller & Vann, I rooms 1, 2 aud 3 Empire 

Block; b. Vesper, Onondaga Co., 1834. 
Gardner. Rowland; H., room 3 Bastable Block; b. Plainfleld, 

Otsego Co. , s 1843. 
Gilbert, Wm., rooms 1 and 2 Yates Block; b. Columbia. Her- 
kimer' o., 8 1840. 
Gott, D. F., 5 Clary Block. 
Graves, Nathan F., room 5 Wieting Block; b. Oneida Co., s 

1849. 
Hall, L. W., (firm of Hall & Ames.) 4 and 5 Stevens Block; b. 

Connecticut, s 1842. 
Hamilton, James T.. 4 W. Fayette St.; b. Pompey, Onondaga 

Co., 1829, (and Justice.) 
Hey, George W.. (firm of Sanders & Hey.) 12 Clinton Block; 

Patent Lawyer: born Onondaga Co.. 1849. 
Howard, Frederick, 29 Syracuse Savings Bank Building ; b. 

C^onnecticut, s 1872. 
Hoyt, H.. (firm of Markham, Hoyt & Smith,) 13-15 White Me- 

morial Buildine; b. Lafayette, Onondaga Co., 18.37. 
Ide, Charles E, (of Costello & Ide,j 10 aud 11 Stevens Block; 

b Ontario Co , s 1871. 
.Tames. Wra.. room 6 Clinton Block, res. 133 E. Genesee St. 
Johnson. A. L., 13 Granger Block; b. New Haven, Oswego Co., 

s 1858. 
Keeler, Dennis B., 10 aud U Granger Block ; b. Ireland, s 1871. 
Leach. James S.. 22 West Water St. ; b. Oueida Co., s 1850. 
Ludiugton, A. N., 37-38 Syracuse Savings Bank Building; b. 

Herkimer Co., a I860. 



4"- 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



McWIiiMT. Frmiik 1' 



Bloek; b. OneldmCo..t 1^5. 



l.rch 

.■;. loiu. 

Munru !c b*vU. 27 and H SyraouM Havliigt Bank BuUdloK- 

l>avl>, Alb«it J., ret. '£i N'uxou ; b. i )uuii(lag* Cu., 1M4. 
Muiirii J. I'a«e, ret. Uu K. JeO«rtou, b. OnundaKa <.'o. 



Noxoo. i> 
s 
Pratt. Dai 

cu 
tl.l. 

f'oull 

Rugcr. Will. ( 
(irn- • 

SedBwIck 

(ii 
TracT. W 
Vaiiii. If 

b 
Wallace. \ 

r>. 

Weaver, i 

I. 
Wlcki. Kr. 

cu 
Wood. I)n 
Woolwdfi : 

I . 
Wbltc. N 



- •. rii- 

;.; , .vij. 

11 block; \/. uuondafB Co. lo^, L'. 



arm of Ruger, Jtwiey, Urooka S> Freucb.) '.' 
"■' -' • Brldiewater. X. Y.. • 1858. 

riier Park aod Jatiiea; b- Pompej, 

- > racuie. IM.% 

X Vaiiu.i 1-:.'-^ Empire B.'oek; 

re«. ItM Jamea St.; b. Syraouie: V. 8. 

' ■■ I. i4-5(Jrauger Block; 

\Vi,-k.. rmsyra- 
. iN-jf. 

iiUK. 

Ik'-MltlUtOll, L. 

mcuMi SariiiKl 



Il'k UuiMiiit;, I. tu>v:i .^I Lysauiicr, ria. Baldwiutvllle. 
IJAKKIU. 
Hull. IHrld il.. 30 W. Qeoeaee. 

HANKER.**. 

BouU. R. .v.. re«. 1*. (irrm -Jt.. catblcr N. V. Sute BaDkiog 

Co ; b. - 
Dawtou, E. S.. il E. Geiietee Sti. ; b. XeUoii, 

.Mn.i.- > •• I Hi', .July. 1836. Treat. 

< II, 
Elllt. Ja'iM -'■ Pretident Mechanlc't 

Niti ii.iiiK.Li < >ij'>iia:i^.t mil, April 13, IHIO. 
Kltih. T. B. 
Glcamu, I.u i'l- i'- I.iv'ri 1; Pren't Third Nat, Bank; b. 

LI- 
Graret, N 'ret't X. V Sute ItaukiugCo.. 

Vm-i 1... I -.11HU-. ^.ik'liigt Bank: b. Oneida Co. 
llowlett. .\. A.; b. town of < inondnKa, Keb. 17, 1K.*1. 
Ju.U..n, K H 
Lvacb. I I liank, ret. :UJ 

N 
I.*aT-' ■ ""I .Syracuae 

Leui. . National 

HiiiiK ; t' >\ r u-ii-'-. I ••-■•• 
Pbelpt. Dudley i'.. >?•>. UU Jamea Si. ; b. Preble, Cortlaud Co. • 

I-HJU. 

Il, E. R. 

11. P.. ri<t. 71 JametSt. ; b. Ireland, t 1833. 
'until. W. IJrowii. VIce-Pretldent Syracuie Havingt Bank. 
Wllkliitcii. Alfred iflrm of Wllklutou X Co.) b. Syraouie, 

AiiifUit r. I'll 

Wllklutou. .) I \ C",i ret. lO." 

Janiet " 
Wood, D. P., 1.. — Uga Co. Sarlugt 

Hank ; b. Pompey iiill, UnoudagaCo., Nor. 5, 1810. 

BARBERS 
Oaunder, Joaeph E.. iflrm of liauiider & Van Lcogen,) 33 W. 

L'». ...... t^i >. 1>I. i!...I..I,.l,<., .. Ivi.U 

Vai. 'Qiaiiv. I ISTT. 

Wil. ■ \V. Kayatti' .si. 

b- -VuKU'lu. 'jii . "I'll 

BOOK BINDER.S. 

Koebler, Auguat. .11, :i'i. .'!.'■ Munroe Block; b. Uerinaoy. 1M&, 
t XhW. Bank itatlonory a apeclalty. 

BOUT AND HHOE DEALERj^. (Wiioi.K8AL£ and Rraiu) 

Barrett, .lamea R.. n St. : b. (.'amlllut, N. 

\\ 

^ini iii,,i Water 9u.; 



Y.. IKM. l\\ 

Gray, John !».. u.f t 

b. Herkimer Co., t IpWt. (U 
Grar, H«rrl*r'ii H . 'of linr Br"" 
Mcfi 



Prn: 



<U'hu;e«alu uilr. i 



, t 1860. 

1. ."•(-ni'ii'Tiaily, N. Y., • 

t;ton St.: b. Mate., 1 1868. 



Uuderbli: 

b ■ 
Wbltelani. • iiJiri'-» 

..Mfr.i 



'/IlkCo.jlSS.CniotoQSt; 
iiiii'ju 8t.; b. England, t ..47. 



BOOKS. STATBINERY AND WALL PAPER. 

Wvukooi., R. C. ,* C . 19 s Snlliia -t 



)0|., K. Ii. 

B. •; \V 
J. s w 
R. (i U 



1810, t 1848. 



BREWERS AND BOTTLERS. 

Crocker, J. A., « W. Faylle 8t. ; b. Maaa.. 1 1860. (Bottler of 

Ale and Porter, i 
Fvlrr ,.,..-. lUfr ood Dealer in Belfatt 



(;ro. 
(;re. 
Hal' 



h Kuglaud, t \6-V. 

.. Bride 8t.; b. Gennan/.a 



BROKERS. 

Blalr. J.H.,r>l s. Sbiliui: ' 
lllnmaii, .1 H., I liaaemei 

iF'ii 

Morey, A 

dns " 



iiiKt Bank Building. 



'iion- 
Ml. 



BfTCHERS AND MEAT MARKETS. 



Engttler, John, cor. LodI and Butternut Sti. ; b. Auttria, 1817, 

a IMKl. 
Fox, L. ^ ■•' ■■ (JeiK-.ee St.; b. Buffalo, N. Y.. 1830, tl8». 

(S- LI" Mfr.l 

Taylor, Sai - Weat St. ; b. England, a 1843. 

BLACKSMITH AND HORSE SHUER. 



Hlldreth. ^ •• - '' ' •" ' 

ri.'i ■ 

alble. 

CARRIAGE AND WAGON MANUFACTURERS. 

Atklnaon, Wui.. cor. Warren and Cburcb Stt.; b. Kngland, 
IMO, a Ic.M. Mr. .\. baa im-ik .nriM-dtbe title bettowed, 
on blm of ■• I'riiice of li 

C*0'.openiti>'e Cnrrinpe W*.rk* 

ir„i ■■ ■ :■ ., 

B 

L. - . ■ 

Prellie, H. !•., re». li«i Gr»p«* .M.. l>. .*>\fttcuae, In'jO. 
Curtlt, Cbarl.a W., firm of lurtit * Sanwaldi 13 Walton 8t*; 

b. * " '>.V>. 
Gebm, W: ., (flmi of Soblo»ier<fe Gebin:lb. GenDany, 

1> 
LInei, T. 1) I i. D. LInet & Co.) (10 Warren St ; b. N. Y. a 

IhOU. 
Mellua >t: Hopper, °J4 Walton. iMfr. Sleigba and Carrlagei.) 

Mellna, Jobn N.. ret. TU W. (ieneiee St.; b. Columbia 
Co. UIH, t lWi7. 

Ho|i|ier. lieninrd C. rea. lU Mulberry St.: b> BerseD 

(II . X. .1.. \<r,. « i-xi:,, 

Phelpa, Charlea, ;li Wnlioii : b. i >aweKi>. iKjil, a 1K.T. 
Reldy, MIobaei, 18-:'U Mulberry; b. Ireland, i ISM 

CIVIL ENtilNEEHS AND SURVEYORS. 
Grifnn. Rheaa IT Lamed Block; b. Ooondaga Co. 1H41. 

1 1.. . .1 I > 11.' ...^ ':i-> M .,11 ..r..-. ). I'.., V _ 1..1I 



-<H. 
.\.Y. 



bUitu (. aiiul , b- * 'swtxo V. u., :? l-ijj- 

CIVIL OFFICIALS. 

Bilden. J. J., Mayor, rea. W. i t ; b. Fablui. 

Brown, l-kiward Hew !• il. ir- ivette St. : b. N. Y'., « 

1844. Trt•a^ >iii-l. Cily Water Workt. 

Cbate, A. C„ rea. li St.; b. Whlttleld, N. H., Nor. 

10, 1834, a I'-.Ki ■ i.:.iiiioater and Mfr. of Plauot and 

Organi. 
Dorwin, Lvmnn C , rr=. 40 E. Onondaga St. ; b. Onondaga Co. 

1- ■ 
Doolittlc I'ino St.; b. Onondaga Co. 183&. mem- 

l. l.lerCo. No. 1; C. C. Fire l>-i.t. 

Draper. I .^ ."^t.; b. Tonipkint Co. 

^ Ward, Syracute. and 

>>.. tkt. 

Eattwoi>ii : Spring St., Juttice of tbe Peace, 

b :. 

Hlgglna, liciij. L. •; b. Bamttable Co., 

Matt. iKr, ~ 
Hougb, Timothy, re,. . ^l nev Order Clerk 

P. o IJept.; b. .\ 
O'Couner, Jamea. rea. Ii ■ Y. city, i 1862. 

Fireman Steamer Xu. a C. C. i- iru Ufpt, 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



413 



Rust, Stiles M., res. '.12 E. Genesee St. ; b. Onondaga Co. 1825. 

City Treasurer. 
Smiogler, August, res. 12 Grace St. ; b. Germany, s 1854. 

F^remau Steamer No. 3. C. C Fire Dept. 
Smith, Vivus W. ; b. Laiiesborough. Berlssliire Co., Mass , Jan. 

27. 1804, 8 1827. (Canal Appraiser.) 
Wood, Ira. res. 8 Granger place; b. Greeubush, N. Y., a 1844. 

Chief Engineer C. C. Fire Dept. 

CHINA, GLASS AND QUEENS-WARE. 

Jenkins, .lohn T.. res. 40 Almond St. ; b. Howard Co., Mary- 
land, s 18C2. Book-keeper. S. P. Pierce & Co. 

Johnson, Chas. J.. 10.')-107 W. Fayette St. ; b. Lafayette, Onon- 
daga Co.. N. Y., 1830. (Wholesale.) 

Lathrop, Daniel N.. res. 8 Keniiedr St.. Danforth; b, Mont- 
rose, Pa., ISS.'i, s 1841. Salesman S. P. Pierce & Co. 

Pierce, S. P., 12 S. Salina St.; b. Oneida Co., s 18-39. 

VanWageuen & Brodhead, C7 S. Salina. (Importers.) 
Brodhead, F. A., res. 43 Towusend St . a 18.')5. 
A'anWagenen, M., res. 82 S. Salina St. ; b. Onondaga 
Co 18.39. 

CLOTH SPONGER. 

Dibble, Moses, Durstou Block; b. Washington Co. 1820, s 1872. 

CLOTHIERS AND MERCHANT TAILORS. 

Hair, Chester, 47 E. Genesee; b. Belchertown, Mass., 9 1837. 

Hall, H. F.. cor. Vanderbilt Square and Saliua Sts. 

Jacobs, Moses, 21 N. Salina St. ; b. Bath. England, 1817, s 1848. 

Mfr. and Wholesale and Retail Dealer. 
Palmer. A. W., (firm of A. W. Palmer & Co.) 15-17 S. Salina 

St.; b. Antwerp, N. Y., s 1842. Mfr. and Wholesale 

and Retail Dealer. 
Peck, Frank A.. 24-20 N. Salina St.. 'firm of W. S. Peek & 

Bro.) b Solon. Cortland Co., s 1860. 
Peck, W. S., 24-20 N. Salina St., (firm of W. S. Peck & Bro.) b. 

Solon. Cortland Co., s 1864. (Wholesale Dealer and 

Manufacturer.) 
Sloan, C. H , 8 Lamed Block ; cheapest tailor in the State. 
Sloan, R. J., 9 Lamed Block; b. N. Y., s 1870. 
Stinard & Edwards, 1'3 Vanderbilt Square. 

Stinaid, -Vlfred F.. res. 12 Gazelle St. ; b. Wolcott, 
Wayne Co., N. Y. 1848, s 1868. 

Edwards, Ed. D.. res. 7 Gazelle St. ; b. Spafford, Onon- 
daga Co., N. Y. 1842. 

COAL AND WOOD (Dealers IN.) 

Abbott, Wm. E. OS W. Water St. and 225 E. Water St. ; b. Low- 
ville, N. Y., Jan. 19, 1822, s 1841, (firm of Hopkins & 
Abbott.) 

Hamilton, W. T., 1 Syracuse Savings Bank Building; b. Onon- 
daga Co.; Prest. Morris Run Coal Co. 

Holden, E. F., 122 S. Clinton St. ; b. Monroe Co., s 1867. Agent 
Coal Dept 1). L. & W. R. R. Co, 

Hopkins, Edwin P., 98 W. Water St. and 225 East Water; b. 
(luondaga Hill, April 26, 1812, (firm Hopkins & Abbott.) 

Rombach, John, 122 S Clinton St; b. Gernianv, s 1852. Weigh- 
cnaster Coal Dept. D. L. & W. R R. Co. 

Soule, .Albert D., 122 S. Clinton St.: b. Syracuse, 1855. Sales- 
man Coal Dep't D. L. & W. H. K. Co. 

Sweet, J. H., cor. Bridge and N. Salina Sts ; b. Lysander, 
1825. Dealer in Wood, Hay and Straw. 

COMMISSION MERCHANTS. 

Durston, George W., res. 4 Highland St; b. Syracuse, 1850. 

Fay, Albert W., E. Fayette St. cor. Montgomery; b. Syracuse, 
1840. 

Fish, Frank M. (firm of Duff & Fish.) cor. Fayette and Mont- 
gomery Sts., Onondaga Co., 1847. 

CIGARS AND TOBACCO, (Manupactubers and Whole- 
sale AKD Retail Dealers.) 

Aldrich, B. S., (firm of Hier & Aldrich,) 31-33 N. Salina St. ; b. 

Cortland Co., 6 1865. (Mfr. and Wholesale Dealer.) 
Auer, Michael, (firm of Auer A Co.) 48 E. Water St ; b. Swit- 

zerland, s 1851. (Manufacturer.) ' 
Barton, Joseph, (firm Joseph Barton, Jr., & Co.) 70 E. Genesee 

St. ; b. N. Y. city, s 1844. 
Gushing, Q. F., (firm of Carr 4c Cushing,) 67 W. Fayette St 
Demong, John, Lodi cor. John; b. Prussia, s 1847 
Herrick, W. B., ,14 W. Fayette St. ; b. Onondaga Co. ia34. 
Hall, John U.. res. 36 Baker .St. ; b. Rutland Co., Vt., s 1824 

Manufacturer and Farmer. 
Ostrander, C. W., 10 E. Genesee St.; b. Onondaga Co. 1833. 

(Manufacturer and Dealer.) 
Parker, IJichard 11., 43-45 W. Fayelte St.; b. Onondaga Co. 

Seubert & Warner, 58-00 W. Fayette St. 

Seubert, Justin, res. Ill Willow St.; b. Germany, s 1866. 

Warner, Wm. H., res. 3 Seymour St. ; b. Madison Co., 
e 1803. 
Tallman, ChaHes, Jr., 44 W. Fayette St.; b. Syracuse. I8.53. 

(Leaf Tobacco.) ' 

73 



COLLEGE (Business.) 
Meads, C. P., res. 31 Hickory St., b. Chenango Co.. e 1868. 

CONTRACTORS, CARPENTERS AND BUILDERS. 

Blye, Benj. F., res. 2 N. West St. ; b. Cortland Co. 1821, 8 1844. 

(Stair Builder.) 
Britcher. James, res. 103 W. Onondaga St; b. Kent, England, s 

182H. 
Congdon. Albert B., res. town of Salina; b. Salisbury, Conn., 

s 180C. (Carpenter and Builder.) 
Grover, Albert. 1.52 K. Washington St.; b. Otsego Co. 1818, s 

1867. (Cistern Builder and Carpenter.) 
Jackson, Thomas, res. 90 Catherine. St. ; b. England, 1841, b 

1859. (Carpenter and Builder.) 
Mason, A. L., res. 90 Court St. ; b. Syracuse, 1824. (Builder.) 
Moore & Dickison, James cor. Pearl. (Builders.) 

Moore, John, res. W. Genesee St.; b. Ireland 

Dickison. Wm., res. 94 W. Onondaga St.; b. Oswego 
Co., s 1865. 
Park, Robert, res. 123 Warren St. ; b. Berkshire Co., Mass. 1807, 

3 1808. (Retired.) 
Soule, Alex. C. res 75 Hawley; b. Albany Co. 1830, s 1849. 

(Builder and Assessor.) 
Steele. Samuel A , (Building Mover,) res. 96Geddes; b. Carlisle, 

N. Y. 1818, 8 1828. 
VanVleck, James, cor. Bear and Spring Sts. 

CLERGYMEN. 

Beard, A. F., res. 2.36 E. Genesee St. : Pastor Plymouth Ch. 

Bourke, Wm. J., res. cor. Court and Park Sts.; b. Syracuse, 
Onondaga Co. (Pastor St. John's the Baptist Church.) 

Guerdet. J., Pastor St. John's Roman Catholic. 

Hoefflin, Rheinhard, res. 118 Catherine St ; b . Germany, s 
187.5. Pastor First German Baptist Church. 

Huntington, F. D., Rt. Rev., Bishop of Central N. Y., res. 99 
James St. 

Haven. E. O., D.D., LL.D., res. E. Genesee St.; b. Boston, 
Mass., sl874 ; Chancellor Syracuse University. 

Kennedy, John J., res. 121 Gifford'St. ; b. Ireland, s 1853; Pas- 
tor St. Lucy's Catholic Church. 

Mundy, R.W., 137 Warren St., Pastor Independent Church. 

O'Hara, James A., res. 39 E. Onondaga St ; b. Ireland, s July 
4, 18.59; Pastor St. Mary's Church. 

Oberlander, Alex., 87'-.{ Butternut; Pastor German Evangeli- 
cal Zion Lutheran Church. 

Pratt, J. Edward, res. 15 Slucuni .ive. ; b. Conn., 8 1873; Rec- 
tor Trinity Church. 
j Peck, Jesse T. 

i Kobillard. J. S., res. 140 E. Genesee St.: b. Canada, ISil, s 
1870; Pastor St. Joseph Catholic Church. 

Seaver, Norman, res. cor. Irvine and Adams Sts.; b. Boston, 
Mass., s 1877; Pastor Fourth Presbyterian Church. 

Stoller, P. Norbert, res. Franciscan Convent, N. Saliua St. ; b. 
Bavaria. 1832, s 1861; Roman Catholic Priest. 

Smith, Charles E., res. 136 E. Fayette St.; b. Janunry, 1835, 
Fall River, Maas., s January, 1870; Pastor First Bap- 
tist Church. 

Thurber, Edward G., res. 434 Chestnut St.: b. Monroe Co. 
Mich., s 1870: Pastor Park Central Presbyterian Ch. 

VanSlyke, Evart, res ;'. Lodi Terrace; b. Columbia Co., N. Y. 
18.35, 8 1870; Pastor Reformed Church. 

DENTISTS. 

Barnes, Chirles, 8 Wieting Block ; b. England, 1837, s 18.53. 
Dayan, Squire C, 131>i East Genesee St.; b. Jefferson Cc, 

1847, 8 1871. 
Martin, Samuel G., 14 E. Jefferson St. ; b. Chenango Co., 1830, 

3 1860. 
Marshall, John S , 1.5-10, Onondaga County Savings Bank 

Building; b England, 1846, 3 1858. 
Matson A. Holton, 20 White Memorial Building; b. Cortland 

Co., 183.5, 8 1809. 
Nearing Lucius A., 8 and 9 Pike Block ; b. Pompey, 1824. 
Smith, Daniel I)., 1 Pike Block ; b. Schenectady Co , April 24, 

1817. s Oct. 1, 1840, (dentist and niaiiuf. of imitation of 

coral for jewelry, etc. 

DRUGGISTS. (Wholesale and Retail..) 

Covert, E. B., Temperance House Block, cor. W. Fayette and 

Clinton Sts. ; b. Seneca Co., 3 1868. (Retail.) 
Kenyon, Potter & Co,, .34-30 S. Clinton St.. (Wholesale.) 

Kenyon, G. M., res. .52 Hawley St. ; b. Oswego Co., s '02. 
Potter. (). C, res. 80 W. Onondaga St. ; b. Madison Co. ; 

3. 1850. 
Perry. Geo. H., res. Globe Hotel; b. Chemung Co., s. 
IS'A. 
Kenyon, Chas. H., 159 E, Fayette St. ; b. Oswego Co., 1838, s. 

18.55. (Retail.) 
Moore & Hubbard. 73 S. Salina. (Wholesale.) 

Moore, J. B., res. 149 James St ; b. RensselaeryiUe, N. 

Y., 3 186;i. 
Hubbard. Chas., Shonnard St. ; b. Brunswick, N. Y., 

18.39, 3 18(i2. 
Kingsley, S. E., res. 10 Madison St.; 81840. (Financial 
Manager.) 



4«4 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



MoMOb. Wm.. 944 K fUllM St : b. Oennaor. lUO. • 1«<«7. 
(Katall.i 



imv ' 






McC»rthT r>r,, 

Mc< 

I'rlc 




.liMeCar- 
-lb. New Wooditock 


^\f- 


" : . ' 


i)iiondiig><'o., K1I 

oi.rl'U (u. It^. i 1(W 



lUi 



»ru<-. 
Del.! 



, b. Saratoga Co.. • mtH 
KJ»'C!RAVER ON WOOD AND 8TONE1. 

F. . » Muoroe Block; b. Ix)cki>ort. N. Y., 
.-<v. 

khitors and I'LbLisnKits 

ii-.i.f M I, \i..i,..„ Co.. June :.'l. 1H34. • 1^.1. 

I'Tbllt. (Kd. Aurora Brazlllera, 

•ia, «mo. 



kiniiry. Ii. .-^ . hi, uti, K. Ououila^a- < Ag(. VVr«|;»u M«th. B<1. 

of I'lll.i.) 

Ton I " • '■ ' • - ■ "- • ^j-racu«»» L'uloD. 

8kiii -t. : b Otwrtio I'o. ; • t*T5. 

II I 

Die. a isj-.'. 

.„ . .-I.; b. Scotland, • lies (Eveu- 

litR (li*rald.) 
Warreti. o. U.. b. N. Y, • IVTi. (Ed. Nortbera Cbriitlao 

Advocate.) 

FI-OL-R, FEED. tiUAIN. ETC. 

lot the llriT) of Jacob Aaiot k Sunt); b. Syr*- 

lilt Millen 
mil f.. • KVJ. 
riunilge, Oiiomlaga I'o. 



Aai' 
A HI' 



-I-' 

to. 11. -, 
11 iv< 411 



IM. 



Mill 



Tort. ■ 
HurUck. . 

"t-rb^ck. J. 



'•«<« St. ; b. I >iiontliiffa Co. l^V 
(drm J. C. >V J. SurbMk.ib. 

.1 : b Swluerland. IH.'U, ilMS. 



rURNlTL'KK DF.M.KKS. Ul'IIOUSTEKElW. ETC. 



.■«B. 

GENTS' FURNlHHINtJ COdDS AND SHIRT JIANL'KAC- 

TCUKK-*. 

lirtiuirlkmiip. T. J . b. Mollmul. IKIX. a Isivi. 

FpIIoki llroii tiMui.i ! , Mfr. and Wholetalc Dealers. ) 

I v •. Irrlng L» , ttt Ti Dritcull Block; b. Ouondaga 

i-r.i 
l-rii^.^K. J. Porter, rei. IIM E. Qenenee; b. Onondaga 
Co i»4; 
Goodwill T f r.0 s Salloa St.; b Scotland • l!)74. (Sblrt 
M 

WanhliiKtoii : b. < luondaga Co. IIMO. 



Hood. W 

T»> 

Wb.i. 



N. V . ilHTI 
iShlrtMfr.l 



tiltm KKw 



Andrews. H l< 

N Wm 

Brown. C c i 

Cate, Wli: 

1- 
Cuan, All 

St 
Crouae. J I. 

Ooi 

\\ 
Ererton. ' 

a>< 
Husted, I 

W 



lWnotB«AI.E AND KrTAIl. I 

r \ ...lr..vt . Mr.. . In 



«" I S[. ,ud 1 

-t. Ii "-ilviT 11.11, England. 
nil .\. r ■ Iir' W Farelte 

:it>.l 



i>f Stiper k Everton, cor. N. Sallna and 



Miller. Frr'--'- ■'- 

r. 
I'alniiT \ 

Rut. 



Haml"" ^' 



' -*b«rlue St.; b. Oanndack 
-. '"„ . M w. Favetle.) b. 
41 ItTliigSt*. 



I -ft. 



M-iii.-i. \\ uirinuini., b 

"ichwarr I -.li St.; b. Syn 

HI MAX HAIR liiiulis 

Uiftle. Ilenrr. T.^TO S Saltiia St.; b. Auburn, N. Y,. i IM2. 
Paine. RIcbard, » F- Ueueaee St. 

IlAllDWARF., STt'VES AND HoCsE FIRNHHINO 
liiMtDS. 

■r & AapcU.I 130 8. Wett; b. 
' " • • :«4fl. 

'MM. 

■ 'A \ ( o. . iu .H. bithua; b 
lie and Retail. 



Aipell 


Jii 


Evtmoii. 1 

Or 

Friend & 1 




K' 


Grant. 


Al- 



. -S.. re*. ie» E. Washington; b. England, 

1. 

1 .1.. ret. 3-* East Fayette; b. 0(W«go Co. 



. . : . inrm of Grant k Dunn,) 'M E. Qena 

b ScotlKlnl. • IM',,). 

Keonedv. SpnnMiiitr \ I '<>.. Si S. Clinton St. Wboleaale. 

K>- " I'lfurd. res l.T^ E Genetee; b. L7MUI- 



K. 

Spu(ii>li 
Pease. John F 
RedOeld. C. T.. mn 

b. Syracuse. 
S.ipcr. Win .s.. ido. 



IC. K (ieiie«.-.>. 1p I.vriniiiler. 1830. 
loTWti - iT.rd. 18S7. 

I. h. Mail 

■■■'■■ ', i:.-.ii,.-i.i. ., - ,, W. \Vat«r; 



rd; b. Seneca Co. ■ 1873. 

HARNF^.S. SADDLES. TRUNKS, &C. 

Itr»-iier. H. D.. res. l.'» Cedar; b. Madison Co Hm. ■ ISSfi. 
II' ye. Jobu. 37 Warren; b. Ireland, s 184.V 

HATS. CAI*S. FIR-S, &C 

Hawkins. Edward T., 1 flroi of Hawkins k (ioodrlob.l 34 Boutb 

.Sallna; b Monroe Co. lHi.<. • imu 
Saber. Wra P.. 1 linn of Win. P. Saber k Co.) 15 Vanderbllt 

"^ -- '1' y ^^ ~ tilnittoii. 

i' Germany, « 1*i.U. (Mfr.) 

.SU'vi-.'.i'.. li.,\ia. ic'.-t. 114 S Sallna; b. New Fairfield, 

Conn . 1 1*74. 
Adams. Adelmer, res. 1.'>1 Warren; b. Ouon. Co. 1860. 
Tondeur, Frank, 'X Monroe Bluck; b. France, liMl, 11807. 

HAT AND BuNNET BLEACHER 

Morse. Albert M.. .'15 S. Clinton St. 

HIDES AND LEATHER. 

Van Buren 11 W ilrm of Van Uuren k Smith,) 15 E. WaUr. 

HOTELS. 

lar; b. Solon, N. Y., ■ 184S. Supt. 

— ^•- » > ^v : b. Herkimer Co., I 

I. -a and West St«. ; b. 



Brownell, <• 1, 
Temper 
Kd.' • " 



Lino 
Nyp 

Nott, C A , cor. W 

f«'r*'>n Co . • 



, . Ui-U. lli>u>c. 

la St.: b. Onondaga Co. 1820. Prop. 

:i and S Frnnklln Sta , b. Jef- 
r^"(or Congress Hall. 



Mgh' 



.\1 



Mann, J' 



Olaii > 





ll.Ul.ii. ,\ 

i'ol)b, N» 

w 


K. .v,'!. 1 itiinl 0"r. 




.V Mi-Keever,) cor. 
.. t 1848. Spe- 


l<->lii.l 1 .,iV 11;, 
lI'llllTl. .I..ll:l1 



' Sia. ; b. C«yaga Co., 

IRON FOUNDERS AND MACHINISTS. 
|< I Block; b. Fabia*. lUilioad Iron 

11 ^.,. ..,..1 IV ^. ., 1.-..., VVIji 

! K. 

I'l 
.;i 1 |-,1I;'U , \). >.i i,i.;in'', 1»47. 
■ I "o. 
; Prest. I luondaira Iron W'ks. 
• I "f I ..(.I. IliTrIck * Co.'; b. Vt.; * 1846. 
.1 iiiriinl ItiiililiiiK; b Mass.. IH'.'l • 1869. 
MiM^ol iiHiki-r mill mfr. llobert Portable Gas Bnroer. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



415 



Porter, George A., res. Park cor. Danforth; b. Syracuse, 18U. 

Treas. Porter Mfg. Co., .3.54 to .3.58 N. Salina St. 
Sanderson, \Vm. J., 21 Church St.; b. Enfflaiid, 1.«13T, s 1.8.5G. 
Stearns, Edward C. IIG Cedar St.. s 1858. Mtr. Mechanic's 

Tools, (Steam Yacht Engine Works.) 
Sank, John, ;firui of John Seuk&Bro. ) 27G Lodi St.; b. Baden, 

Germany. 181-', s 18.51. (Brass Foundry.) 
Senk, Wm., do. do; b. Germany, 1848, s 1854. 

JEWELERS. 

Ball, Calvin S., Jr., White Memorial Building; b. Onondaga 

Co. 1,83:.' 
Hawley, J. Dean, 21 S. Salina St.; b. Canastota, N. Y., s 1845. 

L.\UNDRIES. 

Wilbur, George A., 75 E. Water St.; b. Dutchess Co. 1845, s 
1874. Prop. Empire Steam Laundrr- 

LIME, CEMEXT AND PLASTER. 

Brltton, M. & Son, 02 North SalinaSt. 

Britton. Matthias, res. Town of Onondaga ; b. Colum- 
bia Co., s 1825. 
Britton, Israel E., res. do. do; b. Onondaga Co. 1846. 

LIVERY. 

Breed, Ch.arlesL., Durston Block, N. Warren St. ; b. Onondaga 

Co. 18.55. 
Hosmer, George S.. 10 E. Jefferson St. ; b. Willimantic, Conn., 

8 1846. In Livery business 25 years. 
WoodruflP, Jason, res. 69 S. Clinton. 

LUMBER DEALERS. 

Avery, Augustus, Saw Mill, res. 106 Turtle St.; b. Conn., s 

1848. Ex-Supervisor. 
Cary, Bradley, 7 Lock St. ; b. Ulster Co., s 1807. 
Chapman, E. E., Free cor. Carbon St. ; b. .Syracuse, 1837. Lum- 
ber Yard and Planing Mill. 
Gillett, Wm. J., 94 N, Salina St. ; b. Oswego, 1840, s 1865; also 

Prop. Planing Mill, cor. Franklin and Mechanic Sts. 
Mann & Hunter, 260 S. Salina St. (Dealers.) 

Mann, Enoch, res. 360 E. Castle St. ; b. Onondaga, 1817. 

Hunter, James, res. Onondaga Valley ; b. Scotland, s 
1848. 
MoChesney, George 11.. (firm of Geo. H. McChesney & Co.) 55 

James and 74 West Sts. ; b. Oswego Co. 1841, s 1868. 
Warner, C. C, res. 26 Gazelle St.; b. Chenango Co., s 1821; with 

George H. McChesney & Co. 
Wynkoop, J. G., res. 195 James St.; b. Columbia Co., s 1845. 

LIQUOR (Wholesale.) 

Holmes, Cyrus D., res. 24 Lemon St. ; b Madison Co., s 186.3. 

MARBLE WORKS. 

Francis & Dufify, W. Onondaga St. 

Francis', Daniel .1. ; b. Utioa, N. Y.. s 1867. 

Duffy. H. A.; b. Utica. N. Y., s 1865. 
Linehan, Cornelius, 167 S, Salina St. ; b. Ireland, a 1854. 

MILK. 

Avery, B. Austin, Prest. Onondaga Co. Milk Association; b. 
Ledyard, New London Co., Conn., 1814, s 1837. (Far- 
mer, Salt Mfr., etc.) 

MILLINERY AND FANCY GOODS. 

Fowler, C. S., 50 S. Salina; b. Tompkins Co., s 1852. (Firm of 
Fowler & Lyons.) 

MANUFACTURING. 

Banning, W. E., 0}4 Wieting Block; b. Lewis Co. 18.35, s 1860. 
Mfr., Stencil Plates, Steel Stamps, Baggage Checks, &c. 
Dlr in Bank Stamps, Seal Presses, and Rubber Stamps, 

Baumer, Francis, Pond cor. Carbon; b Germany, 1826, a 1848. 
Bleacher of Wax, and Mfr. of Wax Candles. 

Barnes, Geo res. 160 James; Manager Syracuse Knife Works; 
b. England, s 1844. 

Barnes, Ralph G., (Arm of Wells & Barnes,) res. 102 E. Fay- 
ette; b. Oswego Co., s. 1.870. Mfr. Rubber Stamps. 

Benedict. H. A., 3 and 5 Gififord St. Mfr. Billiard Tables; b. 
N Y, s 1847. 

Blrks, G. & Son, 2:3 and 25 W. Adams. Mfr. Steel Files. 

Birks, George, 23 W. Adams St. ; b. England, s 1870. 
Birks, W. S., res. 151 Montgomery .St.; b, Eng., s 1870. 

Burns, Peter, res. 141 Warren. Saddlery and Coach Hard- 
ware; b. Dublin, Ireland, s 1836. 

Cross, Edwin M., 48 and .50 S. West St. Mfr. Leather Belt- 
ing and Hose; b. Cayuga Co. 1841, s 1874. 

DePuy. S. P., res. 510 Chestnut St. Mfr. of House and Office 
Furniture: b. Onondaga Co., Jan. 1.3, 18:53. 

Duncan, Wm., 43 E. Railroad St. Mfr. of Gold Pens and Jew- 
elry; b. Montreal, s 1844. 

FreeofF, C, 2:34 N. Salina St. Mfr. Vinegar ; Conveyancer; b. 
Germany, 1830, s 1848. 



Green, Thomas D., 71 to 77 N. Salina St. Mfr. Cider Vinegar 
and Pickles; b. Oneida Co.. s 18.54. *- 

Knollin. Thos. H., 6 W. Fayette St. Mfr. of Church Pipe Or- 
gans, Tuner and Repairer; b. Madison Co. 18.3.3, s 1870 

Leeret & Blasdel, 16.S-170 E. Water St. Box Mfi-s 

Leeret, Joseph, res. 136 E. FavetteSt.; b. Saratoga Co 

s. 1839. '' 

Blasdel, J. L., res. 40 Hawley St.; b. Washington Co., 

Malcolm, Wiiliam, 20 S. Salina .St.. Mfr. of Rifle Telescopes- 
b. Madison Co., S1.S23. ' 

Melotte,.G. D., 71-73 S. Clinton. Last Mfr.; b. Canada, s 1876 

McFadden. George. 67 Clinton St.; Band Instrument Mfrs.; b. 
England, s 1874. 

McChesney, Thos. B., 32 W. Genesee. Mfr. Paper Flour Sacks, 
Grocer Bags and Cigar Boxes; b. Rensselaer Co., s 1855. 

Murphy, Wm. H. mfr. Paper Barrels. 

Moseley, Jerome S., 3 Gifford and .33 W. Onondaga Sts.- b 
\"an Buren, s 1.833. Mfr. and Dealer in Machinery,' 
specialty Eureka Scroll Sewing Machines. 

Nichols l\; Lefever, 71-73 S. Clinton St.^ Mfrs Sporting Guns 
Nichols, John A., res. Dewitt; b. Derry, N. H., s 1850 
Lefever, D. M.. res. KO Gifford ; b. Ontario Co., s 1873. 

Smith, John Q., .55 S. Clinton St. Galvanized Iron Cornice and 
Tin Mfr.: b. Pompey, 1827. 

Spang, X., res. 245 N. Salina St.. Organ Mfr., ;.'44 Noxon • b 
Germany, s 1847. 

Strong, J. M.. res. 128 East Genesee St. Mfr. Fire Brick; b 
Onondaga Co. 1834. 

Stanton, H. Jr., res. 178 E. Favette. Match Mfr. ; b. Mass , s '64. 

Stanton. H., res. 2:.'5 E. Genesee St ; b Mass., s 1864. Match 
JIfr., Wholesale and Retail. 

Walrath, E. L., 3 Granger Block. Mfr. Gold Pens; b. Madison 
Co., s 1847. 

Wilson & Blye, 114 W. Fayette St. Oil Tank and Zinc Monu- 
ment Mfrs. 

Wilson, N. W., res. 21 Holland St. ; b. N. Y., a 1835. 
Blye, A. W., res. 95 Lodi St. ; b. N. Y., s 1840, 

OCCULIST. 

Brown, U. H., res. .52}.< Warren St.; b. Cortland Co., s 1866. 

PAPER AND STATIONERY. 

Culver, E. B., 73 W. Fayette St. ; b. New London, Ct., s 1853. 
Ormsbee, Lucius J., 22 W. Fayette St. ; b. Onondaga Co. 1834. 

PLUMBING, STEAM AND GAS FITTING. 

Carroll, F. E., 45 S. Salina St. ; b. Philadelphia. Pa., s 1849. 
Chase, George W., 47-49 S. Clinton St. ; b. Ogdensburg, s 1841. 
Gillroy & Nicholson, 33 E. Fayette St. 

Gillroy, Patrick J., res 85 Catherine St.; b. Ireland, 

1844. s 1870. 

Nicholson, Michael B., res. 81 Burnett St.; b. Ireland, 

1844, 3 1868. 

PHOTOGRAPHERS. 

Bishop, J. Olin, 24 E. Genesee St.; b. Fayetteville, Jan. 9, 1853. 
Bouta & Curtiss, 16 S. Salina. 

Bonta, Daniel; b. N. Y.. a 1820. 

Curtis, N.S.; b. N. Y., s 1857. 
Doust, Isaac U., 10 S. Salina St. ; b. Syracuse, 1856. 
Mcllroy, J. W., 24 E. Genesee St. ; b. Scotland, s 1870. 
Ranger, W. V., 1 Wieting Block; b. Rensselaer Co., s 1868. 
Pernor, George H . 64-66 S. Salina St.; b. England, a 186L 
Ryder, P. S., 72 S. Salina St. 

PAINTERS. 

Siver, Edward, res. 53 N. Salina; b. Albany Co. 1838, s 1848. 

(Carriage and Sleigh Painter.) 
Mead, John, res. 358 Spring St.; b. Liverpool, N. Y., 1811. 

Paper Hanger. 

PETROLEUM AND REFINED OILS. (Wholesale.) 

Potter, Lvmau S., (of firm Morse, Tuller &. Potter,) 103 W. 
Fayette St. ; b. Tioga Co. 1832, a 1834. 

PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS. 

Adams, Henry F., 102 S. Salina St. ; b. N. Y., s 1832. 
Benedict, M. D., 37 Montgomery: b. Conn., a 1839. 
Bradford, Theron, res. 15 Grace St.; b. Chenango Co., s 1861. 
Butterfield, E. F., res. Rochester; 21 Warren St.; b. Pompey. 

1826. 
Burt, J. Otis, cor. Irving and Adams Sts. ; b. Syracuse, 1835. 
Dallas, A. J., 61 S. Salina St.; b. Long Island, s 1.8:.'0. 
Didama, Henry D , 112 S. Salina St.; b. Madison Co., s 1851; 

Prof, of Theory and Practice of Medicine Syracuse 

University. 
Doyle, Gregory, 37 W. Fayette St.; b. Ireland, s 1868; Phya. 

to House of Prov. ; Surg. 51st Reg't N. G. S. N. Y., St. 

Vincent Orph. Asy. and Police Surg., Citv of Syracuse. 
Edwards, Amos S., 367 N. Salina; b. N. Y., s 1843. 
EUsner, Leopold, .358 N. Salina; b. Hungary, s 1849. 
Fairchild, M. B.. ;363 N. Salina; b. N. Y., a 18B9. 



4l6 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



cm 

llnv 

Il.,\l. U'llhuuill.. 

HoVt. Will. K.. Wii 

„„■, , u ..,,,. . , 

Ju- 
K. 
K. 
Ml. 

I'la 

Price, W. H.. iu .>• ' 
I'lsiit. Wlllinni T.. 



- 14.10. 



i.aiiT. • 1800. 



1 



... 1837. 

ai.. B IrOi. 
... St.; b. Kingiton, X. 

v.. .!--.-;• 

Wholnii. liconte I).. 00 niutou St. ; b. OuoodoRa Cu. 

R< lOFKR. (Slate, Tin asd Obavei.. i 
Xnll. ." Til .!..»« Jr., 01 \y Wntir St., i 1W53. 

ItLDHKR GOODS, 
tiary, Ori»iiJ« Wnrc, IDS. SbUiiii; b. SjrracufC, IKE.'. 
Ilh>T.\ll{.\NTS. 

llehui Jc Wiiiiiifr, ','4 W. Wntfr St. 

Hrhiii. Ileiirv. ri'». 1" Lock St : b, Goriunny, • IMl. 
Wniuii-r, Ue<irB<' E., rei. W Willow : b. Oueldft to., a 

O C..iiiior."wi" ■• ' •• ^' b. Ououdtgn Co., 

IMI 
Shattuck, II. -": »>. PepperlU. 

Ma»» ,!-».'<..- 1";!-'. I'l'i' -hiini. K mice.) 
WludhoU, Luul*. r.' V«ii<lerbiltS(iii!irc; b. Ueniiaiiv. • lt*88. 

srOllTIMi (jOODS. 

Ilaruuni. Wllli« S , ren. .'l Kciiiii'.lr St , Uuiiforih; 18 E. Gene- 
we; b. Jameavllle, N. V., IKlTi. 

STONE flTTERS. 

Ilugbo & t'mbtree, (Jifford near W. ( iiiondaini. 

H ' ' • 1 llimhe*' Block: b.Symcu8e.l85i. 

( LoiIiSt.: b. KiiKlaiid. s 1871. 

Kctdall ^ ""t , Cfir. Jnck^oii. 

rs'i-J.i;i. lliMiH-. rt«. HW Mmituoniery : b. Irelaud, b 

TaiiKUar, Rouiuald, res. (H Jackson i b, Canada. « 1840. 
8.\I)IjLERY AXU coach hardware. (Wholesale?) 

Ilurii*, I'ctcr, ren. HI Warrfii St.; b. Diibliii, Ireland, h 1K30. 
DuKiiid. Ili-iiry L., Uriii DniiuiJ, WelU .V Co.. I 31 iiud :tl W. 
WimrSi ; b. roui|ii?y, N. Y., l''-'i'-'. (Wholesale uifn.) 
OluiMiil. II II . :: S Clinton St.; b. Wolcott, X. Y., « 1853. 

I WIlnli'-llltM 

S A KKS. ( KlIlE AND llL-IKil^R PnoOF.) 

Culle, J. A., ;U Weit Railroad St. 

TOYS. COXFECTIOXKRY. &i-. 
Wuod, Reuben, 71 S. Salinn St., b Ureenbunh, X. Y.. ■ 1851. 

WOOU AM) WILLOW WARE (Wholesale.) 
Tl.iirwnchler, L. L , 4-' W. Fayette St. ; b. Ueriuauy, » InM. 
ALT. (Mam»».. Dealers, i*:c.) 

.vlvirl TUo». V , re». cor. Turtle and SnrhiK St. ; b. Onondaga 

Co.. 18li (Munuf. Salt, Member of Astembly aud 

l'".x Lieut Jov 
Barker, J. W. I id.) 

Baldwin, K. W., I Co.); b. St. 

l.uwrence( 
llarii*,. Will.. re«. iUi I'urk .M. , b. Cbuuauiio Co., 1807. •. 18?7. 

I Miiiiofi 

— -^t.; b. UooudaRa Co., 1820, Seo'y 



Klllmurc. S. v.. re*. 57 Seyaiour St.: b. SyneuM, 1830. Salt 
ShllUMT ,\ni. Dalrv Salt Co. 
, ikai KIrkpairlck. Win.. T WlviuiK Block: b. SyracuM. 1630. Solar 

Salt Mfr. 
I Kitkpatrick. Di,nald. 7 Wlrttug Block; b. Syracuie. 1830. Solar 

I, Salt .Mfr 

MoUov, Tlioii . oa, Jan. 1- 

■ 1-41. 
Xuttlug. A. II I. Maouf 

Poller. T. R.. rr». cor. I'nrk aud Court M«. ; b. Ououdaga C^ 

Ihim Mniiuf. 
I'owell. \ .,., -it.: b. Ontario Co., •. 1845. Suj 



Clarke ' 

Clark, I 

l^;^i, I'lt'*, 
Comttock, S. L . 
Duncan, J. M ■■ 

Am. I 
EngelhanI, I • 

lllCll-f. 1,- < 
Freeman, lloyl II. 
Freeman, Albert. re«. Gl Turtle St.; b. 

• 18:^. Mnuiif. 

Francbol. C rea. 147 LodI St.: b. OtteEO Co. , i 1857. (Manuf.) 
(illb.rt. C. A , ref. 1C5 Turtle St.; b. Oneida Co.. s 1859. Salt 

Heceiver. 
UBl■t^lu>rll. John, rcg. cor. Spring and Turtle St«.; b Conn., 

i;ir.'. • IKJI). I Retired ManiiM 
HawleT. Hiram L., r»i<. :<^ K. < inondaga St.: SoloD, Cortland 
'Co., ■1807. I. Manuf. I 



• H uisp: b. Connecticut, 1807,8 

;i Co. 

Co. (Limited. I 
... Syracme, 1817, Supt. 
' o. ' Limited, i 
I'll. D.. rbeiiiiat to the ««lt r.>'« of Sy. 

I iiion St. ; b. (i. 1 

r.i. 73 Turtle; I il. 



Stacy, .1 -■- ; b. Belcbertowu. Ma»», 18111 . 

1n>.'. Manuf. 

Sanger, A. H.. re* 71 Turtle St.; b. tinelda Co., a 1831. De- 
puty Eupt. I luoudaga Salt Spring*. 

fXDERTAKERS. 

MarselluK. John, rea. 74 Jnme* St.: b. Schenectady, X. '^ 

s 1877. 
.McCarthy. Jiihn. res. ^7 E. (ieueteeSt. : b. Boittoii, Ma**.. . 

^^71. Invent, 'r. 
Mnvnard. tieoiye L . W. JefTeraon: b. Wettborough, Ma^ 

(ictoberll. 1»^!, » i.>ctober, 1842. 
Rvan, .M.. rea. 14j S. Sallna St. : b. .**yracu«e, MiM. 
Taylor, Thoa. -M.. r.a. New York City, (Brm Taylor \ t 

Mfa. ('otlliia and Caaketa. 
Taylor. H. K \ Co., 70—81 S. Clinton. Imp , Mfra.aiid Jobb. 

CiiJertakers" Suiidrlea. 
Taylor, Henry K., r<-.. .N. »• York City. 
Trnu^'ott. Wiu. i'.. 'J" .> X. SalinaSt. ; b. Germany, 1833, » l"-'. 

Furniture Dealer. 

WALL PAPERS. 4C. 

Yale. J. W.. k; S. Sallna St. ; b. Madlaon Co , « 1850 

Connel'v. Frniicla, J (Jninci-r llloek; b. Liverpool, Euglai. i, 

Is.'O. a 1M4. Kiriii -.f Cinnelly Broa.i 
Connellv. Jaiiien H.. 'J <ir«iii;er Block; b. Liveri>ool, EuRlaud. 

18^7, « 1M4. I Firm of Connelly Bros. I 

MISCELLAXECnS 

Alien. E. F. ; b. Xew York, § 1875, Book-keeper and ca*b 
Arut*. JuliuaM., re*. 371 .Id North: b. Lltchlleld Co., Conn. 

1811. s IsP.V Gardener. Farmer. Teacher. 
Burnet. J. B., rea. K_' Ji>mea St. ; b. < )ruiiKe Co., ■ 18i'i. Farmer. 
Burton, Laiirn M . rea. corner < urbon and Dnnforth: b. Ilau- 

over. X. 11. a IhJl. 
Burt, Aaron; b. X. H . a 1820. Died Jacksonville. Fla., 1848. 
Barber. Gay P.. re*. 147 S. We*t St.; b. Onondaga Co. 1817. Re- 
tired. 
Blair. Win. Knox, rea. 11 Green St.: b. Blandford, Ma**., ■ 

18-*4. Retired Saw Mfr. 
Buhlauer. John Chrintiaii. late baker; b. Wurtemburg. Ger- 
many. 1x14, a IKM; died 1870. 
Buhlauer. Mnri;iiivf I,., rea. 'Jt'-i LodI St.; b. Wurtemburg, 

Geriiinny. !- '- ■ '•'•I. Widow of J, C. Buhlauer. 
Cate, Marr .\iiii. i- . i-at St.; b. Onondaga Co. (Wife 

of Williaii, 
Child*, John H.. r. - -,- >, >»iliia St ; b. X Y., » lM.'i. 
Clark, C. P. : b. Northampton, Maaa., ■ 1NI7. Freight agent, X. 

Y. C. R R. 
Clary, Lvmaii. Phya. and Surg.: b. Maaa. Died June 1, l''7ii 
Curt'ia. E. C.. rea. 7'.'7 Irving St. : b. Greene Co., a 1^70. General 

.\gent SyiBcuae I'lilveraitv. 
DoplTel, Win., [iiie .Merchant ami Inaurance Agent; b. 1828, • 

Is,'i2. Dii-il Jan 111. l''>. 
Dopffel, Caroline, rea. llu X. Sallna; b. Germany, 18,12. a 1852. 
Downer. Ezra. Downer Block: b. Erie Co., Pa., IHIO, ■ 1831. 

Retired. 
Uickaou, Wallace, bda. Vaiideibllt Houae; b. X. Y. City, 

IKli;, a. 187«. ( lerk to Sup't of S, B. & X. Y. R. R. 
Fay, Dorothy, rea. .H.l t iirb.ui St ; b. Albany Co,, 1804, a 1828. 

Widow .\iiBtlii. W. Fav. 
Forey, J. H. rea. .lU Irving .><t.; b. Beunlugtoo, A't., 1844, • 

18.M TrnvelliiiK .'-aleanian. 
Furman, Robert. Farmer and Real Eatate Dealer: b, Dutche** 

Co., « 1^21. Died In Xew York, 1H04. 
Funnaii, Marlu B., rea. 7 FurmauSt, (DauforthI; b. Saratoga 

Co.. a KVI. 
Gardner, George, Supt.Oakwood Cemetery ; b. England, 1825, 

a IMS. 
Greenwav, Mra. France* A., re*. 74 Willow; b. England, a 1851. 
Grave*, Maurice A., rea. ir.> I.odi St : b. Oneida Co., 1840. i, 

18«*V Hoiik-k>M-per for John < rouae & Co 
Glaaa, Joaeph J., 'ant; b. Elbridge, Onondaga Co.. 

Dec. 5, I^; 
Jackson. John G.. : liii* cor. Butternut St*. ; b. Onon- 

daga Co. 182;. Knrinor. 
Kinney, Daniel; b. Xew York, a. 1848. Patent Renovator. 
Kelaey, Lydia M ; b. Tonipkin* Co., * 1853: died 1874. De- 

ceuaed wife of William Kelaey. 
Longstreet. C. T., rea ll.'i JanieeSt.; b. Onondaga Ce., 1814. 

Retired. 
LawBon. Isaac D.. rea. 08 F^at Washington St.; b. X. Y'. city, 

1807, a 18.35. Retired Copperamitb. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Pompey, N. Y., 1816. 
b. Ouondaga Co. 1812. 
(Dauforth); b. Laf ay- 
Columbia Co., 18.35, s 
St. ; b. Syracuse, Feb. 



Barnes, Elizabeth D., res. 324 Park St.; b. Rutland, Vt., 1811, 

s 1832. 
Henderson, Alexander. Veteriuary Surgeon, 24 Church St. 
Hibbard, Joseph L., 190 Wolf St. 
Lighton. Mary Theresa, res. 61 Canal St. ; b. Switzerland, 1841, 

8 18">G. Wife of John Lighton. 
Lightou, Mary. (Durauj b. ivilkenuy, Ireland. Wife of James 

Lighton. 
Morehouse, Norman, res. cor. Salina and Ridgeway Sts. ; b. 

Saudgate, Vt., s 1818. Retired Farmer and Salt Mfr. 
Morehouse Nancy, res cor. Salina and Ridgeway Sts.; b. 

UuondagaCo. 1816. 
Nichols, Charles, res. 73 James St. ; b. 

Farmer. 
Northrup, Lorenzo, res. 30 Furman St. 

Produce Dealer. 
Northrup, Olive L.. res. 20 Furman St 

ette, N. Y., 1812. 
Niver, W. K.. res. 1 Burns Block; b. 

1876. Supt S. U. .t N. Y. R. R. 
O'Blenuis. George W., res 81 Jefferson 

5, 1SU5. Retired. 
Pratt, A. L., res. 4 W. Castle St. (Danforth); b. St. Lawrence 

Co.. s 1843. Retired. 
Pierce, David H , res. 100 Cedar St. ; b. Nantucket, Mass., s 

1869. Shipper. A. V. Chase & Co. 
Park, Alouzo F , late n'holesaie liquor dealer; b. Cardiff, s 

July 2, 1833; died April 16, 1877. 
Park, Harriet Cres. 123 Warren; b. LaFayette, 1843. Widow 

of A. F. Park. 
Raynor, George, res. Salina cor. Furman Sts. (Danforth) b. 

Oswego Co., s 1836. Retired. 
Raynor, Cordelia Hall, res. Salina cor. Furman St. ; b. Ouon- 

dug.i Co. 1823. 
Redfield. Lewis H.. res. 84 James St.; b. Farmiugton, Conn., s 

1814. Retired. 
Rose, William E., res. 315 E. Genesee St.: b. Onondaga Co., 

1816. Ex-Supervisor Eighth Ward. 
Stickle, George A.; b. Dutchess Co., s 182.5. Died May 20, 1869. 
Stickle, Nancy B., res. 69J.2' Warren St. ; b. Dutchess Co., s 182.5. 
Schwarz, Frederick. Late dealer in groceries, &c.; b. Germany, 

1823, s 18.51. Died 1876. 
Shattuck, Henry, res. 114 Warren St.; b. Pompey, 1811. Ex- 

Shei iff. " Retired Builder. 
Shermau. Mrs. Antoinette White, res. 31 Grape St. ; b. Syra- 
cuse, 1842. 
Salisbury, Albeit G. : b. Woodstock, N. Y., 181.3, s 1836. 

Teacher and Superintendent Public Schools; died 

April 29, 1874. 
Salisbury. Sarah T., res. .36 Madison; b. Montgomery Co., 1818. 

s 1840. (Widow of A. G. Salisbury.) 
Sniper, Gustavus, res. 69 Union St. ; b. Germany, 1836, s 1841. 

Clerk in County Clerk's Office. 
Stewart. Mary fi. (Thomas) wife of Wm. H. Stewart; b Oneida 

s 1866. 
Stitt, William, 38-40 S. Salina St. ; b. Ireland, 1840, s 1840. 
Spaulding, James M., res. 13 Russell St.; b. Syracuse, 1835. 

Book-keeper Onondaga County Penitentiary. 
Steele, Eliza H., res. 96 Geddes St.; b Alleghany Co., 1829, a 

1815. 
VanHeusen. Stephen Van Rensselaer, res. 6 W. Castle St., 

Danforth; b. Rensselaer Co., 8 1826. 
VanHeusen, Phebe, res. 6 W. Castle St„ Danforth; b. Oneida 

Co., s 1825. 
White, Clara, res. 57 E. Fayette St. ; b. Homer, N. Y., s 1838. 
White. Howard G., res. 31 Grape St.; b. Syracuse, 1855. 10 

White Memorial Building. 
White, Hamilton S., ree. 31 Grape St.; b. Syracuse, 1853. 3 

White Memorial Building. 
Williams. J. C. Onondaga Co. Penitentiary; b. N. J.; Sup't 

Onou. Co. Penitentiary. 



TOWNS. 
TOWN OF ONONDAGA. 

Ainslee, Morris D., Farmer. Lime and Plaster dlr; b N. Y., 
s 1821. P. O. Onondaga Valley. 

Anderson, James H., Farmer; b N. Y., s 1824. P. O. Ouon- 
daga Valley. 

Amidon, Alfred L., Farmer and Miller; b N. Y., s 1820. P. O. 
Syracuse. 

Anderson. George. Farmer; b N. Y., a 1817. P. O. South 
Ouondaga. 

Anderson, Geo. W., Farmer; b N. Y., s 1842. P. O. South 
C)nondaga. 

Amidon. Lewis. Farmer; b Onondaga Co., 1805. Died 1870. 

Amidon. .Vmauda, Farmer; b N. Y., 8 1837. P. O. Cedarvale. 

Anderson. Eli, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1808. P. O. Nararino. 

Amidon, Wm. H., Farmer; b N. Y , s 1833. P. O. Navariii 

Adams, Norman, Farmer; b X. Y. ""^ ^ ^' " -■-— 

Adams, Oscar. Pnr 



1839. P. O. Onondaga. 
I. Onoudag:'. 



Bronson, William, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1820. P. 0. Oui-ndairi 

Castle. 
Bower, H., Farmer; b N. i'., a 1872. P. O. Onondat 
Barker, John S., Farmer; b N. Y., a 1833 P. O O.. 

Valley. 
Barker, Samuel G., Farmer; b N. Y., s 1851. P. O. Onoinui' ' 

Valley. 
Barker, Granville, Farmer; b N. Y., s 18.51. P. O. Onoml •>.■•' 

Valley. 
Barker, Cicero, Farmer; b N. H., a 1816. Died 1870. 
Bull, James. J., Farmer; b N. Y., s 1824. P. O. Onondag.i. 

Castle. 
Bartlett, John, Farmer; b England, s 1849. P. O. Onondaga. 
Bartlett, John J., Farmer; b England, s 1849. P. O. Onondaga. 
Brewster, Brainard D., Farmer and Dairyman; b N. Y., a 1862, 

P. O. Syracuse. 
Briukerhoff, Isaac A., Farmer; b Dutchess Co., a 1841. Died 

1872. 
Brinkerhoff, Charles. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1841. P. O. Marcellus. 
Budlong, Holden, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1838. P. O. South Onon- 
daga. 
Budlong, William H., Farmer; b N. Y., a 1842. P. O. South 

Onondaga. 
Belding. Edward, B'armer; b N. Y., s 1825. P. O. South 

Ontjndaga. 
Beak, Chas. W., Farmer; b England, 8 1847. P. O. Otisco. 
Browning, Welcome, Farmer; b R. 1., s 1821. P. O. Onondaga. 
Cossit, Rufus. Retired; b Mass. 179', s 1704. P. O. Onondaga. 
Cossitt, Davis, Farmer and ex-Sheriff; b Onondaga Co. 1827. 

P. O. Ouondaga. 
Conklin. Harry, Farmer; b Conn. Died 1868. 
Comstock, Joshua K., Farmer and Supervisor ; b N. Y., s 1841. 

P. O. Cedarvale. 
Clark, John F., Retired; b Mass., s 1804. P.O. Onondaga 

Vallev. 
Chafee, Ralp'h, Retired; b N. Y., s 1803. P. O. Onondaga 

Valley. 
Casselmanu, D. L., Physician and Surgeon; b N. Y., s 1874. 

P. O. Onondaga 
Chafee, David, Retired; b N. Y., s 1805. P. O. Onondaga 

Valley. 
Cook, Marcus G., Farmer; b N. Y.. a 1814. P. O. Onondaga 

Valley. 
Conklin, John, Farmer; b N. Y.. a 1822. P. O. Onondaga 

Castle. 
Conklin, Christopher C., Farmer; b N. Y., a 1811. P. O. 

Onondaga Castle. 
Conklin. Henry, Farmer and Postmaster; b N. Y., s 1825. 

P. O. Onondaga Castle. 
C^arr. Morris, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1832. P. O. Syracuse. 
Clark, Lemuel G., Farmer; b Vt., s 1818. Died 1870. 
Clark, Benjamin, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1834. P. O. Onondaga 

Valley. 
Clark, Lemuel, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1830. P. O. Onondaga 

Valley 
Clarke, William Metcalf, Horticulturist; b Mass., s 1805. P. O. 

Syracuse. 
Champlaiu, William H., Retired; b N. Y., a 18.35. P. O. 

Syracuse. 
Champlaiu, Paul, Farmer and Blacksmith; b N. Y. P.O. 

Syracuse. 
Craddock, Richard, Retired ; b England, s 18.37. P. O. Onon- 
daga. 
Craddock. John, Farmer and Dairyman; b England, s 1837. 

P. O. Onondaga. 
Cornish, George B., Farmer; b Onondaga Co., 1810. Died 1807. 
Cornish, Susan A., Farmer; b N. Y., s 1820. P. O. Onondaga. 
Cornish, Chauncev P., Farmer; b N. Y., s 1818. P. O. HowletL 
_ Hill. 

Covell, Nathan, Farmer; b Conn., s 1815. Died 1876. 
Covell, Sally, Farmer; b Conn., a 1814. P. O. -Marcellus. 
Chaffee, Joshua, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1817. P. O. Navarino. 
Comstock, Jonathan, Farmer; b N. Y., s 18.32. P. O. Cedar- 
vale. 
Clark, George L., Physician and Surgeon; b N. Y., s 1819. 

P. O. South Onondaga. 
Clemons, Joshua M.. Wagon maker; b N. Y., a 1852. P.O. 

Navarino. 
Crittenden, Joseph, Farmer; b England, s 1850. P. O. Onon- 
daga. 
Carpenter, Charles, J. P. and Ret'd Salt Mfr. ; b N. Y., a 1816. 

P. O. Onondaga Hill. 
Dodge, Eber, Farmer; b Mass., s 1842. P. O. Onondaga 

Valley. 
Dick, Zelotes, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1866. P. O. Ouondaga 

Valley. 
Dodge, John T., Farmer; b N. Y., a 1831. P. O. Onondaga. 
Dorwiu, Thomas M., Farmer; b Berkshire Co. Mass., a 1823. 

Died 1800. 
Dorwiu, John A., Farmer; b N. Y., s IS'JO. P. O. Onondaga 

Valley. 
Everingham, Jeremiah, Farmer; b N. Y„ s 1800. P. O. South 

Onondaga. 
Eaton, Nathan P., Retired; b N. Y., s 1808. P. O. Onondaga. 
Fyler, Byron, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1825. P. O- Onondaga. 
Fellows. Chester. Farmer; b Luzerne*"'" Pt . s 1S''4. Died 
1 -o5 



HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



nil I.' . Karnirr; k N. V.. • 1*11. 1*. I ). ( MioiidiiRa. 
-. .. K«riii.r: I) Cnii . • ITu: DU-d 1h>< 

ir.. Kuriuer; l> N. Y.. * l»ao. 1'. (>. South 

!■ . Farnipr; b N. Y.. • 1817. I'. <>. South 

( MlDlulu^A. 

Klfii'liii:. Utcbard, Firmer; b Co Mnvo. Ireland. • IKM. IHed 

Ih". 

Flenilug. Marjr, Farmer; b IrcUiid, ■ 1X3;. I'.O. South Ouoo- 

dain. 
n.wler. Maxw.ll T, KnriiitT; b N. Y..»i>*.U TO. South 

< Mii'imIuki> 
Fay, hVlwnnl < . Hliick-nillb and woKon nhop; b N. \'., ■ 1M3. 

IV 1 >. < tiiiiiiiliiKii N'ulley. 
Fuller, FMwiinl KiiriinT nnd Stock dir; b N. Y., • IS38. 

1>. () lliiondniiu ValU'V. 
GardiKT. Arlrl U.. Kftlred; b N. Y., ■ 1H17. V. O. Onoudaf[n 

Viilli-v. 
Gardner. KhmI. II. Atly-at-Law ; b N. Y , » IWo. I'. r». < >nou- 

dnjra A'lillfv 
(iiildrii. .I..hh M.. Fanner; b N. Y.. « IKVl. I' i» OnnndaKa. 
(iiirdniT, Mnrtlii I-., ren. Niiviirlno; dlr In koii'I indm', I'ulice 

nnd A-micliilf Justici-; b > . Y., » IXUI. I'.O. Narurino. 
(irecn. dri'n' Fiirnifr; li N. Y.. • l^iy. 1'. n, iiiiundaKn. 
Jloi'I'er. lii-'TKe ('., Ketlrvd, b N. W, a IHU. I*. O. Duundaxa 

Vnlley. 
t!lue>. Ainbro>o, Farmer; b N. Y'., a IM:.'. I*. ( i. OnoudiKa 

Vallev. 
Hunt. J . K<-ilied ; b Conn., « IWI. P. ft Syrnruiie. 
IliMidiT»«iii. .)nhn, Fnriiu-r; b N. Y., s IWJ. I". < >. < inondnK"- 
Hrii(lrr«iiri. (ifii. \V.. FarniiT: b N Y.. • IH-H. I'. <> OtiondaKa. 
Ilunt. Iiiivlil. Fiirnicr: b OnotiiluKn To., Imi; Hied l"'*. 
Ilnnt. ThuMin-. FurnuT; b N. Y., « l^t"* 1'. < >. Nnviirlmi. 
Mull. I>aiiii-is.. FarnKT; >> H. I.,b1n'1T. I'.O Snuth ( >n<>nduKa. 
Mall (MM.ru'-. FariniT; b N. Y.. « IHIKI. I', ( >. Nnrnriiio 
MltcliiMttK. Mrn. Miirucf, Farmer; it l^lfll. 1'. ( i. SouthOnou- 

daiiu. 
Hull. Sarah. I". < >. South I inondaiia. N. Y. 
Kneeland. .lonaihan. I'hVKiclaii and Surgeon;*b N. Y., 9 Isi:}. 

IV (). South OMondaga. 
KInK'lev. Saniuel. I'hyxlcian nnd Surgeon; b Maiu., a l^i. 

I*. ( >. South < iMondniiu. 
Kelly. John. Fiirnier anil Foreman at Indian Quarry ; b Ire- 

hind. ^ IKIT. I'. < • OnondnKn (HKtle. 
Kenyon (lark W . Farmer; I) N. Y.. » IKW. I' ( >. OnondiiKB. 
King. Volnev. I iirpeiiler and ,loin>'rana Farmer; b N. Y., « 

lf>'>.'i. ' r. I). .HMuth UnondaKa. 
KiiiK. G'-ont''!'., Farmer; b NT., ■ 1832. H. t). South Ouou- 

dnifa. 
Kenyon. Thomnn I'.. Farnirr: b N. Y.. » 1H29. 1". (». Cedarvale 
Kenyon. I'.nocli. Farmer; I. H I,, k I.*Iii I'. < '. Cedarvale. 
Kenyon, llxiim-l I, , Farmer; b U. I.. » l*il(i. Ilied IHT? 
Kenyon. AniruntuH ('.. F"arnier; li K. I., s IK1«. I'. t>. Cedarvale. 
Kittamx. William, Farmer; b F.nfcland. • IKil. I*. O. Onondaga 

Valley. 
Lownaburv. Charlea F.. rea. Navarhio, I'hyalcian and Surgeon; 

b N. Y.. • IK'X. I', o. Navarino. 
Lowuaburv. F./.rn F.. Farmer and I'uatmaatcr; b N. Y'., a 1820. 

1*. b. Cedarvale. 
Longatroet, Corneliuo II.. Manufacturer of Fruit Hoxee. 

Ilaaketn. etc.; b N. Y .^ Ixil. I', O. Onoiidutia \'alley. 
Lvncb, Slichael KarnuT; ti Ireland. » l.*<;i'.'. I*, t >. Onondaga. 
iJiwrence. I'orter I), Farmer; b X. Y.. « 1(*20. 1". O. Ouou- 

daga 
I iiic "111. Heutien W., Farmer; b Ma»».. a IHin. I)ied I8T5. 
I ., 111. ClarlKBa C. b Mann.. « !K44. 1". O. .Syracuac. 
^1. ii^iv. .lohn. Farmer; b Irulnnd, a IMH. I'. O. Onondagn 

' ( ant'e 
Morton, .lohn 1.. Farmer; b Onordaga Co., 1KJ4. Kled 1><T1. 
Muftou, Ardimona J., Farmer; b >. Y , a 1820 I". O. Onon- 
daga Caatle. 
Moaeley, Wm. F.. b Onondaga Co., 18I,'>. Died InTfl. 
Mirfcley. Angellir I, . b N. Y.. a I8,',« I'. O Oiiondnga. 
M..iaii, KraiiclH II . Farmer; b Ireland, k \KV,. I', o. < inonilnga. 
MathewKon, .lumen .M.. Farmer and Cider Mfr; b N. Y., a 

1H21. r. ( >. < )nondBga. 
Murphy. Michael. Farmer; b Ireland, a 18.17. 1'. O Howlett 

Miller, Henry, Fanner; b N. Y., a 1828. 1'. O. South Onon- 

(111 ten. 
MllUr. l-ewla W., Farmer: b N. Y"., a 1M.37. 1*. O .South Ou- 

onilaga , ». ,. 

NicholK. <;eo. C. Farmer nnd 12 yeara Aaaeaaor: b> ^.a 

IH24. I'. I >. South ) innndaga. 
Norria, Uobert. Farmer and Gardner; b England, a 1K37. P. O. 

Syrncune 
Northway. .loaiah L... Funner; b. X. Y.. a 18ns. I', o. Onou- 

diiga Caatle. 
Newunin. Mbble K. Teacher and Farmer; b Oiiondnga Co., 

18.Mt. 1" O. .South Onondaga. 
I'ickltt. l.ewl. O., Farmer; b N. Y'.. a 1834. 1'. O. South 

( Inoiulaun. 
I'araona. Jiin-1 w Farmer; b X. Y' , a 1820. I', o South 

Handall .1 .rmer; b N. Y . « 1834. P. O. Onondaga. 

"*"° ■ -,dn,.lrrman- b. N Y.. •18'4 I'.O. 



Kee.l AuguKliK. Itetired: b. Onondaga Co.. i> l^T.'. Died 1875 

U I. Ann Kliza. b. N Y.. a l'«r4 I', o. Onondaga Vallrr. 

|{o»e. Will . Farmer; b. X. Y.. a ImiH. P. ti. Syracuae. 

lioae. Joaeph De^^ltt. Farmer and Lime DIr. ; b. N. Y., * HI2. 

P. I '. Syracuae. 
llaynor. Wni. Farmer; b. X. Y . a 181,1. I", o Onondaga 
John I' . Farmer, b. Man . • W«i Died l-In 



. a l'>2.'> P. o Howlett 



P. o OnoD- 

P. O. Onondaga 

. Ireland, a 1837. 

P. o. Howlett 



P. 0. South ()u- 
O South Onon- 



l{otiin*Oii. ,#,.111) I . r ui iiif I , I', .iin 

Uoblnaoii. Ileniaon. Farmer; b. X. ^ 

Hill. 

Strong, Daniel, Farmer; b. Ct., a 18,10. P. (>. Onondaga. 
Strong, (Jnive F.. Ketlred; b X Y a 1M7. P. O. Oiiondafm. 
Stordevnnt. Oliver W.. Principal of < hiondaga Acndemv; b. 

X. Y . a ls:2. P. O. ( idaga Valler. 

Slocum. Itiitiiircl It . Farmer: b N. Y., a 1k12. P. O. tJuon- 

dagu \'allev. 
Skinner. < ban L.'ltetired ; b. Ct., a KV). Died 18ai 
Skinner. Jane 1. . b. X. \.. a 1812. P. O. Onondaga Valley. 
Sheldon. Ijtnaing Farmer; b. X. Y., a 1837. P. O. OiiondaBm 

\Bllev 
Spaldlnv. <ieo. \V.. Farmer; b. X. Y., a 18,10 

dnga Valley. 
Sherwood. Lyman, Farmer; b. N. Y., a 1830 

Cnatle. 
Sbauahnii. John. Contractor and Farmer; b. 

Died lNli7 
Shanahan. John K., Farmer; b. X. Y., a ISVi. 

Hill. 

Snbin, KIlKhn D.. Farmer; b. Vt , a 18cfl, p. (». Howlett Hill 
Slolp. (ieo \V. Farmer: b. X. Y",. a 1810 P. O. Svracuae. 
Shotwell. (ieo \V.. Farmer: b. N. Y* , IMO. 

ondaga 
Spencer. Miles D.. Farmer; b. Ct., a 1821. I 

dnga 

.Sbanabnn. .Mariinrei. Farmer. P. O. Howlett Hill. 
Seelv, Joaeph Owtii. Farmer; b. Weatcheater Co., 1700. a 1707. 

P. ( I. South Onondaga. 
Tolman. Harvey P . I'hyn. and Surg.; b. X'. Y'., a 1823. P. O. 

( iiiondnga Vallev. 
Van Schoick. I^nac. Farmer; b. X. Y.. alS24. P. O Jameavllle. 
Whitford. .lames. I'liya. nnd Surg. ; b. X. Y.. 1808. P. O. Ou- 

ondagii A'alley. 
Wellcr, Joaeph. Farmer; b F.nglaud, a Isll ; Poatofflce Uuou- 

dagn Valley. 
Wilber. Anion. Fanner; b X Y, a 183.1; P I > Xararlno. 
Wright. Klijiih It. Farmer; I. N V, a 1828; P O Xnvnrino. 
W\ckotT. Aii"tiii a. rarnier; b X Y. a IHI.',; p o Xavarino. 
White. Sherliurn. Fanner; b X V, a l8lB; P O Onondaga. 
Wordeii. Samuel C, Farmer; b Vt, ■ 1820; Poatofflce Onondaga 

Caatle. 
Wella. John. Farmer; b X Y. a 1^22; P O Onondagn Vallev. 
W.-lln. Irving Farmer; b X V.a 1H4'.I; P O I 111011. biK-a \a|iey. 
Wyncoiip John, of .Syrncune; b Albany, a IMd. Deceased. 
Wyncoop, Mnry. Farmer; b X Y. a 1h40; I'oatolllce Onondaga 

Valley. 
White. George -A, Farmer ; b X Y, a 1820, P U Onondaga. 
Wvckoll'. Joinithnn, 
Wyckofl. A ti Jr. 

TOWN OF lAMILLlS. 

Abranii'. D. F. Farmer; b N Y.. a 1844. P. ((.. ( amillua. 
Ariiintri iig. W. \ (i. W. Farmer; bX'. Y., a K17. 1'. O., 

IWIIe Inle. 
Bingham, Calvin D. Farmer ; b N. Y'., a 1805. P. O., Cn- 

nilllua. 
Ileiinett. J H. Farmer ; b X. Y.. a 181.V P. o, Cnmlllua. 
lirown, Ueniiimin. ren (iimillun. Tailor nnd Ponimnater; b 

X. v.. a 1*4". P. O., Cnmillun. 
Bucklln. Wm H . rea. Caniil n«. Denier in Tin. Hnnlwarc nnd 

F"arm Implements; b Maes . s 1*47 I'.O Camlllua. 
Burdick. Lafayette, res. .Vinbov. Flour, Grist. Cider and Cir- 
cular Saw Mills; b X. V P O. Helle Isle. 
Bromley. Philo. rea ( nmlllua .Camlllua Hotel ; b X. Y, a 1831. 

P. O.. Cnmlllua. 
Brewer, Orrin. Farmer; bN. Y.,al823 P. O., Memphia. 
t haimian. Henrv (J . rea. Camillus. Clay Tobacco I'ipt- Mfr. 

Ii X. Y., a l^M P. O . Cnmlllua. 
Conk ly. .lames. Farmer; b Cnnaila, a IM* I'. O.. Helle lale. 
(.'ook, Jr., S. H.. ri's. Camillus Dealer In (ieneral . Merchau- 

diae and .Supervisor; b (nmillus. Ixtl . I', o.. Cnmlllua. 
Dreaaer, (Jeorge F, Farmer; b (iermany, a ls%4. P. o., Fair- 
mount. 
Dnvton, Kev B. B , rea. Amboy; Pnaior Preabylerian I'hurcb: 

bN Y.,sls:rt P. O , llelle Isle 
Drake, li. W, res. Camillus; .Millwright nnd ilvdraulic Eu- 

glneer; b Camlllua. I82.'i. P. O. Cnmlllua. 
Danlela, A F,., rea. Camlllaa: Architect and Hulldor: b K. Y'., 

a 1847 P. O (nmillua 
Dow, John, Farmer and Cnri>euter; Couii,, a 1840. P. O.. Belle 

Isle. 
Kcker. I Jeaae. Farmer; b X. Y . a 1M8. P. O., Belle Isle. 
F.iistis James. 

Fuller. Lola, Farmer; b Maaa , a 18U0. P. O., Falrmnuiit. 
Feigus, Jaiiiea G.. rea. Cnmlllua; Lumber Mfr. and Dealer; b 

Irelnnd, a Ih44. P. O.. CaniilUia. 
tiere. Jnniea Nl . Farmer and .Salt Manufacturer; b X. Y., ■ 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK 



419 



Gee, George, res. CamiUus; Grocer; b N. Y.. s ISoS. P. O. Cn- 

Dlillu9. 

Graves, Austiu, Farmer and Postmaster; b N. Y., s 183:.'. P. 
O.. MarcelUis Falls. 

Geddes, James. Farmer; b N. Y., a 18-31. P. O., Fairmouat. 

Geddes, George, Civil Engineer and Farmer; b Camillas, 
18')9. P O.. Fairmouiit. 

George, N. R., res. Camilluj; Coal Dialer; b N. Y., s 1843, P. 
O., CamiUus. 

Harmon, Edwir) P.. Farmer: b N. Y.. s 18«. P. O.. CamiUus 

Hay, M. L., re.s. Belle Isle; General Merchandise and Grocer- 
ies; b N. Y., 8 1828. P. O., Bene Isle. 

Hinsdale A. L . Farmer and Fruit Grower; b N. Y., s 1815. 



b N. Y.. s 1813, P. U., Belle 



, 1812. P. U., Belle Isle. 



b N. 



Belle Isle, 
b. N. Y., s 

, s 1845. P. 



P. O., Belle Isle. 

Hay, Miss L. E., res. Belle Isle; 
Isle. 

Hay, Luther, Farmer; b N. Y. 

Hitchcock. J. H., res. CamiUus; Architect and Builder; 
T:., s 18.J7. P. O.. CamiUus. 

Hopkins, Edwin. Farmer; b N Y.. s 1S:J4. P. O., Belle Isle. 

Hopkins. Harlow, Farmer; b X. Y., s 1815. P. O.. Belle Isle. 

Hubbard. Mrs. Hannah A, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1821. P.O., 
CamiUus. 

Hopkins, H. W. 

Kinually, Daniel, Farmer; b. Ireland. 8 1853 P. 0., CamiUus. 

Kellogg, O. J.. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1839. P. O., CamiUus. 

Kiiine, Mrs. Almira, res. Amboy; b. N. Y., s 1824. P. O., 
Belle Isle. 

Laud, Charles, res. CamiUus; Saddle and Harness Manufac- 
turer; b N. Y., s 1817. P. t>.. CamiUus. 

Loveless Charles K., Farmer; b N. V., s 1841. P. O., Belle 
Isle. 

Leddy, John, res. Fairmouat ; Farmer and Commissiouer 
of Highways; b N. Y , s 1849. P. O., Fairmount. 

Loomis, Frederick. Farmer; b N. Y., .« 1821. P. O., CamiUus. 

liawtou, Howard, Farmer; b X. Y., s 1837 P. U., 

La Du Brinckerhoff, Tin and Sheet Iron Worker; 
l.S;W. P. U., Warners. 

La Du Duane, Tin and Sheet Iron Worker; b N. Y. 
O. Warners. 

Munro, J. D. A. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1844. P. O. CamiUus. 

Muuro, James M. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1814. P. O CamiUus. 

Morton, Robert, res. Belle Isle. Farmer and Miller; b N. Y., 
P. O. Belle Isle. 

Munro. David A. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1818. P. O. CamiUus. 

Munio, John C. Farmer; P. O. CamiUus. 

Maohau Thomas, res. Belle Isle. Carriage Maker, J. P. & P. 
M. b Ireland, s 1842. P. O. Belle Isle. 

0"Sullivan, Rev J. E , res. Camilus. Pastor Ruoiau Catholic 
Church. P. O. CamiUus. 

Otman, Abram. res. Uamillus. Prop'r Grocervand Meat Mar- 
ket; b N. Y., s 1S;31. P. O. CamiUus. ' 

Patterson, Loren L., res. CamiUus. Merchant Miller; b. N. 
Y., s 1841. P. O- CamiUus. 

Parsons, E. C. Farmer; b Mass., s 1847. P. O. Fairmount. 

Patton, James, res CamiUus. Dealer in Drugs aud Medicines ; 
b N. Y.. 8 180(i. P. O. CamiUus 

Peck, I. M. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1817. P. O. Warners. 

Rodees, T. F. Farmer; b. N. Y.. s. 1844. P. O. CaraiMus. 

Reynolds, G D Farmer aud Ex-Supervisor; b N. Y., a 1836. 
P. O. CamiUue. 

Sherwood, E. D.. res. CamiUus. Merchant aud Ex-Supervisor ; 
b N. Y., s 1833. P. O. CamiUus. 

Slocum, J. O., res. CamiUus. Phvsiciau aud Surgeon; b. N. 
Y., 8 1820. P.O. CamiUus. 

Safford, Ira, res. CamiUus. Manuf. Cabinet Ware and Under- 
taker; b N. Y., 3 1830. P. O. CamiUus. 

Safiford, Jr. C. S., res. CamiUus. Dealer in Drugs aud Medi- 
cines, Gen. Ins. Agency; b. N.Y.. s 18U. P. O. CamiUus. 

Steves. Reuben. Farmer; b X. Y.. s 1836. P. O. Warners. 

Shearer. Mrs. A. M. Farmer; P. O. CamiUus. 

Sims, John S., res. Ambov. General Merchaodise aud Gro- 
cery ; b N. Y.. s 18.58. P. O. Belle Isle. 

■", res. Ambov. Physician and Surgeon; b. N. 
P. O. Belle" Isle. 

res. Ambov. Physician and Surgeon : b N. 
P. O. Belle Isle. 
Farmer: b Conn., s 1831. P. O. CamiUus. 



Skiauer. Lewis C. 

Y.. 8 1817. 
Skinner, Edgar C., 

Y., s 1.8.53. 
. Thorpe, Wm. C. 



Thompson, .James L.. res. CamiUus. Tin aud Sheet Iron Wor- 
ker; b Md , 3 1851. P. O CamiUus. 

Twiuem, Wm., res. Xewport. General Merchandise and Gro- 
ceries: b Ireland, s 1835. P. O. Warners. 

Van Alstine, E. A. Farmer; b N'. Y., 3 1840. P. O. Warners. 

Van Alstine. Jacob. Fanner; b X. Y.. s 1840. P. O. Warners. 

Veeder, E. E., res. CamiUus. VA'holesale and Retail B.»rrell 
Mfr. and J. P.; b N Y . s 18;4 P. O. lU-uUlui. 

White. J. B. Farmer ; b X. Y.. 8 18.39. P.O. Balle Isle. 

Wiuchell. Henry, res. Belle Isle. Farmer; b Vt., s 1817. P. 
O. Belle Isle. 

TOWX OF CICERO. 

Blyun, M. H., res. Cicero, Phvsiciaa and Surgeou; b Columbia 

Co., 8 1860. P. O. Cicero. 
Button, Martin L.. Farmer; b Oucida Co., a 1830. P. O. Cicero. 
Clement, Chaa. W., res. South Bay. Prop. South Bay House. 

b Delaware Co., 3 1842. P. O. Cicero. 



\V ,T...ll)ii.il Co., Vt., S 

aud 

■ ' ■ .■li;i' uaui; b 

u; ni)(1 Coal Deal'yr, 



Gushing. Samuel, res. Cicero, Retired; b 

18.30. P. O. Cicero. 
Crownhart. Henry, res (.'icero, Prop'r 

Farmer; b Madison Co., s 1.S7G. 
Coouley, Irving, res. Cicero, P<istmast< 

Onondaga Co.. s 1840. P. O. Cicer 
Carter, W. H., res. Brewerton. Steamboai 

b R. I., a 1827. P. O. Brewerton. 
Cashing. F. C, res. Brewerton. Merchant, b Windham Co , Vt., 

8 1830. P. O. Brewerton. 
Cushing, Mrs. C. P. O. Bre.verton. 
Dennis, Geo. W., Farmer. (Co. G. I3th Wia., entered Sept., 

1801. discharged Nov. 29, 1804); b Onondaga Co., 1829. 

P. O. Cicero. 
Deuuis, Ucal. Farmer; b Rensselaer Co., s 1802. P. O. Cicero. 
Daniels. Jesse, res. Lot .59 Farmer and Hop Grower; b Scho- 
harie Co.. s 1823. P. O Bridgeport, 
Difflu, Charles, Farmer; b Onondaga Co., s 1844. P. O. Cicero. 
Dunham. Valentine. P. O. Cicero. 
Emmons. E. X.. res. Brewerton, Postmaster and Merchant; 

b Onondaga Co , s 1833. P. O. Brewerton. 
Emmons. S. Farmer, soldier in 1812; b Rensselaer Co., a 1805. 

P. O. Brewerton. 
Genung, B. M., res. Brewerton, Physician and Surgeon; b N. 

J., s 1848. P. O. Brewerton. 
Henderson, Robert, res. Lot 70. Farmer, b. Scotland, a 1850. 

P O. CoUamer. 
Hughs, Thomas, res. Brewerton, Speculator and Deputy 

Sheriff : b St. Lawrence Co.. s 1801. P. O. Brewerton. 
Herrick, L. C.. res. Cicero. Prop'r of Herrick House; b Colum- 
bia Co.. s 1840. P O. Cicero. 
Hodge. Loteu. Farmer; b Onondaga Co., s 1827. P. O. Cicero. 
Houghtaling, Gabriel, res. Lot :58, Farmer, (Co. H, 149th X. Y. 

S. v.); b Albany Co.. s 1832. P. O. Cicero. 
Hoyt, David H., res. South Bay, Farmer; b Saratoga Co., s 

1830. P. O. Cicero. 
.Johnson, Orsamus, res. Brewerton, Retired; b Mass., 8 18X). 

P. O. Brewerton. 
Kathau, J. B., Farmer, b Windham Co., Vt., a 1814. P. O. Brew- 
erton. 
Keuyon, M. A , res Brewerton, Prop'r Hotel; b Saratoga Co., 

s 1876. P. O. Brewerton. 
Klosheim. John H., res. Cicero; Hardware, etc, ; b Onondaga 

Co., 18.53, P. O. Cicero 
Kerwio, Richard, Farmer; b Carlow, Ireland, a 1847. P. O. 

Syracuse. 
Leach, Emeliue, res. Lot 54; b Cayuga Co., 8 1815. P. O. Cicero. 
Leach, Allen; b Onondaga Co., 1810. Deceased. 
Lillie, Wm.. Farmer; b Cayuga Co., s 1840. P. O Cicero. 
Loomis, A. J., Cheese Manufacturer, Dairv Farmer aud 

Miller; b Onondaga Co., 1830. P. O. Cicero. 
Morgan, F. H., res. Cicero, Merchant; b Ouondaga Co., s 1848. 

P. 0. Cicero. 
Merriam, Xoah, res. Cicero, Retired; b Saratoga Co., s 1820. 

P. O. Cicero. 
Moultou. John, Farmer; b Ouondaga Co., s 1828. P. 0. Cicero. 
Moyer, H. A., res. Cicero. Carriage Manut'r; b Oaoudaga Co., 

s 18.53. P. O. Cicero. 
Miller, Abram J., res. Cicero, Stave Cutter; b Ououda^a Co., 

1841. P. O. Cicero. 
Newmann, Charles. Farmer aud Willow Basket Maker; b 

Germany, s 1818. P. O. Cicero. 
Otman, George, Farmer; b Ouondaga Co., 1832. P. 0. 

BrewertoH. 
Ottman. Jacob, Farmer; b Schoharie Co,, a 1827. P. O. 

Brewerton. 
Rogers. C. R . res. Brewerton. Agent, R. W. & O. R. R.; b 

Onondaga Co., 1849 P. O. Brewerton. 
Root, After. Farmer. (Co. D 149th X. Y.. wounded June 4, 1863, 

at Gettysburg); b Onondaga Co., 1847. P. O. Cicero. 
Roller, Martin, Fanner and Dairymau; b Wurtem burg, Ger- 
many, s 1847. 1', O, Cicero. 
Sadler, Freeman, Farmer and Jobber; b Onondaga Co., a 1827. 

P. O. Brewerton. 
Sayles, O., Lot 73, Farmer aud Miller; b Madisou Co., 1854. 

P. O. Bridgeport. 
Sayles, O.. Jr., Lot 73, Farmer and Dairyman; b Madison Co., 

8 1854. P. O. Bridgeport. 
Sherwood, Wm. H., Farmer; b Oaoudaga Co., 18-30. P. O. 

Brewerton. 
Vaualstine. Daniel, Farmer; b Montgomery Co., s 1838. P. O. 

Cicero . 
VauHeusen. Stephen, res. Plank Road, Carpenter and Builder; 

b Ranssel.ier Co.. s 1835. P. O. Plank Road. 
Waterbury, D. H., res. Brewerton. Druggist and Jeweller, also 
Justice of the Peace; b Rensselaer Co., s 1851. P. 0. 

Brewerton. 
Washburn, C. E..rea. Brewerton, Prop'r Washburn House; b 

Onondaga Co.. 1849. P. O. Brewerton. 
Wright, Adolphus, Farmer, b Ouondaga Co., 18M. P. O. 

Cicero- „ , „ 

Wright, lohu R., Farmer; b Otsego Co.. s 18 K!. P. O. Cicero. 

TOWX OF MAXLIU8. 

Austin, William. Farmer; b Vt.. 8 1847 P. O. Fayetteville. 
Avery Allen H. Parmer, b Mass., 8 lilO. P. O. Maulius. 



^ 



,20 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Beard, Henry I,., r 

d>Ka Co.. • 

Borban* '■■' ' •■• 

Baker. 

Banc*. 

l>abc<K 
0. 

B.. 

Ulaiicli.. 

BanK*. 

Burbaii- 

Baiiiri. 

Blaiichii 

Br;'Wii, 

Bart le It l_i" 

<■ U 
Bender. ' ' 

1 

roiiiD. 1 

Colliu. I 
Cbaropl 



l*»l>«r: b Otioii- 

M', .,U l>oor«, 

' od: b 

r and 

fvlUe. 

l'riuci(Mil u( St. Jobu't 

..•. iL.'iired Farmer; b C'uiiii., • 1834, 

•nn . • 1«11. P. (>. KirkTlUe. 

lie. Mfr. of I4a,h. Blindi, 
aler: b OuondaKa Co. 11419, 

Mlie. Contraecor; b. Oaoudaga 



Mid Breeder of 8bort Homi; b 

i'. u. Mnnliui. 

vllle. Olacloiuitb; bUueldaCo., 



Knrett"vHle. Mfr. Lumber and Farmer; 
tievUle. 
Farmer; b Columbia 

it*. Lir.^cer: b Jeffervon Co., • 

I ....... <r; b DutebeM Co., \<<a. Died 



ITark. Am..!—.- -i-.. 

Clark, Ambrote. Jr. Farmer; b ()ii<>nd*Ka Co., ■ IM:.*. P. U. 

Favet'.evllle. 
Collin. I>tiVid. Jr. Farmer; b Onondaga Co., ItCU. P. O. Fay- 

pIL.t ill.. 

Ct**, H' irmer; b New Hampthire, f l»i4. P.O. 



CI.- 
Cli : 



irnier; b Madlton Co.. • li«l. P. O. 
, b UnoiidKRa.Co., IKlfl. P. O.MauIlu* 



♦.enter. 
Caawell. N'eloiu. rv*. Manllui. Hotlred UunamUh: b Ilerkl- 



('. <i. Kirkville. 
V.I.. IHM. r. U. 

liner and Maiou; b Ouondaca Co..1k;1. P. 



lV>e. F.I I 
<ook, I 

Cole, Cii 

Crapaer. Mnitb \». Farmer; b Madlaou Co., a 18&T. P. O. 

Kirkville. 
Eeker. .1 ' " lad Bookk' 



Ersni. 



P. 1 1. F.i 



Vlliv. 



ETana. hanlel tt.. ret. Faretlevllle. Pbvticlan and start:, ii 

^ \l .. .1.^.... I .. . Ik tl I ■ II t.'.. . ...I ..vil!.. 

Eaton. I " Na- 

.vllle. 
¥.< ■ Karuj.jr, '. ijLTmanjr, 

Frt- 1' Co.. • \s£i. P. O. 

kirKTiiie. 
Fitber, .l"hii M . r>»- Manllut 8tatlan. Merchant; b Bavaria, 



-ter, Lime. &o. ; b Ire- 

■> Hotel; b 

. . , iJled, 1800. 

Farmer; b MadltOQ Co., a 1W8. P. O. 

Mnnufr; b Sc.tlnnd. • VtCSt. P. O Klrk- 

Maiiliii.. -[ :if i.'i,. l'lM^ii-i:iii u().l Sur- 



Gayii"! 

Orove, i 

Onr ■■ 
fir 

(it 1 

Ur.i 

HeiidH." 
Hn 

H.. 

Hubbar !.'«. .Manllut. Fpiteopal ClerRTtn'o ; b 

yk..-- ^ . .V. : o. Manllut. 
HInadell. L>avid H., Farmer; b Onondaga Co., a UU. P.O. 

Hart. C'l ".-r; b Onon- 



Hoag. .1 
Hoag. < 



l- 



-tmaater; b 

1'. ii. Kirkville. 
. Mercbant; b Onoudaga Co.. a 



llr' in. Farmer; b Onondaga, a 1M4. P. O. Uanllua 

It. 
Jet - I I! r'A^Iiti.Iiiit. r..iwv..r uimI Juttlce of Peace; 



Ketebl- 

Mnrgau. Ru>- 

r 
McLrni 

1 
M«t.i.- 
M 
M 

Monlter 

Ml 
Ml. 

Mnne, Tbon. 

Moue, I 

M.^n''-. 

N. 
Uj 

Oat. A'l 
(N.t, Chi 
0•Kelll^ 



' the FarettaTllla 
.». - . . i .11. Faj-ettf ■.••"- 
and J P. : b Duteheaa Co 

.. l-arii.i-r; b Ctnondaga, Co, IKItt. I'. U- 

..r I. \l. ...•.- rr I ,. . 1>1~ I I....I 1 vlil 



. Farmer ; b Madiaon Co. a 1817. P. O. Fav 

1' O. Manllut. 
r ..f 8f. Marjrt 
imillut Station, 
and .■^urgeon ; b 

; . larun,! . U i.JittiJa Co.. a IMS. P. O. 

[.%\r..t,.r h I lii.xi I;.'.'.. : ^ U; 1* .1 Mi., in.. 



Pleraon 
Peaae, li 



Died ima. 

I' <> X Manliua. 
irch of tbe 

...-iiii'.i. b Onondaga 



lor Co., a l*«Wi. P. O 



- 10. P. O 
Fanner; 
(. uUaiiier. 
Palmer, Ueo. \V., rea. Kirkville, Pbvkician and Surgeon : Saru 

toga Co.. a IMO. P. O. ftlrkvllle. 
Preaton, K. H C. ret ManMut, Mercbant ; b X. T., a 1844. P. * > 

MBtlllllli. 

Plattt. ^ •, • J. P.; b Albany 

Palmer, i . a 1(M5. P. O. 

Kuvrtli'ville. 
Rotner, Darld. Farmer: b Scbobarle Co, a 1816. P. O. Farette- 

vlUe 
Richman, Fmnkllii \V., Farmer: b Onondaga Co., 1 1834. P. O. 

.Munliut Outer. 
Remington. Arm. Id. n't. Uaiiliue. Retired: b R. I., a \SZ: 

P. (I. .Mniilliifi. 
Ranaler, Harmoii B., K"--"""- ""■! Teacber: b Onondaga Co., 

i 1*«1. P. < ' 
Richardson J c. r<» Mn- utoraud Mfr of Machinery. 

Smith, Willi:. Manllut. Chytlcian and Surgeon; 

l> f. 'J. Manliua. 

Smith, Anaoi. i>d Superriaor ; b X. Y., a 1831. P.O. 

M re. 

Smith, John I <f....;.. Merchant; b Onondaga Co., 

t i - 

Scovlll. . ch. ilaita Co.. a ISC'. Died 1875. 

.aut:tt l .J., a ISK. P. O. Manliua. 

-I r; b Onondaga Co., 18.11. P. O. Pay- 

I . . .. 
Sanborn, NVilinuKbby. Farmer; b Oneida Co., • ISOK. P, d 

' 'mil 

Seward ' b Oneida Co., a 1844. Died at 



Seward ' 



tOTllle, bOUegoCo.,al8&e. P. O 



Shoemaker. > - Manliua Station. Retired; b Onon- 

dnKii < i-.i. P. O. .Manliua Station. 
Snyder, Peter. Farmer; b Prance, a lUtU. P. O. Manliua 

Station. 
Snrder. Peter. J i 

b OiH.i 
Smith HIrani •• ^.. ■■..,. .... 

V 
SooTlII, \\ lir> Lumber dlr; b N H. a 1847; Po«t- 

iiii 
Sheedy, John 

b 1 
Sheedy, Th<. 

Sharer..' i , » im. : r ■ ■ iMrKvni... 

TalTner. r, b Kinga Co, a 184;]; Pott- 



, Mfr VVntor and Ouick Lime. 



Mfr \>Btor and Oi 

i-t.-m.-.. K;iV. II..vill. 





' .tun, a IS ■ 
r; b On>M 


Weila. !»8miitl J. 
N Y. . 
W. 


'8 Merchant; ti 
1 ; l> Saratoga Co, a 


Wti 


. ^n Co, lsl9; I'uttofflce 


Wilcox, 


- ille. Retired , b Motgomery Co, a 181:.' 



rv u K \ ui'' 



».rkville. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



421 



Wilcox, Noble E. Farmer; b Onondaga, 9 1^2-.'; P U Kirkville. 
Vaiifchaack, Henry r, res Manliua, Lawyer; b Colurabia Co, 
Ifi'.'T; Postcffice Manlius. 

TOWN OF OTI9CO. 

Bouttelle, Alexander J., res. Amber, Prop'r Lake House: b 

Otisco slK:il; P.O., Amber. 
Bouttelle. Jennie .M . 1 wife of .\. J. Bouttelle.) b Preble, si 8,36; 

P. (>.. Amber. 
Bishop. John J., Lot 78. Farmer; b Otisco. 8 1837; P. O., Amber. 
Bishop. Maggie E, Lot Ti*; 1 wife of John J. Bishop, 1 b Mar- 

cellus. 8 1M2; P. O.. Amber. 
Card. (J. W., Lot so. Farmer; b R. L 9 1817; P. O., .\niber. 
Card. Mrs. G. W.; b Tully. s 1^41; P. o. Amber. 
Cummings. Michael, Lot ',VJ, Farmer, (.inoudaga Co., s \f^>): P. 

O.. Oti.-ico. 
Case, J. C. Lot S5. Farmer; b Yate8 Co., s 1828; P. O.. Otisco. 
Clark, Charles. Lot in '. Farmer and Fuller of Cloth ; b Mass., 

8 isuy: P. ( )., otisco. 
Edinger, .Tacob. Farmer: b IJermauy, 186;t, 3 1854; P.O., Otisco. 
Edinger, Susan, iwife of .lacob Edinger; b Otisco, 1849; P. O., 

Otisco, N. Y. 
Frisbie, L Tvler. Lot -i. Farmer and Dairyman ; b Delaware 

Co., s ls.il: P. (>.. Litisco Valley. 
Fish, Willis C. Lot 7!l, Farmer: b Onondaga, Co. 1827; P. O.. 

Navarino. 
Fitzgerald. Ijeoree, Lot 9s. Farmer; b. Ireland, 3 18.iO; P. O., 

Amber. 
Goodwin. E. L.. Lot >'-'. Farmer; Postmaster ten years; Super- 
visor fi)r Istiil; b lsn4. Saratoga Co.. 9 181.',: P. 1 1. ( Itisco. 
Beuderson. Lyman K.. res. Otisco, Prop'r Central House; b 

Otisco". » 1S3T; P. O., Otisco. 
Hale. F. H., Lot 8:i. Farmer: b Conn.. 8 lf*04; P. O., Oti8co. 
Hoxsie. Clifford, res. .Vmber, S^alesnian; b Michigan, 1857, 9 

ls.-,T: P. (>., Amber. 
Hale, L. M ; P. ( >.. otisco, N. Y. 

Kiugsley. o. H.. Lot 9.'). Farmer; b Mass., slsOC: P. O.. Otisco. 
Kiuuev. Warren, res. Aoiber; retired Farmer; b Conn., 8 18.3.j; 

' P. l>.. Amber. 
Miller, (ieorge P., Lm 99. Farmer; bOtisco. 1847; P.O., Otiaco. 
Meara M.. Lot 14. Farmer; b Ireland, s 18.')7; P. o.. Otisco. 
Rice, O. W.. Lot 4, Dairy Farmer; b Otisco. 1S42; P.O.. Otisco. 
RedwaT, James H., Lot 72, Farmer and Justice of the Peace; 

"b Otisco. s 1*17; P. O.. .Vmber. 
Redway. Tbos. retired Farmer: bConn., s 18()6: P. O., Amber. 
Shau!, A., Lot 94, Farmer: b Herkimer Co., 8 182,'); P.(»., Otisco. 
Tuttle, Wm. N.. Lot l.'i. Farmer: b otisco. s ls28; P.O. .Vesper. 
Tuttle. Daniel, Fanner; died December. 1<V4: b. N. H.. 9 179S. 
Van Uenthuysen, John, Farmer: botisco, 1K.J4; P. O., Amber. 
Van Beiithuvsen, Sarah Jane, iwife of J. Van Benthuysen,; b 

Marcellus, 1S3(J; P. o.. .\mber. N. Y. 
Van Benthuyseu. Au'ander. Farmer, deceased. 
Van Beiithuysen. Harriet. 1 widow of Amander Van Benthuy'n. 
Williams. .Samuel. Lot 97. Fanner and Blacksmith; b Onon- 
daga, Co. 184;!; I'. (>.. otisco Vallev. 
Wright. William, Lot 94. Farmer; b Onondaga, Co. 1820; P. O., 

Otisco. 

T(JWN OF GEDDES. 

Andrews. Thos.. Farmer and Dairyman; b England, s ls41; 

P. < I, Svracuse. 
Abell, L. H.. Farmer; b Conn.. 9 18:30; P. O. Geddes. 
Babcock. Silas 1!.. Farmer and Dairyman: b N. Y., s 184-3: P. 

O. Fairni"unt. 
Bronson. -Mrs. Sarah C: b N. Y.. 8 1828; P. O. Geddes. 
Belden. .Mrs. (iertrude W.: b N. Y., 9 1844; P. O. Ceddes. 
Corey, Silas. Farmer and Dairyman : b N. Y., 9 1818; P. O. 

Syracuse. 
Cowa'n. John. Farmer: b N. Y. 18;i7; P. O. Geddes. 
Cowau. I'hillip H.. Farmer; b N. Y.. 81847; P. o. Geddes. 
Cody, John, School Trustee : b Ireland, s 18(U: P. o. (Jeddes. 
Cool, <jeo. A, Wholesale and Retail (Jrocer, 270 and 27s W. 

(ieuesee St. Dealer in Flour. Feed and Fresh .Meats, 

Salt Receiver. Geddes; b Onondiiga Co., Dec. 12, 1841. 
Chaffee, Burritt, Farmer; b town of Onondaga, l»oO; P. O. 

Fairmount. 
Chaffee. L. C. iTerry i; b Geddes, 1848. P. O. Fairmount. (wife 

of Burritt Chaffee.) 
Draper, (i W, Physician ; b N Y, 9 ls;52 : Postoffice Geddes. 
Fay. Merritt. Farmer , b N Y, 3 l8'.'."i : Postoffice Fairmount. 
Frazer. Mrs. Julia A ; bN Y. 9 1829: Postoffice lieddes. 
Gere. R N. Syracuse Iron Works; b N Y, 9 18;J0; PostofiBee 

(■edde9. 
Gere. N S, Supervisor; b N Y. s 18:12 : Postoffice Geddes. 
Gere. George C. Fanner and Salt Manufacturer; b NY. a 

IKIO ; Po:.tortice (ieddes. 
Hooper. J W: b N Y; Postoffice Geddes. 
Jerome. Henrv. Farmer and Dairyman, b N Y. 8 1820; Post- 

otlice f'airniount. 
Lathrop. .Mr9 A, Farmer and Dairy; b N Y, 9 l8.1,j; Po9toffice 

Fairmount. 
Magee. James P, Pastor St. I'atrieks Church, res. Chestnut 

and -Id South ; b New Brunswick IMl. 8 18.j8. 
Oliver. <ieo. W. res. .'jO Cnivcrsity Ave, Syracuse. Gen'l and 

Financial Manager Onondaga Co. Pottery Co : b N H 

18^17 ; 8 1?7:J. 
75 



Pool. David Farmer: b N \ s 1870 ; Postoffice Geddes. 
Porter. W W. Physician : b Vt, 9 18.-,l ; Postoffice Geddes. 
Paige, Joel S. Salt Manuf : b Mass, 3 1844; Postoffice Geddes. 
Plumb, V\m, Farmer: b Conn, s 1822; Postoffice Fairmount. 
Poole, Theodore L. ihrm Poole it North.) General Merchan- 
dise. 118-120 Furnace St; b Onondaga Co. 1840. 
Pharis, Miles P. Salt iu9pector and Manuf Flower Pots, res 

School St. cor Chestnut; b Geddes. 182.'). 
Pharis, Chas. E. Late Salt Inspector and Manuf; b Geddee 

1819 : Died Sept 1.3. 1877. 
Pharis, Mrs Caroline F, widow of the above, res. 21 Orchard 

St.; b Cayuga Co, 18:!0, s 18,5.3. 
Stevea, Chas. W, Farmer; h N Y. s 18.'?.'>; Postoffice Geddes. 
Steves. Chas. R. Farmer; b N Y. 9 1841 ; Postoffice Geddes. 
Shumway. J. P. Physician: b N Y, s 18.36; Postoffice (ieddes. 
Stewart Harvey, Salt Manufr: b N Y, s l,s;jO; Postoffice 

Geddes. 
Spaulding. Simeon, res. Geddes. J P. Grocer and Druggist: b 

Conn. 1802. s 182.i; Postoffice Geddee. 
Terry, Guy. Farmer and Dairyman: b N Y, 9 1823; Po9toffice 

Fairmount. 
Van Dnseii. E B. Contractor: b N Y. 8 1829; Postoffice Geddes. 
Woolson. Mrs Louisa; b Canada, s 1840; Postoffice (ieddes. 
Wnolson. .Mrs A; b N Y, s 1842 : I'ostoffice (ieddes. 
White. Thomas (i. Inventor, .\holitio11i3t. Prohibitionist and 

Swedeiiborgian; b Onondaga Co. 1810. res. 7 Pear St; 

Postoffice (ieddes. 
Westfall. James. Geddes; Cooper and Barrel Mfr; b Albany 

l.OO. s 18.59; Postoffice Geddes. 
Whedon. .Albert L. Physician and Surgeon ; b CamlUus, N Y. 

1836 ; Postoffice. Geddes. 

TOWN OF SALINA. 

Avery, M R, Lot .«6. Farmer, b Conn, s 18-36; P O Liverpool. 
Avery. Julia E. wife of M R Avery, b Penn, 1829, s ISW; Post- 
office Liverpool. 
Alvord. Charles (i. res Liverpool, Prop'r Cigar Factory, b 

Liverpool. 18.12; Postoffice Liverpool. 
Bassett. H' J. res Liverpool, Merchant, b Liverpool: Postoffice 

Liverpool. 
Beiischer. Frank, res Liverpool. Blacksmith; b Prussia, 1835, 

sl8.'>4; I'ostoffice Liverpool. 
Brand. Charles, res Liverpool, Barber; bLiverpooI, 1852; Post- 
office Liverpool. 
Baker, Truman, res Phoenix, Farmer; b Lysander, 1820 ; Post- 
office Phoenix, 
Baxter, (ienrcr, res Liverpool. Salt Manufr; b Spafford. 18.39; 

Po.stoffice Liverpool. 
Baxter, CL. res Liverpool, Salt Inspector; b Phoenix. 1847. s 

1801; Postoffice Liverpool. 
Baum. B W. Lot 3. Farmer; h N Y, 9 18.32; P O Syracuse. 
Buuzey. Oscar, res Liverpool. Prop'r American Hotel: b 

Albany. 18:i3. s 18:54; Postoffice Liverpool. 
Bassett, George, res Liverpool, ( igar Manufr and Supervisor; 

b Wayne Co, 1x17. s 18;!;{: Postoffice Liverpool. 
Clark, John A, res Liverpool, Fruit and Confectionery; b Eng- 
land, ls.'!8. 9 18.J1 , I'ostoffice Liverpool. 
Chilliugworth, R J. Lot (18, Farmer and Assessor; b England, 

ls.3:t, s 1843; Postoffice Liverpool. 
Cockings, Phillipp, Lot 112, Farmer; b England, 18.30, s 1816; 

Postoffice Syracuse. 
Cockings. Alniira, wife of Phillipp Cockings : b Montgomery 

Co, l.s;W, s 18.'J.j; Postoffice Syracuse. 
Chase. Nathan, res Liverpool, (was .shoemaker for Army of 

1812i; b R 1, 1782. s 1.8:!2: I'ostoffice Liverpool. 
Chapiii. William A. res Liverpool, Physician and Surgeon; b 

Salem, N Y, 1820, 9 1870; Postoffice Liverpool. 
Cockings, (ieorge. res Liverpool, Harness and Shoemaker; b 

England, 1820, 9 184S; Postoffice Liverpool. 
Chilliugworth. Charles G ; b England. 1796, s 1843; Died, May 

2.'), isoi 
Dingman. Luke, Lot 6.3. Farmer; b Montgomerj- Co. 1821, 9 

1870; I'ostoffice Liverpool. 
Danforth, Polly, (First White Female Born and Raised in 

Salinai; b Saliiia. i:9.3. died, April 5, 18(W. 
Duell, Silas, res Liverpool. Carpenter and Engineer; b 

Dutchess Co. 1840, s1m)2; ['ostoffice Liverpool. 
Forger, John S, res Liverpool, Salt and Brick Manufr ; b 

Liverpool, lsI2; Postoffice Liverpool. 
Gale, Henrj- F. Lot 1'.'8, Sup't Coarse Salt Fields, b Volney, 

1K49. 9 li»60; Postoffice Syracuse, 
(iale. Thomas, Lot 127, I'r<,p'r Coarse Salt Fields; Postoffice 

Svracuse. 
Gale, Mrs Thomas, wife of Thomas Gale; Postoffice .Syracuse. 
Gleason. O C, Farmer; b Liverpool. 1828; P O Liverpool. 
Gleason. William, res Liverpool. Merchant; bLiverpooI. 1828; 

Postoffice Liverpool. 
Hand Tbonias. res Liverpool, Merchant: b Ireland, 9 182o; 

Postoffice Liverpool. rx j .. 

Hand. Pollv Hacheldor. res Liverpool, wife of Thos Hand; b 

Liverpool. 1x26; Postoffice Liverpool. 
Hawley. Lewis T. Lot 122, Mfr Dairy Salt; b Solon, 1807 8l84«; 
■ Post<iffice Syracu.se. , „ „ , w 

Hawlev. Arabella. (Iraham) Lot 122. wife of L. T. Hawley; b 

" Deertield. 1.S24. s 1847; Postoffice Svracuse. 
Hibbard. Joseph L, Farmer and J P. res Syracuse; b Otsego 

Co 1812.9 1827; Po9toffice, 196 Wolf Street, Syracuse 



422 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Iluiiilt-r Harmb. r«« I.lverrMio'- Milliner: b llrrklmer ( ■>, l"*l. 

• IBTO. PmIoIBw l-ITrrpuol. 
UuutlDKtna. (■ S. rr« I.Hrrp.-.!. PbTtlelBU »na Sutij.'i.li b 

Watrrtiiwn. lO. • l<'.; I' »• l.ivi-n««'l ^, ^ , , 

Juuetb. Alfr-J J. rr. I.lvrrj-"-!. T.-.. I., r .i.d Store dlr; b Llv- 

,ri«-.l t\<A: |-...t..m.-.- I n-n i „ . , ,. 

InrT...ll. «; I', rr. I >« »«"«'': »> 

ir..iK iV»i. 1 •■ 1" I • Llvrniool. 

L*aib, j'lml-'l! "T ..f Kutir. ou «.lt 

I.i.in.T -i: r<'l,iv.-r!»-.l. 

L,n... WH... I ll.rrrlMrr,bri.Tl<K 

r...l..Uli' l.iiir|H...I 
l*nib, ll«iiili'->- rr' l.i\rri>""l. B<mtm»ii. b LlrerpiMil It'.'l. 

V..,l..tUcr l.i».Ti«.<>l . ., , 

I rkr *iidrrw rr« l,l«rr|»">l. Julrirr »iid < «»ln-l MBkrr, b 

< ..liinibi* I". IMI. • l»«l; I'l-.t-fllcc I.iren—'l 
l,>iiii M«rru«. rrn l,lrrrp<«>l. ttuiilniitii : b I'oiiii. I"l". • 1<I1 . 

I'oMi'flIrr l.l»«TtMKil. 
(.atiiiiorf. M'-<-». rr- l,lTrrp<Mi1. I'r"|i'r l.«tlinore lluute: b 

rimii'l'UiK 1*4:1. • \<4>. r..«i..l11cr l.inTpiHjI. 
Mrdllrc.tl. .l"-«-i.h l^.t 17. K«iiiier: b KuKlaiid. IMl. • IxOt, 

i'o.titllcr Syrmruir. ... 

MriTlmm. K <;. I.-1 1. K»nniT: b<)tlK:.> l-ll; I'O I,i»,-n><".l 
M*tbr»> l>iiiii>-l r^- l,l»rrr<.ol. ( .,«l dlr. b Jnhinlowii K.lt 

• l«;u; I'li.ti.nirr l,lvrriM..il 
Dlnntrd Mr* M .) rr. !.<> rri»H.I. Rrllrrd : b KligUud l-.M. • 

IKVI: l'i>.|i.nirr l.ivrrjHMil. 
I'Bddork. Ji>bii. rv I.ivrrp4...1, Ki>rn»-r Bixl MiTcbant : !• Ilrr- 

k)nicr< •• I""-'>. 'I"'."!!. T'ol-'ltlrr l.ivpr|N><>l. 
I'arkiT < H. l.-l til. i.r..rrr. b l.l>eri>"..l l«i-l. I'o l.ivrrp<...l 
IVtil, KuKcii'' r>-» l.ivrri"!"!. s»lt liinwcl-.r. b Knmcr |i*0. • 

1M: . ro^lolBx- l.i\rr|""'l 
I'Imlrr. .I'-bn J. I."i "<'. Kariiu-r. b t'ulunibla Co. l>*r.'. • IMfl. 

'I'o.I. nicr I.IHTIXM.I 

Hciubard •iiiii.ii.l. Lot •!•. K»rnnT: b t.rrniinr Ix-K. i IsM; 

|'...|Mni.p l.lviT|Hi.i| 
Sailtb lVi.-r >••• l.i»«Ti 1 Mrrcbjiii mnd ?'«ll Mfr. b lier- 

iii»i>v. KW. » l«l". ri..i-Htc.- I.lvrri~~.l 
Muillb, Jur.il.. rr. I.l\rr|i....l. M.rcbmil ; l> (Jprnimy WK • 

i«j(i- r.i.t<>ntc<- i,iviTi"Mii. 

Hcboolcmfl « mhnrliip .\. rr» I.lvpriMM.l. Ki-lirrd. b Albany 

)»iii. • ivr.'. r>i.ionicc. i.i\pr(">'ii 

Trrrv KrBi.k M. I.<'l ".'7 K >t . I>»ir) ii.«ii ai'd lli>i. limwiT; 

I, Madi '••. l**l. • •*»'■''•; l'"»t"in'-'- l.i\^ri~"'l 

Turner T ft l.ivrr|Hii,l. I'f !■ r ll..irl. ,r„r|».raH o F l.'.th 

N Y I'avalrji: bliiTiuan}. IMi. • K" . ri«it"fllcf 

Wllw.M UrrurViirii.. r: •• < ..mi IMU. . X-iA. I'n I.lrrri»...l. 
Weioiar. J.^hii M. re. l.ixrri"...!. <',M.per: b I.lv.Tp..ci IM-' 

['..•li'lBri- l.nrr(Mi..l 
Younc J..bi. U. <e» l.lvrr|H...I. I'bv.iclan and surueon; b 

Scbr.«p|»l l*ll • I"''. I'..«t..fflce I,tvpr|».<ol. 

TuW.N uF I.VSAXKKK. 

Ad.U J». I.. V'aruier.bN Y.. Wtl. r...i..fflr.- IUM«li.t» 111.- 
Au»u»* S..I1.. .lac.b rr. lUldw nm lllr mid >.v™cu..-; nifr. uf 

Kl..ur Krrd. Ar. I'".t"nir.- >» mcu..- 
Allrii Wriu' \. rr. HaMwu.-'ill'-. I».i«l.r in I- af T..b*ccu. 
^ \V M • .vc I. .\ Y . I'...t..nirt- l«ald»lii.vllle. 

j^^rrr. y < .i,d.:r. ( arrlaije Mfr. b N Y,. IMl; I'ort- 

Alien k 'l--»-, .M.-rchai.l Miller., b N Y. . IM.': l'o.tofflce 

Aldeu.^ll !■ ' ■ '" ■"*"1'': retired. bX Y. . KO; i'«»«l- 

Burr M-r- A Kalillrld Co. Coiiu, IMT, .Ik.'I ; I'o»l. 

,.|1|. .• I...-..' !• ' 
Baldwili'Tillr \.«.l.in> ,..,., , 

lluell "111 K»rii..r. I. i »>uuat ... . lH.t: . Tii, l,.».ai.d.T 

Ulaurbanl J U. r. • ItuM* li.»* illr: .Marl.lr mul t.rutili.- IValer; 

I. K.lbrt.li:<-. J»i.'i»r> 1. IM;. I'...l..mi-.- lii.l.l«M..Mlle 
Butler.*: II. Kuriiirr. furiK-utiT and Ji.liirr. > l<*<: rua(<.aice 

La niton.. 
Il„»rn «. <•. r.rmer: b X Y. . Ki: : |-...|..nirr l.iiilr I tlra. 
lUkrr IrMii. Karmer: I. X Y. . l-V; I' .-t..nio H.ld* In.viil,.. 
I ,".;. iVXi.t-. Karmer. b X Y. . 1-lt f . i 1., ..,..|. r 

nil.. < b.rl.. X.rr. llald-ULVlllr Mfr >4.h I r. hii.I Hlindv 

""• I J rKralrr; I. X Y..l-<li.. I' U ll.l,:» in.Till.- 

Il.«urhaiiil' ^Vi„ M. n-. Hald* •»•« ill.- Il.rl..r..f <;«..-< li . I. 

Il.,llli.ir.-r Jaiiir. K. < ari-n .r and J..li..-r. (Iiee..- Mali.T aii.l 
•'*"'''''Vi.lr,".an, «ira.n|(r..w,.r; .I'M. »• < . H,ld«u..» ill.- 
IU.d.-e >aii.url rr« Baldwln.vllle. retired Farmer, b Kiiu- 

lai.d. 1-Ul. • I-" ,„ .. .. ., , . „. 

Hlwlee. Margaret .\. Ilaldwin.ville. >>. ^ - "•'• ""- 

dee"bl .laical... lO'. r-I.-rric. 

Uuek & Witfbi.re. Haidwiii.ville: Mfr .( ' " - 'nh*. 

I'latf-rn. \Va«..n.. &r : b N Y. . K 1. l-< ' li-M-... 

Bid»ill. A. rr. I.vMiider; F..undr). Thre.hinn. b N \ . . Mr.'. 

l" ( I l.iMii.Irr . ...... . ». 

Bruwu. "O rr- l,T«ii.l.-r. I'r"l> l.rtander StarChurn. b X 

Y » 1-.11; I'o.l.'Wce l.\«aiider. 
Urlttuli. Mrkllii, re. l.j.ai..lrr. Hardware. Tinware. bX V, 

• l«-jr.. l'.i»tofllce Lyiauder. 



llBird. Abraham. Farmer: b X Y.a liCM: P.MloSee I.yModer. 
liakrr. Mr* l.arliii. re* l.litlr I'llra. I.ltlle I'tlca Hotel, b X 

Y. • KT. ri.»t.lTirr l.inle liica 
Ujer. T. rr. Liltlr I Ilea. Mrrebaiil . bX Y.il»Ti.. i'o.l.ifDre 

i.llllr rura. 
Hjer. J s re. I.iitle ('lira. Merchant . b X Y.t K6: I'oalofflcr 

I. Kile I'llra. 
Iii|{r|c.w. I. .\. 

Bolton. Jan.r. 11. rn HaldwliKi lllr. Stationer, rrinter. Itralrr 
III Faiiry (LmhI. and I'lrturr Frame*, b X Y.(1m:. 
Ho.t.'ITIrr Ital.lwiii.vtllr. 
liellrn Hr<». rr. lial.lKin.villr : l»ealpr« In (;mcerle», Pr<>ti.- 
liiii.. I 'infi-rti-'iirrv. i igar* an<l Tubarcu : b N Y. • 
IK.M: r<»l<-nicr Hal>J«in.t lllr. 
lliKrlxw. < III. M 
Hriillrv. K. rr. I.Utlr t'tira: Farmer and Si>erulatur. b X Y. 

'« KTSi; l'.>.t..lllre I.llllr I'llra 
Uerry. LUrk, rr. I.«.an.lrr Wa«..n Mfr. b X Y. • l«l«. I'...l- 

.•IBcr I.VMiii.Irr 
llp'tbrr.. J I.. Fariiirr and \Krnl Mirbimn I hllletl I'low. , b 

X Y. • K"i-'; r...|"IIii.r llnl.l« 111. \ lllr 
( laM . .\ndreo. rr. llaldo in.^ ill.-. Ilarrrl Maiiuf r. b Ireland. • 

Kill, r.'.l'-nir.- Kal.lw III. t lllr 
Crandoii. Alfrr.l K. rr. Ital.lv> in.tillr. I'r..|.'r itailroad llxlel. 

I) Knclaiid. . t>.'>.'. I'.i.l-nirr llaldwin.villr. 
Cmiidoii. J It. rr. Ilalilwiii.villr. rr..|. r liilliard Hall, b F.uic- 

lati.l. . I-XL*. I'.i.t'iRlcr lialdoiuiit lllr 
i;,x. Ml. I'liarl.'llr. Farmer; b X V. • \<ti: I'oatolBrr Bald- 

oiii-villr 
C.-.k. K I", ilop i;ri.»rr. b X Y. » 1«'.*« I' "> l.lllle t'llca 
I ..Itiii. Mr- l.xlia .\. Farinrr. I> X Y. - KUi; I'll l.lllle I'llra. 
I'uddrbai-k. I. F rr. llaldn lii.villr. Kariiirr. b X Y. . 1"'JS, 

I'lLlMntrr Italdwiii.ville. 
I'lark. lirorKr >. rr. lialdwiii.vlllp, I'uhlUbrr HaldwiiKTllla 

liii.illi : li X Y. . l«:i. I'...|..nic.- Iljldwiii.vllle 
lurnell. H K. rr. Mal.lxiin illr. Tirkri AKrnl. I) I. .S W K H : 

b \'l. . I"!'): I'.i.l'.lilcr lialdo in.t lllr 
ronnell. W It 

lander. I. I... Farmer: b Yidnev. iH'kl: I'll rhociili. 
I'alklii-. l.r»l. K. Farnirr; • \<*'M: I' <• Haldwimrllle. 
Ibil.l.. H W h'urnirr: b X Y. . I'M" . I'...l.'nirr llav. 
lluiibaiii. N I'. r<-» l.iitir I'lira. Farnirr and J I'; b X Y. • 

1"!'.'. l'...tMmcr l.illlr I lira 
l>eliruff. I'rter F. Furiiirr; l> X Y. . K-i. I' i • l.lllle llira. 
Dunbar. S M. rr. Ualdwin.villr. UriiitKl.l. Dunbar Blork: b X 

Y. . l-r.l: l'...|..ni.-r ll.il<lniii.vit|p. 
Iiix.iii. l-aac to |i.ildMiii>\ ill.-. Ilrv li.i.nl.. linirerle. and 

WiHHl.-n Ware . b X Y. . 1x14 ': I' l> Haldwin.x lUr. 
I>eni», Mr. A ('. rr. Ualdoln.ville. b X Y. r...tonirr Uald- 

wln.villr. 
Donovan M. ir. Kal.lwIn.Mllp. riolbink' and Uriil. Furul.h- 

liiic (•'•I'd. . b Ireland • IM7 ; l' < • lial.lHin.rillr. 
Dutibaiii. I."., rr. l.lllle I'llra Kurinrr. Pntdure Buvrr and I' 

.M. b X Y. » I'lT. l'...|.-ltior I.Utlr I'lK-a. 
I>ini:niaii. I'.i.-r. Farmrr: b X Y. • 1M» I' < i l.lver|ioul 
Kii... A ?^. H..irl; b X Y. . 1<H: l'...i..ra.-r ITar. 
Kn.. A II. Il.>aiiiian. bX Y. • IMii; l'.>.l..mcr Clar. 
F.uirru'k. I F. rr. lUldKiu.villr. Farmer: b .N' Y. • \KH; I'oit- 

..(Brr HalilKln-villr 
Feniutuii \V J. Wmi.iii Makrr: • !».>: I'll Ijiniwiun. 
Fra/rr. J r. F.rnirr: b X Y.l'.JH. I' li Baldwin. vlllr 
Fia/ee. .Ir..r. Farmrr nii.l .MillKriitbt . b X Y. • ImOI. I'o.l- 

i.nir.- lial.lw iii.m1I.- 
Fi.brr. Im-.i 1-. ir. I.llllr llira. lilni k-mitbiiix and JobbiiiK : 

b X II . K'.; : l'M.t..|Urp l.illl.- I'llra 
Frnnrr Mr- F W. Furiiirr. b X Y. . I"l.'i. I'u l.lllle I'llra. 
Faiirbrr. .A. I nrriuifr .Manuf rand I'ndrrlakrr. b X Y. • lf», 

l'i..t..|Iic.- I. ml.- Iiicu 
Fanrbrr. J'.bn i ' l nrriuk'r MniiiiCr uiul I'liilrrlakrr . b X Y, • 

l"."J l'...li.nicr I.llllr I lira. 
Falrbank.. Krwin. rr- Hiildwin.t lllr. Huildiiik: MuTrrand ('(«l 

llralrr: b X Y. - Mi: . r...i..mcr llnl.lwln.vlllr. 
Fuller, K. .V l' I', 'e. Hal.lwin.rllle. Drr IhmhU. lir.icerle., 
t r.>rk>'r> and Wall l'B|.er . b N V. • ItCt; I'o.lulIIre 
llal<l.«ii>>villr. 
Fancbrr. It I. r.-. MaldKin.TiUr. Carrlaicn Mfr: b X Y. • IMT ; 

r...lMlllrr KiildMin-villr 
Fni/.«'r. Il..rac.- J. rr. lluMHin.villr : ll.xik-kerper: b N Y. • 

l-ili. ri..|.inirr liiil.lwiii. vlllr 
Fancbrr. .\laii.oii. r.-- hal.luin.Mllr ; |lru|Ei;i.t: b X Y, • IM'i; 

P.-l-.ttlc- llablwin.xill.-. 
Frun.u. F Ta-lur M .\Ur> '. I hurrh. Haldwin.vlllp 
Fancbrr I. I., rr. llal.luiii.i lllr , I'rop Seiiera Hotel: b llald 

will. Vlllr. « 1«7I fr-m It-K-lir.trr 
Fil<K.-rald. .Viidr.-w. rr. Halilwin.villr . Hoot and .Sb.« Maker; 

l> Irrland. • l■^'•': r.>.li>ltlrr Italdwiu.vllle. 
Fiill.r. .I..bn M. rr. I'lainvillr. Tearhcr. b X Y. • 1«>. 1" i' 

rilliiivillr. 
i;n>enllrld. DrWlii C. ir. Ilalilwliiivill.-: Altc.riiejr-Bl.|.aw : b 

CaviiKa I... I"!-. • K'V4: I'loLitllrr lialdwln.i illr. 
liriiiiiili. •■ F. rr. Ilulilwiii. Vlllr. Tailor Ba|>ll.l i'burrb. b X 

Y.. 1-7.'.. I'...l-.|licr Ualdwiii. vlllr 
I i. 1.1.1 win. Ilri.rv. Farmrr. b i i.wpgo C... IMl. • 1«70: I'll, Hay. 
lirabam. Th. '. rr. lialdwln.vllle: b Ireland, • IM'J. rudofllro 

llald»iii.vllle. 
liuiiU-f. Ilrnnau. rr. Baldwiiitvllle. b X Y. f l-^ii: I'u.tofllro 
Baldwln.vllle. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



423 



Hay den, Mrs P W: Postoffice Phoeuix, X Y. 

Halsted, John. Magistrate and Faruier; b N Y. 8l?00; Post- 
office Lysauder. 

HuQtiiigtoii. Heury L,, Farmer: b X Y, s 1870; Postoffice Lit- 
tle I'tica. 

Herrick. Hiram, res Baldwinsville; Contractor and Builder; b 
X Y.8 1'4.!; Hostc.ffice Baldwinsville. 

Hartop. A F, res Baldwinsville; Marble Cutter; b England, s 
1S.VJ; Postdtlice Baldwinsville. 

Hax, Jobn. res Baldwinsville. Merchant. Farmer ami Baker; 
b (Jermany. ISXJ. s l.M'.l; 1' i) Baldwinsville. 

Hax, Harriet, res Baldwinsville; b England, (wife of John 
Hax. I 

Hamill, Alex, res Baldwinsville; Druggist and Supt ( >8Wego 
Canal; bXY. slxW; I'ustoHice Baldwinsville. 

Hotaling. (i H. res Baldwinsville; .Merchant Miller. "Stone 
Mills;" b X Y. slH-,'ti: Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

Haines, Theodore, res Baldwinsville; (ieneral Wrapping Paper 
Manufactory of Baldwinsville; b N Y. s 1874 ; P O 
Baldwinsville. 

Hotaling, .\ T. res Baldwinsville; Merchant Miller, "Stone 
Mill;" b X Y, s IK41: Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

Howard, 11, res Baldwinsville; Jeweler. Book and Music D'lr; 
b X Y, s 18<>9; Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

Herriugton, C B. 

Harmon, James. 

Hickok, Jr, E, res Baldwinsville; IJeputy Postmaster; b X' Y, 
si-*!'.': Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

Hilts, J E, Surgeon Dentist: b X Y, 1^4.{; P <• Baldwinsville, 

Hakes, Alanson. Farmer; b X Y. s ls-,'4; Pcistoffice Clay. 

Haoiill, A P. Farmer; b X Y, s 1»<1.'>: Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

Johnson, W J. Farmer and Com'r of Highways; b >' Y, s 1*40. 

Jaycox. O R. Farmer; b X Y, sls44: Posti'tlice Plainville. 

Jessup, B 1), res Baldwinsville; Harness and Saddle Mfr; b X' 
Y. s lS(i.'i; Postoffice Jlaldwinsville. 

Kendall. J V, res Baldwinsville; I'hys and Surgeon and Super- 
visor; b X Y, s 1>^40: I'ustoHice Baldwinsville. 

Kelley, W \V, Tanner and Shoemaker; b X Y, s 1H40; P O Lit- 
tle I'tica. 

Kee'er. H X, Farmer; b N Y: s 1S1;{; Postoffice Lysander. 

Kerwin, Tom, Farmer; b Ireland, s Ig,")!; Postoffice Phoeuix. 

Kenyon. J C, res. Baldwinsville, Postoffice Baldwiusville. 

Lake, Elijah. 

Little James H, Farmer ami Speculator; b X Y, s liS^tn, Post- 
office Baldwinsville. 

Lariuer, Jos, res. Baldwinsville, Blacksmith, Carriage Ironer 
and DeaK'r in Agr. Imp.; b Canada, s 187^!: Postoffice 
Baldwinsville, 

Loveless, John, Farmer; b X Y, s IS'.'fl; Postoffice Baldwins- 
ville. 

Lewis & Son, George \V. res. Baldwinsville. Farmers and Milk- 
men ; b X Y. s lg.).i; IV.stoffice Baldwinsville. 

Lackey, <i X, res. Ilaldwinsville, Watches, Jewelry and Silver 
Ware: bXY. slSW); Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

McHuron. Lewis L, Farmer; b X Y, s 1844; Post Office Bald- 
winsville, 

McHuron, Lyman, Farmer; b Vt., s 181C; Postoffice Bald- 
winsville. 

McCarthy, Edward, Farmer; b X Y, s I^IG ; P. < >. Phfvnix. 

Mastiii. W E, res. Baldwinsville. merchant, b Plainville, June 
■Jil, \<>'^: Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

McCarty, (ieorge. res. Lysander. I'hysician and Surgeon; b 
X' Y, s 1H4G; I'ostoffice Lysander. 

Martin, L, res. Lvsander, Homeopathic Physician and Sur- 
geon : b X' Y. s ls42; Postiitlice Lysander. 

Marks, A H, res. Bald»insville, I'hvsiciim and Surgeon; bX 
Y. 8 18(;.'<; Postoffice Baldwin-ville. 

Monnier. Frank E. res. Baldwinsville, firocor and Provision 
Dealer; b X Y, s l.-i)."!; Postidlice Baldwinsville. 

McOuigaii Bros., res. Baldwinsville. Miinufs. of Fine Cigars 
and Tobacco; b Canada, s 1-74; Postnffice Bald- 
winsville 

Mount, H B, Farmer; b X Y, s 1857; Postoffice Lysander. 

Martin, Abram. Farmer; b X Y, sl840; Postoffice Lysander. 

Murphy. Dennis, res. Baldwiusville; b Ireland,* 1847; Post- 
' office Baldwinsville. 

Murphv, I'atrick, res. UaMwinsville. Paper Maker, b Ireland, 
'S1.H47; Piistoltice Baldwinsville. 

Murphy, T J, res. Baldwiusville; b X Y, s l.'<71 ; Postoffice 
Baldwinsville. 

Martin. B, Farmer; bXY, 8 18.18; Postoffice Lysander. 

Martin, Robert. Farmer: b X Y. s ix:!'* : Postoffice Lysander, 

McMechan. I V Y, Farmer : b X Y, s 18.11 ; l',>sl<pfficc Clay. 

Xorthrnp, •! .\. res. Lvsander, (Ieneral Insurance Agt, b X Y, 
s ls:>T : Postoffice Lvsander. 

Northrup. Mrs J A, res. Lysander; b X Y. s lX-!7; Postoffice 
Lv,sander. 

Norton, .labtz H. res. Plainville, Attorney at Law; b X \,s 
IK.J.'S ; Postotlice Plainviile. 

Norton. Lyman, les Plainville, Retired Merchant; b X Y, a 
ls-.'(i; I'osti'llice Plainville. 

Newcomb, Mrs E F; Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

Ouderkirk, Clareuee, Farmer; b X Y, a 18.">1 ; Postoffice Bald- 
winsville. 

Perry Clark, res. Lysander, \Vagou Maker; b > 1.3 1810; 
Postoffice Lysander. „ , 

Patterson, G B. Farmer; b X Y, s HO; Postoffice Lysander, 



Perkins, WW, res Baldwinsville, Dentist, Postmaster and 
\V ool dlr: b N -i , s 18.'-,2; Postoffice Baidwinsville. 

Parsons, E B. res Baldwinsville. Pastor Presbvterian Church- 
bMass. sl8GH; Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

Pendergast, Jr, Stephen. Farmer: s Ik.-,:.>: Pustoffice Ph.enix 

Park, Curtis. Farmer; b Ireland. 3 ls(^i: P o Baldwinsville' 

Park, Jennie A, Postoffice 7!C.' Broadwav, .\lbanv, X Y. 

Patterson, John W. 

Porter, Mrs David, res Lv.sander; b Camillus, Onondaga Co. 
18L'G; Postoffice Clay. 

Peltsr. H K, Postoffice Clay. N Y. 

Powell, Orsamus, Merchant and Farmer; b Rensselaer Co, 
I8l.f, 8 1K40: Post.itlice Clay, X Y. 

Porter, David, Farmer; b X Y. s iHlS; Postoffice Clay. 

Russell, Joseph, res Baldwinsville, Blacksmitbing and Horse- 
shoeing; b Canada, s 18.V) : P O Baldwinsville. 

Rice, A M. Farmer: b X Y, s 1K48; P O Baldwinsville. 

Rice, D P. Shoemaker and Tauner; b N Y, sl844: Postoffice 
Little I'tica. 

Russ, H H. Hop (irower : b X Y. s ls.%1; P O Little L'tica. 

Smith, P. Farmer; b X Y, s 1X40: P t > Baldwinsville. 

Smith. R L, res Lvsander. .Merchant and J P; b X Y, s 182S; 
Postoffice Lvsander. 

Schermerhorn, Catharine. P o Lvsander, X Y. 

Slater, Rogers, Farmer and Cider Mfr:b XY, sl»7G; Post- 
office I'hti'nix. 

Start, Mary. Farmer ; \< X Y. s ls.-d ; P o Baldwinsville. 

Slau.son, S D, Farmer; b X Y, s IX-'l ; P O Baldwinsville. 

Snyder, Charles, Farmer; b Germany, 8 18.'w; Postoffice Bald- 
winsville. 

Scoville, J M. res Baldwinsvil'e. Cigar Mfr ; b X Y, 1840, g 
l*.'.'.l; PO. Baldwinsville. 

Schenck. R. Farmer; b X Y, s 1H27; P O Plainville. 

Schenck, Catharine .M. Farmer; b X Y, s 18J.'); P O Plainville. 

Schenck, John, Farmer; b X Y, s IHl."); P O Plainville. 

Smith. L E. Postnffice Baldwinsville. S' Y. 

Skinner. D T. Postoffice Baldwinsville, X Y. 

Schenck, B B. res Plainville, Homeopathic Physician and Sur- 
geon; b X Y. 8 iKl.'): P ( I I'lainville. 

Sullivan, R B. res Plainville. Homeopathic Pbysiciaa and 
Surgeon b X Y, s I'^TO; P() Plainville. 

Shenp. Mrs A, res Little L'tica, Farmer; b X Y, s 1847; 

Smith, Judson A. Farmer: b X Y. s 1S.V>; 1* I > Lysander. 

Slauson, J H, Farmer; b X Y, s IKV: Lysander. 

Snyder, R C, Farmer; Formrrly Merchant ; b X Y, a 18.5.3; 
Postoffice B:ildwinsville. 

Strahl S: Bisdee. res Baldwinsville, Dealers in .Meat, Hides, 
Pelts, etc.: h (Jermany. 8 18,V1; P O Baldwinsville. 

Suydam, S C, res Baldwinsville, Jeweler and Druggist ; b X" Y, 
Po.-toffiCf Baldwinsville. 

Schepler, William. Post^iffice Baldwinsville. 

Tucker & Crippen, res Baldwinsville, Dealers in Leaf Tobacco; 
b X Y, s ll*47; Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

Tillotson, C H, Farmer; b X Y, s 1S4U: P o Lysander. 

Teall, Charles H,res Lysander. Farmerand Caipenter; b X" Y, 
s IS4n; Postoffice Lysander. 

Thompson, M S. res Lamsons, Ticket and Express Agent, P M, 
Merchant, Coal and I'roduce Dealer: b X Y, s 1842; 
Postoffice Lamsiins. 

Toll, D C, res Baldwinsville, Deputy Sheriff; b X Y, s 1819; 
Postotlice B:ildwinsville. 

Tappan, Wall;ice. res Baldwinsville. Merchant ; b YanBuren, 
ISL'rt; Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

VaiiLiew, J P. Farmer ; b X J, 3 1SJ2 : P O Lysauder. 

Yincent, William. Farnjer, Carpenter and Joiner; s 1868; 
Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

VanDerveer. Henry, Fanner; b X Y, s ls-i,">; P O Plainville. 

YauDerveer. Polly S, res Baldwinsville; b X Y: Postoffice 
Baldwinsville. 

YanDerveer, I) S, Farmer; b X Y, s KU; P (» Lysander. 

White, Xathaniel. res Baldwinsville, Lawyer, Xo 1.") Syracuse 
.><aviiigs Bank. Syracuse, llirm Morgan iV: While,i; b 
Town of Lvsander; Postotlice Baldwinsville. 

Wormuth. Ezra, re's Baldwinsville, Livery and Sale Stable; b 
X Y, s 18:!!); I'ostoflic Baldwinsville. 

Wilkins. William L, res Baldwinsville. Piopr Seneca Flouring 
and t ustom Mills; b X Y, s 1^4(1; P O Baldwinsville, 

Wooster, Barclav, res Lvsander. Hardware and Tiuware; b 
b X Y, s isj.i; Postoffice Lvsander. 

Winchel. W C, res Lysander, .Merchant: b X Y, 8 18'.'7; Post- 
otlice Lvsander. . XT -.r ,00, 

Winchel, Mrs S C, res Lysander, Postmistress; b X 1, 8 I8.«; 
I'ostoffice Lvsander. 

Wright, M M : I'ostoffice Baldwinsville. 

Wormoth, Levi T, Farmer: b X Y. 8 lx.V); Postoffice Bald- 
winsville. „ , , ■ .,, 

Wormoth. S. Farmer; b X Y, 8 IH.",!); P O Baldwinsville. 

White J F Farmer : s IS.VI; Postoffice Baldwinsville. 

Wagner u'a Farmer: b X Y, s 1>>.')0; P O Baldwinsville. 

Wood. Fred E, Farmer; b N Y. s IsiiO: P ( » Baldwinsville. 

Wagner \ndriw. Fanmr; b X \. s 1841; P O Baldwinsville. 

Wagner. K, Farmer; b X Y, s lsr,7 ; Pi ) Baldwiusville. 

Ward, Win C, Toliacco Dealer; res Plainville, > \ ; b X \ , 
s \K>2 : Postoffice Plainville, X Y. 

Wever, Chas A. res Baldwinsville, Wagon Manuf'r. Machine 
"and BlacKsmith Shop; b X Y, s 1840; Postoffice Bald- 
winsville. 



434 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK. 



Wood*, r K. F»rin»r aud Bo«l (.•rpcolfr, « IMS. 1' l> t1«r- 
Woods. t°b». Farmer kod Bust Aulldrr; b F.neUnd, • IKW: 
Pu«tofflc« C'laj. 

TOWN OF FLBRIlKiK. 

Aru<ild. Mr» H H. I'"it.>fljfe Jordiin N Y. 

Bakrr. < ' < i. |'i»t<>arp f-lbridir*- N V 

Botlrrflrld. Alfr«lJ. rr» F-Ibrwlgr rhT.icim »iid Hunsfii: b 

TortUiid I •>. JiilT <1. 1»4!>. • March l.'l. ICTrt; I'oit.iBlce 

Klbridue. 
Bmod. I>. I'...t..fflre i.l.lr. •• li'' W.rrrii nrpet-STracui*. 
( urtu. .Arthur r<-» I- Hn li--- Mnrt>lc and (iraiiitr Ilpaler; b 

KllTi.li:.-. l-^'i*'. r : i.ri.Im-. 

(Imrk. <;c"rv < . Furoier .••. IMi. 1' l» Elbrid((<*. 

Cuaiptoii. William K. r^i. I .^ , Mfr<'halr», b New York. 

■ \<: : INMliirtlcr ^.ll.rl.ll^e. 
Clroieiit*. Mrn A M. I'Mdntllrr addmm Jordau. 
IiTK^rt. lifi> H. rfi<t<i(nc<< addrrfi .InnJaii. 

MViiiui-II. Wni II. r*« J'.rdaii. Tracbtr, b New Y'ork. • IrVM. P<» 

Jordan. 
F.lliot. 1. H. Karinrr: b I.Tnander. \<i\ : I'otufllce Jordan, 
tflllot. John K. Farmer; b I.Tuiidrr. KM. I'ustiifflce Jordan. 
(;arri«)n. lie" H r«« Jonlaii. Mfr He<i«tra.l« ; b Schuvler Co. 

July 7. K*'. •I'v.Vi: I'i'-iofflce Jc.nlaii 
Har\tn. F. <": r^iotofncr llalf-Wnr. i )iioiida|ta < 'o. N Y. 
llanlT. Mr« M W, rontoffirr Jordan. N Y. 
Mill. 'rhonm« W, Pottoffire Klbrldxe. N Y. 
Hill l>.M. l'o«tomrr F.lbrldice 
lialttrd. Jacob harmrr. I. < tranife fo. N Y. ITttS. • I»'HI: I'ott- 

offlce Jack • Krrfu 
llopkliii T J ; l'o«lonicr F.lliridue. N Y. 
Hubbell. Theron s. rei F.lbridite. .Marble and timnlte Dealer; 

b Uoxbrrrv Kflawari- i... 1«Iti. nWH; i> O Klbildge. 
Hall. Fred S. re* 'F.'briiluc. .M>-rrbaiit and lirui»i>t; b Skan- 

patelen Vlllaifi-. l-v'iO. I' < • Klbrulge. N Y. 
Ilarwoud. A W. ret Jor<iaii. liidrrlaker uiid Furniture I»ealer; 

b New York. IM4: J'.ttofflre Jordan. 
Inger^on. K. I>: I'onlofflc.- KIbriilue. N Y. iKellred.i 
jniie*. Alexander. Farmer: b tt illiam»Iowii. ( Uwego ( 'o. N Y. 

I*'.'!. « l^l.'i: •'■■•torttce Jordan. 
Jackton. A. retJordan. Dealer In I'oal. Lumber and (inin; b 

New York. • Kl'i; I'o.lotllce J>irdaii. 
Keller. t'ha« •'. re» F.U'ridifi-. Ilurdwan" .Merchant; b Srracuse, 

JulT .T. IM7: I'o.ionir^ F.lhriilite .\ Y 
Lewit. A I». re- Jordan. Mfr » i|{»r.; b New York,>IM4; I'oit- 

offlci- Jorilun 
Lalhrop. I.ouia It. I'ublUher: i'ottoince Jordan. N Y. 
Ijtlrd. f W. Farmer: b Jordnn. Mav lo. |iO>l; |' o Jordan 
Marlettr <iroriia M. ro<l>>nir>- M>--ii[ibl>. 
Muuro. Xalhaii. PoUonir.- Klhn.lite. 

Munr<i. .lobti. Farmer: l« Klliridire l*-.'!: I'littofllre K-lbridge. 
Merriman I'ollv, re« F.UiridKe; b .\in«trrduui, N Y. * 1^17: 

Poatofflie KlbrnUe 
Martin F, «'. r.ittonice llalfwar. 
Mctsowaii. .Mr. •' <i. ro-toBlce K.lhridice. 
MrColluni. .\lr»Bntl«-r. r...|.'l11ce Klbridgiv 
.Mcintvre. Almeda. ro^toHicr Jack. Uerfu 
Ma>on. I. H. Farmer: b Nrw York. • lMi>.'>. I'onioltlce Jordan. 
Nlrbol«on. F.noch < . Fanner. llop-llaUer and .\aoeaaor; b 

F.Uiridne. JulT 1:1, IvJ'i; I 'ottofflre Jordan. 
Nllei, Uichanl. re* Jordan. Proprietor * Union Hnuke, I'oit- 

oHlce Ji.rdan 
( (tin. Uaac «'. Farmer; b New York. « loXi. P IJ Jordan. 
Peck, A l>. re« Jordan. .Mfr wheelbarrows; b New Y'ork, • 

1«:H I'l •tolll.f .lordan. 
I'a.M.., u 1 l». r 1 1 n.ltlf-« IM.' ilarrlxin itreet. Sjracuae. 
I'rrrK 1 k. P. ..Ionic.- Iliil(w:i\. 
1'ler.oii. I>«>i.l F.irmrr; b( ajuKnCo, N Y. iJHtl. • IM"; l'o»t- 

ofii • .!• rlaii 
Kudfer, Jamm. n'« Jorilan. IValer In Coal, liraln and Lum- 
ber, b Ni » Y.'tK > l-V.', I'.ototTlce Jonlau. 
Kodicer & t-o. p...t..f1lce .L.r.UM. 
Kockaell. !* U re« Jor.laii. .Mfr Wheel '.arrow* ; b New York, 

. iNt.'; |'o«t..(tlce J..rdan. 
Klre. H K. l'o«tofBre J..rdan. 
Kanner l.uke. F.lkrldiie \'illaire: Fanner and :4urf eon . b A>b- 

■ il.M. Franklin i ... .Ma.». l«l.".. • IKB, Pit Klbridge. 
llenimel. J M. I'...t'.l1lce .lordan. 

t^perrv. I{ ^. re* Jordan. Wholesale Dry ImmlIu and Notloni. nt 

' '•vTrariix': bCl.»l»l<!. I" n Jordan and >jracute. 
Smith. Vtw. l.»vir> P.. «t'. filer Jordan 
SlocklnK. >'.lon ( . re. J..rdHn. Tobacco and ( ii:ar« ; b Aurellu>, 

CaTuga Co. N Y. • Kill: I'lXtofBce Jordan. _ 
Steveua. 'r'homa«. Farnii-r: b Wa»hlnKlon Co. N Y. mil. • 

IHIT. l'o«t.. nice Jordan 
!<i.reii« Hro«. re« l-.lbruUe. Proprietor* MunroHou»e; Po«l- 

..lUce Klbriilge. 
«kininT l-/.'klel. re. FIbridge. Cabinet Maker and MacbluUt; 

b .Mar.htleld. Wai.bingt..n Co. Vt. . IK.'I . P i > Klbridgr. 
Hteven*. John A. Farmer: b FIbridge, IMW. P I » FIbridge 
Smith. i..-..rgr It. re. FIbridge. Clergyman, burleaiu (-o. 1M7. 

. Mnv. l";!.; Pl> FIbridge. 
Trmcy. A F. rr. .(..rdan. Watcbcn and Jewelry, b X Y. altCH; 

P 1 1 Jor.laii 
Tboma*. J'.hii 'I', re. FIbridge. Farmer and Furniture Mfr; 

b Newbunth. I "range to, lull. • I*"--: PoKlbridKc 



Tiin. O A : P < • Mempbla. 

Tracy. J I., rea Jordan. .Mfr AgT Implement*: b N Y, « IU7 : I* 

1 1 Jordan 
Teler J W Partner b Marcellu*. IfUG; P O Jordaa. 
Voorheet. Jame. I,. Fanner, b N Y. * IMT; P It Jordan 
Voorhee*. Mr. S A . P i • Jordan. 
VauVleck. .Alexander, re. Jordan. I>ealer In Lumber aod Cokl; 

b N Y. • 1<>7. Pi I Jonlan. 
VanVecbteii C H; PottolBce F.lbrldge. 
Wlutor. H P. ret Jordan. PublUber Jordan TrButerlpt ; b R I, 

• KB; Pl> Jordan. 
Wood. ."<niith. Farmer, b N Y. • Id.'i; P O Jordan. 
Wright. T K. re. FIbridge. Teacher; b Vermont. • 1M«: P <• 

FIbridge 
Welch. A : PO Jordan. 

Whiting. II c. Farmer: b i inondaca Co. linSS; POJurdan. 
Warner. C .M. rr. Jordan. Dealer in t oaf. Lumber and lirain, 

In.iiranc*' ttii'l 1'o.tma.ter: t> N Y. . KW*; Pu Jordan 
Zeevalk. Ileiirr. Farmer: b Fllbrldge. IMO; P i • FIbridge 
Xevalk. Adoli.hu.. Farmer: b Holland. \x2i, * lt4.%: Puatofflee 

FIbridge. 

TiiWN l>F SKANEATELF.S 

Allif, ( W. ret SkaneatelM. Merchant ; b N Y, • 1m18: Po*tnfflc« 

Skaneatele.. 
Allen. Jacob H. Farmer; b N Y. • IXtt; P O Skaneatele*. 
Auttln. Warren, re. Skaneatelet. retired Farmer; b N Y. t 

\•<J^~, V I iSkaiii-atelea. 
Au.tln. .\nthonT. Farmer; b N Y. . l^-'l : P il Mandana. 
A.hpole. Wm. Farmer: b England, t KlU; P i ) Mkaneatele*. 
Andrew*. F.\.re* !>kaneatele.. Propr Packwoinl Huute . b Ct, 

■ 1«J7. I'll Skaneatele. 
Anilrew*. F .\. ret Sknncalfle*. Propr I'ackwoud Houte; b 

N Y. • l'<r7 , P I I •ikaneatelet. 
Albln FP; Hook-kee|H-r . b Ct. *. 1"<7.*.; P 1 1 Skaneatele*. 
Abererombr. H. Merchant and Decorative Painter. 
Ilarmw. lie'.irwe. re. Skaneatelet. .\tturuer-at-l,«w ; b N Y, ■ 

IKW. P 1 1 Skaneatele.. 
Hrowu. J C. Farmer; b N V. « KVl; P 1 1 Skaneatele*. 
Itrik'g.. Daniel. Fanner, b It I. « ITJU. i Decra.ed i 
Krigga. W. S. Farmer, b X V. t IwW; P 1 1 Skaneatele*. 
Clark. Win H. Farmer: b England, a 1H.VI. P 1 1 SkaneateUi. 
Cornell. II. re. Skaiieateli-s. Propr Lirery Stable: b N Y, t 

IXif. P 1 1 Skani'atele*. 
Cleveland. I.«wi* W. rea Skaneatele*. retired Farmer: b Maat, 

a \W\. P I I Skaneatele*. 
Cleveland. Lucinda S. rea Skaneatelet. b.N IL a 1H»; P(l 

Sknneatt'U'a. 
Coe. Cant F. B. rea Sk»iie*tele«. .Ma.ter Steamboat " Ulen 

Haven." b N Y.a Klfi; P < iSkaneatelet 
Cook, liuy P. Farmer: b .Marcellut. IKl'l; pii Mareellut. 
D'Klge. II V. re. Skaneatele*. Editor and Proprietor ' Demo- 
crat ;'■ b .Maaa, a \<M. P • I Skaneatele*. 
Dando. Ilenrv F. Farmer and Fruit (irower; b F'.uglaad. • 

iN'kl: P 1 1 Skaneatele*. 
Dillingham. D s. re« Skaneatele*. Pnipr Llrery Stable; b N Y, 

a IMKI; PtI Skaiiealelet. 
F.llerv. W li. re* skam-Kielea. .\tt'y-at-law. Notarv Public 

and In. ,\gent . b .N V. . iKt.'; P 1 1 Skaneatelet 
Fjirll. li W. re* Skaneatrle.. Pby.ician and (turiceuu; b N Y. t 

KUi: Po.tonicf >katieateli<. 
Fggletton. Theod..rf. Farmer: b N Y, a |i<:Jl; P 1 1 Skaneatelet. 
Fjirll. .Viidrt'w J, Farmer and .Supervltor; b N Y,t InTi*; I'ott- 

oHlce Skaiiealf let. 
Eckelt. Edward, re. Skaneatele*. Baker and Confectioner; b 

Englniid. . I'MRI; Poatoflice Skaneatelet. 
F.lphlck. .I.ihn J. re. Skaneatele.. Klackamith: b N Y. • Iii4.>: 

I'o.loflice skoiifBli'le.. 
F.arll. Jiillu.. ri-a >kaii<-ati-lca. Propr Paper Mill*: b N Y. * 

IxlH; Poatiilllci' Skaneatelfa. 
F*rll. Col Daniel. Farmer: b N Y. « IHftl; I'll Skaneatele*. 
Fjirll. Sarah S. I'o.tofflce skaneatele*. 

Fi.ber. Thuniaa. Farmer, b England, a IMh; P I i Skane«tele«. 
Fi-her. .lacob. Farmer: b N V : I'natofllce Skaneatle*. 
Fl.her. John. Farmrr. PoaLifflce Skaneatelea. 
Fait*. Henry. Fanner, b N V. a |..>: P 1 1 Skaneatele*. 
Fall.. Ilorvi'v. Farmer: b N Y, * Ix>. Poaiottlce .Skaneatele*. 
FuUi.n. II D.' Fiinni-r. b N Y. t lK£!; PotKilIice Skaneatelet 
Fooie. I'erry. Farmer. IaiI 'JC. 
Foote. I. H. Farmer. l.ol '.'x 
lire^ory, J 11, re. skaneatelet, Teatel dlr: b England. • IK12; 

I'lialofflce Skaneatele* 
liamble. John, rea Mottville, Pmp'rUamble Qouae; b Ireland. 
* IM!». Poalotlice Mottville, —^ _. 

i;ile*. William P. FHrmtr . b N Y. * IkII ; P O Skaneatele*. 
lilover. c II. re* Skaneatele*. Painter: b N Y. • l'>7.': Pott- 

ottice Skaneatele* 
liorham. li E. ret .Moitville. II K Conductor; b N Y,; . 1M4; 

PoatolTlce Mottville, 
Ilurri*. i;eo I., re. skaneatelet. Dentitt: b NY. tiNil: Poat- 

..fllce skaneatele* 
lluii.iWer. E. Farmer , b N Y. t \KW. Pottolflce Skaneatele*. 
Man. I.rael. Farmer; b N Y. a !Mie; PoitofHce Skanratele., 
ilanlwicb. Jame*. Farmer; b England, a IM.I. Pi I .skaneatele* 
IL.xie. Rowland H. Famier: b N Y. a IMli. P n Skaneatele.. 
Ileii.lnrk*. Peler. rea Skaneatele*. lilack.mith : h N,Y..i IH9; 
Poatoflice Skaneatele.. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



425 



Knox, J K. res Skaiieateles. Merchant; b New York. 9 1874; 

I'ostoffice Skaneatele?. 
Krebs. Karl, res Skaneatelea, •• Propr Lake View House;" b 

Germany, 3 iH.'iJ; I'ostoffice Skaiieateles. 
Lnpbani. A A. res Skaiieateles; Postoffice Skaiieateles. 
Leslie, E Norman, res Skaiieateles, Retired Merchant; b N J, 

s IB.'jl ; Postoffice Skaiieateles. 
Lee, Beiioni, res Skaiieateles, Attorney at Law ; b Vt, 3 1820. 

Postoffice Skaneatel?s. 
Lawrence, A \V, Farmer; b N Y, » 181T. P O Skaiieateles. 
Loveless. Solomon, Retired Farmer; b N Y, s 18(M). Postoffice 

Skaiieateles. 
McLaughlin l^; Sons'. J. Teasel Dealers. 
Marvin. Win, res Skaiieateles, Attorney at Law, ex U 8 Diet 

.Judge; b N Y. s 180G. P U Skaneatele3. 
Marshall. John B. res Skaneateles. Postmaster: b Eneland, 3 

184G. P Skaneateles. 
Mort n, Thos, res Mottville. Prop Woolen Mills, Mfr Shawls, 

Broadcloths and Fancy Cassimeres; b Scotland, 3 1840. 

P O Mottville. 
Nurse. Wm, res Skaneateles, Painter; b Englimd, s 1857; P O 

Skaneateles. 
Nurse, Wm H. res Skaneateles. Blacksmith; b New York, s 

18.19; Postoffice .Skaneateles. 
Pardee, (', res Skaneateles, Banker; b Skaneateles, K97, P () 

Skaneateles. (Deceased. 1 
Packwoiid. John, res Skaneateles, I'arriage Mfr; b England, 3 

18.'54; PostnfBce Skaneateles. 
Parsons. .Moses. Farmer; b Skaneateles, 3 ISl.'i ; PostofQce 

Skaneateles. 
Purcell, FJ, res Skaneateles, Pastor of 'St Mary'3 of the 

Lake,'' Rom. Cath. t'h.; b Ireland, s 181)0; Postofflce 

Skaiieate'es. 
Pardee. .\mos, Retired Farmer; b Conn. 3 1804; Postofflce 

."Skaneateles. 
Pardee, .\n103 R, Farmer; b N Y, 3 1828: P O Skaneateles. 
Piatt. Willis. Farmer; b (_'t. 3 182'! ; P O Skaneateles. 
Potter, (ieo F, res Willow (ilen. Paper .Maker and Town Col- 
lector; b N Y. 3 184."); Postoffice Skaneateles. 
Root, Jas .\. res Skaneateles. Farmer and Nurseryman; bN 

Y, 3 l8.-it ; Postoffice Skaneateles. 
Read, Joseph. Fanner; b N Y. s IslO; p O Skaneateles. 
Stephenson, J V. res Skaneateles, Editor and Prop'r '" Free 

Press; ' b N Y, s l.<)8; Postoffice Skaneateles. 
Smith, E Ueuel, res Skaneateles, Capitalist : b N Y. s 1852 ; P 

O Skaneateles. 
Sweeting. C'has, Farmer; b Canada, 8 18.57 ; P O Skaneateles 

Falls. 
Smith. < has. Farmer; b England, s 18.5;$; P (^» Skaneateles. 
Shepard, Jciliii. Fiuiner; b > oiin. s 1704. (Deceased.! 
.Shepard, Edward. Farmer: b N Y. s 1808: P O Marcellus. 
Sweet, L A. Farmer; li X Y. s l.'i4(i; P ( I .'Skaiieateles. 
Sweet, Mrs C L: b N Y, s I>2'i; P l> Skaneateles. 
Skahan. J. Farmer; b Ireland; P ( 1 Skaneateles. 
Skahan. Win. Farmer; b N Y. s 1X51; P V Skaneateles. 
Sherman. Alfred. Farmer; b N Y. s lsi2; P () Skaneateles. 
Sa.tton, Win, Farmer; b N Y, s 1877: P () Skaneateles. 
Stacey. R M. res Skaneateles, Prop'r (Irocery and Meat 

Market; b N Y, s 18.'i:i ; P () Skaneateles. 
Smith. Frank. Farmer; b N Y. s 183;i; P 1 > Skaneateles. 
Sinclair, F A, Chair .Mfr; P ( • .Mnttville. 
Thayer, J. res Skaneateles, President Bank of Skaneateles; b 

N Y, 3 18.'!5; Postoffice .'Skaneateles. 
Thurlow, H. re- .'Skaneateles, Teasel Dealer and Proprietor Res- 
taurant; b Eiiiiland; Postoffice ."Skaneateles. 
Thornton. Uewitt C. Farmer; b N Y, s IK51; P O Skaneateles. 
Thornton. Stephen. Farmer; bN Y. 3 1K27; P U Skaneateles. 
Thome. Obadi.ih. Farmer and Teasel Dealer: b N Y. 3 1844: 

Postoffice Skaneateles. 
Thome. W. ii.. Fnrmer and Teasel Dealer; b N Y, 3 1844; 

Postoffice ."Skaneateles. 
Varv, Henry II. Farmer; b N Y. s 1841 ; P () Skaneateles. 
WyckofT. C C. Farmer; b N Y. s IS2:i; P I) Skaneateles. 
Weeks, F<i, res Skaneateles, Fanner, Paper .Manufacturer and 

Teasel Dealer; b England, 3 18;!4; P U Skaneateles. 
Wilkin3oii, Alfred Fanner. .Deceased.^ 
Wilkinson. .Mrs ST; b N Y. s l.s'.'.5. Postoffice Skaneateles. 
Wright. A M. res Skaneateles; Principal Lnioii Free School; 

N Y, s 1S75; Postoffice Skaneateles. 

TOWN UF SPAFFURD. 

Anthony, Lieorge H, res Spaflford Corners, Proprietor Spafford 

House; b Cortland Co, IKl'J, 3 lMi,s; I'ostoffice Spafford 

Corners. 
Davis, Richaid H. res Borodino, itirm Davis ic Hawtiu); b 

England, 3 1k50; Posl(!ffice Borodino. 
Doolittle. Warren, res Lot 70, Retired Fanner; b Conn, 1812, s 

1x42; Piistiiffico Borodino. 
Doolittle, Ruth Stacy, wife of W Doolittle; b Conn, 181.5, s 

1842 ; Postofflce Borodino • 

Enos, J'lseph H. Farmer; b Spafford. 1814; P O Skaneateles. 
Euos, Hannah, wife of J H Enos: b Spafford, IxlU; Postoffice 

Skaneateles. 
Enos, Joseph, father of J H Enos: b Mass, 1779, a 1805; died 

ls.52. 
Edos, Chloe, wife of Joseph Enos: b Mass, 1777, 9 1805: died 

1848. 
76* 



Gay, Robert Martin, Farmer; b Cortland Co., s 1840; Post- 
office Borodino. 

Gay, Calista Owen, wife of R M Gay; b Rensselaer Co., 1815. 
3 IK40; I'ostoffice Borodino. ■lu,.oi.,, 

Gilford, Henry A, Lot 08, Farmer; b Dutchess Co. 1809 a 
1844; Postoffice Thorn Hill. 

Gilford, Betsey, wife of H X Gifford; b Dutchess Co., 1812 
S1H44: Postoffice Thorn Hill. 

Gifford, Garrison A, Lot CH, Farmer; b ClintouviUe, 3 1853; 
Postoffice Thorn Hill. 

Gifford. Fannie M. wife of G A Gifford; b Spafford, 1854; 
Postoffice Thorn Hill. 

Harvey, Mark, Farmer and Blooded-stock Raiser; b Spafford. 
s 18.'52: Postoffice Thorn Hill. 

Harvey, Paul, Farmer; b Vermout, 1794, 3 179G; died 1852. 

Harvey, Sally, wife of Paul Harvey; b N Y, 179C, 8 1811. 

Harvey, Adaliiie. daughter of E'aul and Sally Harvey, b Spaf- 
ford, IHlH; Postoffice Th.irn Hill. 

Hill, Wm, Lot 75, Farmer ; b Cayuga Co, 1811, s 1846; died May 
■i. 1877. 

Hill, Mary Jane, widow of Wm Hill; b .Saratoga Co, 18J2, g 
1K40: Postc.ffice Borodino. 

Haaker. Richard. Farmer and Butcher; b England, 1817, » 
1S05; Postoffice Bcirodino. 

Haaker. Frederick. Farmer and Butcher; b Cayuga Co, 18.52, • 
18a5. 

Hawtiii, George, Machinist and Prop'r .Saw Mill; 'firm Davis 
S; Hawtiin b England, s IH.',U; i'() Borodino. 

Haight, Titus. Farmer; b Dutchess Co, 1797; 3 18'28 ; died 
January IH. Isi'H. 

Haight. Hannah, wife of Titus Haight; b Dutchess Co, 1801. g 
1X2X; died September 4. 187.'! 

Haight. Henry J. Lots 09 and 74. Farmer; b Spafford, s 1841; 
I'ostoffice Borodino. 

Haight Dora, wife of Henry Haight; b Spafford, 18.50 ; Post- 
office Borodino. 

Legg, W W. res Borodino, Postmaster, b Spafford, s 1815; 
Postoffice Borodino. 

Lcgg. Mimrva A. wife of W W Legg; b Spafford, 1819; Post- 
office liorndiiif). 

Lewis. John ./. Farmer; b England, 1827, s 1846; Postoffice 
Skaneateles. 

Lewis. Lucy, wife of John J Lewis; b England, 9 1864; Post- 
office Skaneateles 

Lewis, Rosa M, daughter John J and Lucy L'wis; b Spafford, 
1K08: l^l^tofficL• Skaneateles. 

Lawrence. W H. Po>tc'ffioe Spatfurd Corners, 

Lyon, C li. l'o>toffic(' Spiiffurd I'oriiers 

Moule, Moses P. Lot 74. Farmer. Patentee and Manufacturer 
of Moule's Celebrated Bag-Holder "(iood Help;" b 
I'Uter tci. 1H21. 3 ls."in; Posti.ffice Skaneateles. 

Moule, Cordelia liiKliam. wife of Moses P Moule; b Dutchess 
Co, 1K12, s lK).s; Pdstc.ffict Skaneateles. 

Moule, Pbilij) I, son of M '.' Moule; b Monroe Co, 1851, s 1851; 
Postoffice Syracuse. 

Moule C.iiiger A, son of M P Moule; b Spaffoi-d, 18.VJ; Post- 
office Skaneateles. 

Mason, Mortimer. Lot 74, Farmer and School Teacher; b Mass, 
1825, a 18;il; Postoffice Borodino. 

Mason, Esther P Vail, wife of .Mortiaier Mason ; b Skaneateles, 
3 I8'2X; Postoffice Borodino. 

Morton. ( lr^oll B. Lot 74, Farmer, Inventor and Manufacturer 
of Morton's Snikey Harrow; h. LaFuyette; 3 1835; 
I'ostoffice Borodino. 

Morton, Susan \ Bass, wife of Orson B Morton; b Hamiltoa 
to, 1810, s lh7.'{; Postoffice Borodino. 

Morton. Ambrose, father of O B Morton; Farmer; b Mass, g 
HNS; die<l IWi.'i. 

Morion, Sabiina. wife of .Vmbrose Morton ; b Vermout, 1790, a 
Iwil ; P(rsto!)ice Sk;iiieateles. 

Mason, I L. Farmer, b N Y, s 1S20: Postoffice Skaneateles. 

Newvill, Ale.x C, Farmer; b (.Itisco, 1817; Postoffice Borodino. 

Newvill, ( linieiia J, b otisco, s IslO; Postoffice Borodino. 

Norton. Seymour; I'ostoffice Spafford Corners. 

Olmsted, Jeremiah, Farmer; b Montgomery Co, 18.35, 3 1835; 
Postoffice Borodino. 

Olmsted, LavMia, wife of J Olmsted; b Marcellus, 18.;i9; Post- 
office Borodino. 

Purchase, Samuel, Farmer; b Sk,nneateles; Postoffice Borodiuo. 

Purchase, Harriet, wife of Samuel Purchase; bCaniillus; Post- 
office Borodino. 
Stanton. Samuel H; I'ostoffice Borodino. 
Smith, .Myron K, Farmer; b Spafford; 3 1847; P O Borodino 
Smith, Jennie Becker, wife of Myrou R Smith; b Spafford, s 

1X51 ; Postoffice Borodino. 
Tripp, Van Dvke. res Borodino, Physician and Surgeon; b 

Madison Co, 1>.'V;. s IXCO; Postoffice Borodino. 
Taft, John P; Po.-toffice Sphfford Corners. 

Weston, lleiiiy. Farmer and Supervisor; b Spafford, 18.30; 
Postoffice Borodino. 

Weston, Sarah K. wife of Henry Wcstou ; b Marcellus, 18.30; 
l'o^toffice Borodino. 

TOWN OF MARCELLL'S. 

Alvord. Richard W, res .Marcellus, Prop'r Alvord House ; b 
Saratoga Co, lx'20, s 1800; P O Marcellus. 



426 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK 



AlT->r.l. Kllta irbalOvM. > m Mkrertlut wife of It W AlronJ; 

b I'lTuica Co. I<M.'>. • 1*00, l> I > M*rrrllu> 
BroiiMio. SrUb M. !»• Marcrllut. MIll.T. b Navsriuo. Itta; 

l> < I Marr<-llua. 
lUkrr. M. ri-> Marrrllu*. Sb"' Mmiiiracturrr. 
Corulib J'H-1. Kariiirr. b llartf'>rJ • • i i.n I^r.'. « l-T. ; 1' 

U Martrllu.. 
Cohb B S. rr« Marcrllu« I'hi.Uinn 

«-..nii»«-ll. Woar.l A. Kar.. ' l".Marcrllu» 

(i.wlf. Kt . Kar.iirr. t. N ■"'.''".. . 

Cue. Mn K I'. Kartu.-r - ■ -• l'<>H"Wlrlt 

Dmvla. Will T r-t Mnrtftta. I'bytirlaii ■nil tanner, b> 1, • 

l^l- ■■ . ■■ •• I 
r>nnlan J ' I' Marcellua, • I'.U : I' <t Marrellua. 

Ih!" h. ;. : r . I. X Y . I' « . Marc-llu.. 

( „,,, K.I.1..I. I. Marirlu^. l-r.. I' 1 1 Tboni Mill. 

J I It. r.-- Marietta. I'rop'r Murirtta Hnu«<; U X V. • 

- .1 . I" ' I Mariftta 
f'rll'iMa. Mr» .Mar.v. KaniiiT^ b Marcrllua. • Im". I'otlnlDcF 

Marrellu* 
(•ariirtt. Will. rf» Marrrlliu (arriaii)- ami \Vag"ii Mfr; li Irc- 

laii.l. l«-i«. » If^T . r u MarrrllUf. 
Ilickok. Win C. KarniiT^ b X Y. I' <i Marcrlliii. 
ilarilacrr l.aac. Kariin-r. I> KnitlaiKi. • IwH. I' < > Thnrn Hill. 
||lcl(< Alai>»"i-. KaninTKiid .lu»ticf<>f tIn-IVacr. t> |)ulcbe«t 

( ... X V. • Kt". I'i>»t'inic.' Marietta. 
Jull'i. W II. rf« Marc^llu.. W,,..! Morttr. I. X Y. 1">. » l**?: 

I'li.t'illli >• Marcrllut. 
Lnulbri'lur II"I'<ti. K*rni«T: b Marccllua. • !>*•> ; I'lutofflcr 

Marrrllu*. 
lAwleo MirbiH'l J.rf« Marrrllu. Kail-. Ilriii M.J I,awlri» 
i to. Mfr . !• Irflttinl KIT, > K">.'; I' '' .Murirlln. KalU. 
Tkriii'T. I»f mil". \'m\--T Mfr . b In-laciil . I' ' > .Marcrllu« KuIN 
M"»«^. I.urlii-. rf« Marci-llu«. I'mi. r .Marcvllu* \V..i,leu MilU; 

b Marrrllu. l'<-ll : I'o.tirtli-r MarcrlluK 
MIIIf «; < . Kari.rr: U X Y. • 111. I' .•.L.ttlcr Thorn Hill 
Mill. Tluit.lb*. Kariiirr. b X Y. « I-*'! I'.-t. Hi..- Skniiratrlr. 
McMonciunb. "U''i H J. 1'Hi.tor St h'mnriii Xavirr < burcU. b 

.Albaiiv •l>ili. r 1 1 MnicrlluK. 
Marcrllu« I'nwilrr I ..iniHiiiv. Mnrr<*llui> Mfr of I'tiwder. 
Nrwioii. ,A.l...pbu«. Kariiirr: t, MurrrlliK l»Hl ,1' (iMarcellut. 
XlghliiiKalr. Will. Mfr iif I.iiiiilirr: b X Y. » \<A. 
Xnrlb. • . Kariiirr. 
Xiirtb. Hi.l*il K. rm Marcrlluj. Urlln-d; bX \ : I'odoOlcu 

M.tr<i-llu». 
Nrwrll. W C. rr. Miirirttn. I'mp'r Marirtt i Mill*, b UiFay- 

cltr, • Wtl. I'i>.l<nirr MHrirtlu 
Xcwell. I.».lia. rr. Marirttii. wifr ..f W f Xrwrll; b LaKaf- 

rttr l"4tl. I'li-t^'WIrr .Marirlta 
l>an»ii». Urm-l rr» Miircrllii« : I'h.T.lcian and Suriteon ; b M«r- 

crllu.; ['■••li'ltlrr .Mur.rllu. 
Rpcd K^iiiiii'il rra Marci'Uii*. Mfr >hi|>|>liiii \ MrrrbaiidlM* 

T»|I« "»i"l I'riiiirr . b Marirllu.. l-.Vl; I' u Marcrllu* 
KIrhanI-. < > M Maiiufuclurrr <.f l.uinbrr. 
U.ickwrll. Alfrrd. Karnirr . !• tiuiii. • KM: I" <» Marcrllui.. 
Illce A MiNnll\. Karnirr» ami «llr« In Farm liii|)lrnirfita: b 

Marrrllii. KIJ; l'i.»li.ftlcr Marcellun 
Srvniiiur. A M. I'lr iii tJri.crrlr*. 
MliickT. tiriintr. rrn Mairrllu". Karnirr and dlr in rb<»phatr; 

h Kngland. • IMI ; 1'.. uti. filer Murcrllun 
Taylor. A "wrt. rr. Mnrlrtta .Millrr. b I'urtland I'l KW. < KHi; 

* |'i..t..niir M irirtta. 
Wulkrr Tboina". rr. Matcrllu* Villairr. Ho..t nnd Sbo* dlr and 

j r. b Kniclaiid. . 1<K>. I'lLtofflrr .Miircrllu.. 
WrIU, llarvry. rt . Marcrllu.. Millrr. U X Y. I<IT. l'.«»t<ilBcr 

Marrr'Ui.. 
Wbitr Willinni U. rri M»rcellu«. Hardwair Mrrcbniil : b X Y: 
I'.'.l'.nici' MurrrlUii. 

TllWX t>K II. \Y 

Adklu> Urv. I^irrii U l^'l I'i. M K. *°lrii;yniaii and Farmrr; 
b tK.rg.. In. 1»1-'. • ••••••• I'—I- "l r K.irlirl 

Allen. John II. I."t IV Karni. r. . . Urgt IhO.'; 

I. iinridat ... IMJ. . I"*;".': I 

\lii.lir I. ihn. Karnirr; b Kniilai..! ::. r Kucll.l 

MrrrJ lindlrr rr<. U'l •-'. Flit r. ItiicK and TlleManuf;b 

Vi 1*11 .Ki:'. l'o.t..mrrn.y. 
Burlri|!li Snniiirl X. I^.t H. Farmrr iind •*< h"..l Trarbrr. b X 

II. X'.'.n. • l-l''; I'o.lofllrr rh'iiil* 

Uariir. .1 II. K«r r nnd Juatlce i.f Ihr I'racr • b .\ Y. . I-?.'. 

|-...t<>ltl<r K u^lid 
llauDi. I» W. Fur r an.l oil Xp^cu'ator; b X Y. . iKti, I'u.t. 

i.fflr.- I'laiik l("U<l. 

Harm..! M K»r r b X Y. . 1-MI . I'...l..m.e 1,1.. M»-.l 

Hrttiugrr M J Karnirr and llalryoian b X \. . \<i\ : I...I- 

otnce Kurlld- 
llnrdirW. l..-.r«r K. A.aeMor; b R I. . IM'>. f 1 1 I'Unk U.a.l 
t..nghtr> J W. Karnirr and nifar.Maiiufacturrr. « ImW; l'...i- 

. m.-r t lirarvillr. . , . 

rhe.l'i. . Jamr. II . l.'it I'l. Knrnirr an.l l.unil.ernian ; b < in- 

l»ri. ■(■!•. l»l". • l»Jtl l'...t..ltlcr I'lttiik lload. 

< baffrr. Xrwiiiiii. .1. I.i.t U. Karnier b >rhr.i |.|»-1. l-vlH. • IlHi'.; 

i>.,.i..ni' •' I'll., lix. 

< ouper. «. K;.niir and llmlryoian . b X J. . KH; l'..it..fflce 

LlTerpi...! 



Iliefetidnrf. Kufu». Tbre# River Pulni. limre for Ricaralon 

I'arilr*: b Fort I'laiu. lv>, * 1h.'{,',: l'<»|otnre rbirnix. 
I>«idi:r. F. Supl Hyracu'r IVat W..ik»; b i >blo. • l»:.l . I'.Mtuf- 

flcr I iKarvlllr 
Uiefend.irf It II l...t .'.'. Farmrr ami < '..ninirrrlal (Kent, b 

t nj UKa t ... IM'.l. » KM ; r..«|..l!lrr I lay. 
I>eckrr. Jamr. I,. I...t II. Farmrr and Trarbrr; b Van Hurrn 

K»n I'.i.L.inrr I liiy 
Drwry. I. VV. Farmrr and Ualrymau ; b Mu». • IM'.' . I'otl- 

iiUlrr l.il'rrixnil. 
l>unbaoi. .M>..rlrr. Farmer; b NY. • ISTi : l'<»t<>inre I'laiik 

It.. ad 
Itrl.iiiit. .Al.ram. Kurii.rr . b X Y. • I'.'l ; l'..»l..fBrr K.urliu. 
Kble.Meyin.iur .V. I...t »>. Karn.rr. il.'.ih X YCavalry.: b Liver- 

p«Mil. IMI ; Poatolttf e Srracu.e. 
Kiiu. Myron, Farmer; b t lav, KL'. I'o.l'.fflrr t'laj. 
Kuo. .^ddi S. re». Xew hild»r. l'ro|ir lintel : b fUr; I'oat- 

. .filer I'lav 
Fav. I'aul, I...I «■>. Formrr. Bntt F lil X Y Artillrm : b flcem 

K> l'...t..l11rr I'laiik lt..i..l 
Fugrit, J M. HIarkdiiitli an.l Waicmirr. b Trim. • ISL'i, I'uat- 

ofBcr t'lav. 
Field, t' K. Kariirr: b X Y. » K'»l ; r..»t.il1tce i.irrr|>><.|. 
Kllkiii.. II. Karnirr; b X Y. • Kkl; J>o.to|1lcr l.ivrr|»>.il. 
lirliin. W. |....t K>. Karnier; b lirrmany K'J'.'. • IrOU; I'ualofflc* 

l.ivrrpo'.l. 
(iray. William K. Lot. -'I ami T.'i. I'ropr of twoCherw Fac- 

t..rlr. : |. KriitlK'kt l».\l. . Kd; r.'.t.. filer Kmlld 
tiilbert.'.ii. h II. l•ll^t and r^aw Mill.; bX ^. .l>:n; iVat- 

• liter ( auKh.lriioy 
llibbar.l. Naar \' \'. L..t'<I. Fnrnirr . b .Harato)ca Co. I7<l. • KM 

Dir.l JuiM- 14. l.>;i. 
Mibbar.l. Summl M. Lot HI. Farmrr: b l'ou<|>ey. IKS!: I' t» 

.Hvr eu.r 
Kitlrl. riiil.i I. L'tlll. Farmer: h (lav. KIT; I" <> I.iverpo..! 
Lamb. Ilonirr S. I...t Hi Knrn.rr. b « lav. KM; I' < I Llvrrp.iol 
Lvun. H A. I>.l. .•u'-:'>-.tU Ul. Karmer; bt lav, IM^, 1*0 I'lauk 

ItoHd 

Lvnn. J. l'o.t.>inre I'laiik Itoad. 

.Ndllrr. .Mary C. Lot I.V Firmrr. b Oulrbe.. Co, IM-Jl.t |.Mu 1* 

1 1 Livi'r|M...l. 
M..Trr. Jiie..b II. Karn.rrand Halrv; bX Y. • mil; I'tl K.uclld. 
Mrlviii. C. •*rh....l Tracbrr. b .V Y; I'M W ....dard 
Xa.b. 11 .V. KHriner and hairy, b X Y. • KIT; I' 1 1 ClganlUe. 
.Nanh. i; W Kiirmrriiii.l Dairy, bX Y.alKC. I'HCIcem 

I'ir.ti r. .U I> l."t T'.. Kariiirr: b Coluoibla Co, KK, • IMO, 

I' ( t l.l\rll>.M,l 
Prior. i;enrKrl'. Uit Ml. Farmrr: b KuKland, KiM. • IMti; I'O 
Livrr|.....l 

rnliiirr. lii.l .M. Furinrr. b .V. Y. . KIO; I" U Kuclld 

rinnimrr. J W. Karinrr; l> .Ma... • Kll. I'lil'luy. 

iti)!):.. Jaiiii'.. I.'.t I'l. Karmer nnd Scbool Tracher. b Jordan, 

IM.'i. I' I > Kurlid. 
Ilowlrv. A L. Karnirr. b Conn, • 1*410: I'll I'lank Koad. 
lluorfl. Ilriiry. lilack.mitb and Wag.'nrr. b N Y, • liCiX ; I* 

< Mliiy. 
Scidmorr. J..'hn S. rr. L.it M, Kiirnier. b JrlTer.uii Co. IflH, • 

IMI . I' (I F.urlid. 
Sailtb. Fjirl. tea Lot lui. Farmer, b LIverpncd, liC".'; |'<iLlv> 

rr^Nn.l. 
Sbaver. T..bia.. t^ifSt : Farmrr and Klack.inllb : b i^cbobarir 

Co. K-.U • KV.. I' i» Kurlid. 
Sc.-tt. Th..inii. M. t ..iiiil> I Irrk b .X \ I'd Kurlid. 
Soulr. 1 1 S. rr. Kuclid. IV^.r I'latt H.iu.r b .X V I' « I Kuclld. 
Sumiirr. It T. Karnirr l> X Y. » I'll'. I* • > Hrewertoii. 
>..iiirr.. .\ I.. Knrnirr . b X Y. . KM I' i • • la^ 
r*..inrr.. J... Ii. Kiirnirr . i. X V. » Kt.' . I' • i Clav 
Strrn.. I barlr. L. Karnirr I. X Y. . Kr.' . I' 1 1 Plank Itoad 
Soulr. .\ J. Kuriiirr ami liair\ man ; b X V. • Kll. i' 1 1 K.urlld. 
Trail. W X. Kruit Itai.rr and (iardrner . b X Y, » KIT . I'o.l- 

oftlre ' lar 
Vroman, W J . Lot 111. I'r..pr Clarendon Hotel : b IjiFayette, 

. Ktl. y liSymru.r. 
Walter. Martin A. Farmrr: b X Y. . KJB . I* tt Cicero. 
Wili.>rn. Its l.i.t >. Farmer, b LIviiiK.loa «.'o. IttlO. • Injfl; I* 

1 1 WiMMlur.l 
Warnrr. I'.,rk i . Furnirr . bClar. »KV»: I' 1 1 Kuclld. 
Wormutb. Iliifu.. Lot •-'.'. Farmrr: b K..rt Plain. KCi. . KW; 

pill lav. 
Wood., Cliarlr.. Iloat Uuilder ami Turner. KiiKlninl, l^LV • 

Kl-'> I" I 'Clav 
Wall, C U; l'...l..mcr l'b.«-nlx. X" \'. 

TiiWX i.K \ VX 111 IIKX. 

Iliiiitliam. .A W. Karnirr nnd >upervi.or: I' • i Vanlluren 
Itai.litiiii. Putrirk. Karmrr. I' Irrland, . IMT. P <• Hrllr l.lr. 
Ilr.'r.l. K.iiiirnr. Kiirmrr. b X Y. • IM.': P<> Mrmpbi.. 
Ilriiilry. Itu..rl l». I armrr: b K I. . Kll; P i> Wari.rr. 
Hario". I >r« Karmer. Mrrrbant and R it Conirarlor. b i in- 

..i..li>i{a t.... .K"': dir.l K'.'. 
Ilnriie.. Kli/n. b Conn. . I«l'>. P' ' Palter«o|i. X J. 
Kownian. Iliruin. Karnirr ami Ciril K.iiKineer; b X Y. » K'JI; 

P<..t..t1i.r llaMoin.viUr 
llrer.l. Itarnrt M. Karmer. b X Y. • KH; P i> Mal.lwln.vllle. 

Hr I llnrvev II. Karmer. bX Y. » K»l». I'll lialdaluivllle. 

liebliiiK. Henry. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



427 



Clark, A K, res Baldwiusville. Farmer. Justice Peace and Mfr 
Pumps; b N Y, s 18;«; P () Haldwiiisville. 

Crego, Ira L. Fiiriiier; b Ouoiidaga Co. ixi') : died IHC.'). 

Crego. Charlotte, Farmer; b X Y. s \n2>>: P() Baldwiusville. 

Crum, A B. Farmer; b X V. s 1854; V HaldwiiiBville. 

Crum. A. Parmer; b X Y. s IHIG; PO Halilwliisville. 

Cornell. Elijah, Farmer: b X Y. s IS.'.'; P () VanBureii. 

Cornell, Abuer; Farmer; 1) N Y. s IXJT: P () Baldwiusville. 

Coruell, \Vm P. Farmer; h X Y. s lM4.'i; P () Baldwiusville. 

Coruell. Leouard, Farmer: b X Y, s IS'.'T; P () Meuiphis. 

Cliftou, VVm, Farmer; b Eui;land, s 1H.')2; P () Baldwiusville. 

Clark. Joshua W, Farmer; b X Y. s 1S2U; P O Baldwiusville. 

Campbell. Kthan. Farmer ami J P ; I) X Y, s IHiT; Poetoffice 
.Memphis. 

Campbell. \Vm B, Uetired; b X Y. s 1k14; P o Memphis. 

Daboll, Henry, Fanner; b Coun. s 184-_'; HO Memphis. 

Diugmau, Lewis, Faruier; b X Y; died IHOII 

Diugman, Eliza M, Farmer; b X Y. s lK;.'(i; p ( ) .Memphis. 

Davis, Warren. Farmer; b Mas<, s 1K54; P () Warners. 

Ecker, Geo, Farmer; b X Y, s 1H.J9; P U Belle Isle. 

Fellows, David G. Farmer: b X Y. s 1847; died 187H. 

Fellows. Mary. Farmer; b X Y. s 1847; P Baldwiusville. 

Foster. Husseil. Farmer; b X Y, s 180(i: P () Memphis. 

Foster, Leouard. Farmer; b X' Y. s I81.i; P o Warners. 

Filkius. Chas. Farmer; b X' Y, s 18.14; I' Memphis. 

Gridlev, John. Farmer; 1) Conn, s IW':! ; P () Memphis. 

Hall. Horace (i. Farmer; b X Y, s 18.J1; i' () Baldwiusville. 

Hayues. Col Thaddeus, Farmer; b X Y. s 1808; i'O Baldwius- 
ville. 

Hayiies, .lohu. Farmer: b OnondaKa Co, 18111. (Died 1870.) 

Hayues. David. Farmer; b X Y. s 18i."); P u Baldwiusville. 

Hayues. Wm. Farmer; b X Y. s 18.J8; P (» Baldwiusville. 

HbV, Luther, Farmer; b X Y, s 18:J1; Po Baldwiusville. 

Harrington. Martin. Farmer; b X Y, s 1840; P {) Baldwius- 
ville. 

Hall, (ieo W. Farmer; b X Y, s ISiO; P O Memphis. 

Harringtou. Isaac. Farmer: b X Y. s 18il; P () Baldwiusville. 

Howe, Albert. Farmer: b X Y, s 1849; P O Baldwiusville. 

HigglDs. Seabnry M. Phys and Surg; b Mass, s l.><.')7; P O 
Memphis. 

Harper. Wm Henry, Farmer; b X Y, e 18G7: P () Warners. 

Huugerford, Samuel H, Farmer; b X Y, s 18:.'2; P U -Memphis. 

Hungerford. () H. Farmer; b X Y. 8 1849; P () Memphis. 

lugoldsby. .Mayuard, Farmer ; b X Y, s 18:.'H; P () Warners. 

Kenvou. .lacob C, res Baldwiusville. (ieneral Wrapping Paper 
-Mfr'y ; b X Y. s !«(«: P () Baldwiusville. 

Kratzer, Thomas, Farmer; b (iermauy, 3 l8(i7; P •> Baldwius- 
ville. 

Liusday. Daniel S. Farmer; b Onondaga Co. s 1801. (Died 
'1877.) 

Llnsday, Oliver, Farmer; b X Y, s 1809; p o Baldwiusville 

Loveless, Dauiel, Faraier : b Onondaga Co, s 1803. (Died 
1877. 1 

Loveless. Robert, Farmer; b N Y. s 1844; P O Baldwiusville. 

Laufare. II E. Farmer; b X^ Y. e 1844: P O .Memphis. 

Miller. Henry, Farmer; b X Y, s 1802; P U Balilwiusville. 

Maroney, Wm, Farmer; b Ireland, s 1854; PO Baldwiusville. 

Maltby. Lyman. Farmer; b N Y, s 1819: P O Baldwiusville. 

Maltby, Jacob, Farmer ; b Middlese.x. Mass. (Deceased.) 

Molby, John, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, s 1817. iDied 18,">9.) 

Molby. Clarissa, Farmer ; b X Y. s IKlS; p o Memphis. 

Meigs. Ruel, Fanrer; b X Y. s 18:i3; P <» Bahlwinsville. 

Marvin, (ieo W, Retired; b Conn, s 1^11; Postnirioe Warners. 

Marvin, lieo W Jr. Farmer; b X Y, s \sli; PostofBee Warners. 

X'ewport. Richard P. Farmei and Blacksmith; b England, s 
ix.i9; Postofflce Memphis. 

Nichols. Francis R. Farmer and Dealer in (jeueral Mdse; b 
( Uiiiudaga Co. s l.<(ll ; died lHi.'i. 

X'ichols, Erwiu F. Farmer: s l"*!!; Postollice Warners. 

Nostraut, John. Farmer; bX'Y. slsl5; Postollice Memphis. 

O'Brien. Thomas, Farmer; b Ireland, s 18.W; Postollice Bald- 
wiusville. 

O'Brieu. Daniel. Farmer: b Ireland, s IS.V); Postollice Bald- 
wiusville. 

Ouderkirk, Horace, Faruier: b X' Y, s IV,':.'; PostoQice Bald- 
wiusville. 

Parry, Elisha R. Farmer; b England : Postoffice Memphis. 

Parrv. Joseph E, Farmer: b X Y, s 1K51 : Postollice .Memphis. 

Peltou. Phillip. Farmer; b X Y, s ls:is; P o Baldwiusville. 

Peck. Homer. Farmer; Postollice Yan Bun-u. 

Reese. Jacob. Farmer: b X Y, s I8.>5: 1' O Baldwiusville. 

Reed. Wm. Farmer: b X Y, s 1815; Postollice H;ildwiusville. 

Resseguie X'oab. Farmer: b X Y. s ix'!'' ; PostolHce Memphis 

Scheplei'. Wm. Dealer in Cattle and Butcher: b (iermauy, s 
1^")1 : I'ostotlice Sliles. 

Smith, .\ugustus. F'armer: bConu,slNl4; Po Baldwiusville. 

Sears. lUifus. Farmer, b Onondaga Co. s 1>19; dieil ls7(t 

Sears, Jane E. Farmer, b X Y. s I^UM; I'listollice ( luoudaga. 

Sears, Jam.s. Farmer; b X Y, s 1^--; Postollice Onondaga. 

Sullivan. John. Farmer: b Ireland, .^ l».'i:i: Po..,tollice Stiles. 

Spore. .Abraham. Farmer, h Moiitgomcry Co, s 1^15; died 1*73. 

Spore. Iletsev. Farmer: b X Y. s 181".; P(l Baldwiusville. 

Sullivan. Xai)olcou B. Physician and Surgeon : b X' Y. s 182!); 
Postollice .Memphis. 

Spaulding, Cbauncey B. Farmer; b X Y. 3 1837 ; P O Memphis. 

Smith. Mavuard. Farmer. Saw Mill. Ice and Cider; b X Y. s 
l^^il; Postollice Baldwiusville. 



ille. 



Schuyler, ( has M Farmer: b X Y. s 1841 : P o Baldwiusville. 

Ta uiage. Lewis. Farmer: b X Y. 9 18»: P O Baldwiusville 

Ta mage. Liios L. Farmer; b X Y, s 1817; P ( 1 Baldwiusvi 

Talmadge. Isaac, Farmer; b X Y. s 1817; died \s::, 

Talmadge. Jonas M. Farmer; bX Y.s lx:)7 : Po Baldwiusville 

Turner, I luih, Farmer: b X Y. s 18.19: P U Baldwiusville. 

Yoorhees, David, Farmer: b X Y, s 1824 : P o Baldwiusville 

A'anYolkenburgh, Henry, Farmer; b Ououdaga Co, \KH; died 
187G. 

VanYolkenburgh. Mary. Farmer: h X Y, s 18:12: P O Memphis. 

White. W S. Farmer and Pump Manuf r; b X Y. s 1M22; Post- 
ollice Baldwiusville. 

Williams, Xathan, F'armer; b Ououdaga Co, 1797; died 187.3. 

Williams. Louisa. Farmer; b X Y. s 1804; PO Baldwiusville. 

Weaver, Martin L, Faruier: b X Y. s 1814; P (J Baldwiusville. 

Wright, John. Fanner; b X Y, s 1H.12; P o Baldwiusville. 

Wormuth. Moses. Farmer; b Montgomery Co, 8 IS-V; died 
1875. 

Wormuth. .Mary F, Faruier: b X Y, s 18.37; I'Q Stiles. 

Warner. Leonard, Farmer: b X 'i . s 1X21 ; P O Baldwiusville. 

White. Trueman. Faruier: b X Y.s 1807: PO Baldwiusville. 

White, Jonas T, Farmer: b X Y,s 1M8; P (j Haldwiusville, 

Widger, Erwin, Farmer; b X Y, s \x:is: P O Baldwiusville. 

Weaver, Abel, Retired; Postoffice Warners. 

Weaver, Trueuiau, Farmer; b N Y. s 18^4: P U Warners. 

TOWX OF DE WITT. 

Adcook. Geo, F'armer: b Ououdaga Co, 18:^; P O Fayetteville. 
Burner. John P. Lot 21, Farmer; b Ououdaga Co, 1841; 

Postollice Syracuse. 
Bates. John W, Farmer and Dairvman, Overseer Poor; b Oa- 

oiidaua Co, l.s:H; P ( > DeWitt Center, 
liosse, J Fred, Gardener and Carpenter; b Germany. 8 1848- 

PostoBice DeWitt. 
Bogardus, Eugene, Farmer; b (Jno:idaga Co, is.37; Postoffice 

Syracuse. 
Brayton, Warren C, Farmer and Breeder of Flue Stock; b 
Washiiiglou Co, sl8.'»7; Postoffice Syracuse. 

Brooks, (ieorge. Farmer; b Albany Co, s 1820; P O DeWitt. 

Breer, Henry, Central ('ity Phosphate Works, btjermaiiy; 
Postollice S3 racuse. 

Black, Abrani M, res DeWitt, Retired Farmer; b Ououdaga 
Co, 1«1.J: PostolKce DeWitt. 

Blancbard, Frank J. Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 18->i: Postoffice 
Fayettc\ille. 

Cobb, K D, Farmer: b Ououdaga Co, s ls(l<): p O DeWitt. 

Clark, Elijah, res East Syracuse, Retired Farmer; b OnoQ- 
daga Co, s 1S04; Postollice East Svracuse. 

Campbell A B, Farmer: b Ououdaga Co,'l811; Postoffice Fay- 
etteville. 

Campbell, Harriet M, b (tnoiidaga Co 1821. 

Colviii. B F. Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 8 18.38; P () Syracuse. 

Cadogaii Asa, Fanner; b Herkimer Cc, s 1827; 'Postoffice 
Janiesville. 

(^bapuian. Carlton E. Farmer; b Onondaga Co. e 182*. Post- 
office Janiesville. 

Carpenter, Yliet. Farmer; Dutchess Co. s IxKi: P (» Collaoier. 

Doe, James, Miller: Propr Xew York .Mills; b England, s 
1h;15; Postollice De Witt. 

Duiilop. Robert, Piaster and Lime Mfr; b Albany Co, s 1833; 
Postoffice Janiesville. 

Edwards, H K. I'uder-Sheriff; b Ououdaga Co, s 1828; Post- 
ollice Di-Witt. 

Furbeck. J I, Farmer and J P, b Albany Co, 3 18:14 ; Post- 
ollice CoUamer. 

Ferris, (i C, Faruier: b Coun, s 1855; Postofflce DeWitt 

(jove. Perry B, res Janiesville, Miller: b X' H, 1831; Post- 
ollice Janiesville. 

Gregory. Benjamin S, res Janiesville, Att'yaud Ins Ageut : b 
Orange Co. s I8:i5: Postofflce Janiesville. 

Getnian. (ieo H. Lot 'to. Faruier and Dairyman; b Jefferson 
Co. s 18(a); I'ostoflice Syracuse. 

Hill, ,1 L, Farmer: b Poni|iey, s 1x20; P O Syracuse 

Holbrouk, J G, Blacksmith; b Pumpey, 8 1S!7; P O Janies- 
ville. 

Headson. Stephen, res DeWitt Centre, Merchant: b France, 8 
1S.J2: Postofflce DeWitt Centre. 

narrower, P W, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, s 1x16; P O Syra- 
eu.se. 

Hotchkin, Jerome, Farmer; bOnondaga Co, 8 18:j8 ; P O Syra- 
cuse. 

Hotchkiii. Wm. Faruier : b Conn, 3 1819. (Died 1867.1 

Jones. .lobn. Lot ;!1 ; b Knuland, s 1845 : P O East .Syracuse. 

Jones, Marv. Lot 31 : b England, s 1845; P O East Syracuse. 

Kiuue. Prentice, Carpenter: b Sullirau Co, s 18:19, I' O De 
Witt. 

Kimber. .lames. Fanner; b England. 1817, s 1851 : PO DeWitt. 

Kinne. Rnfus U. re> East Syracuse, Farmer: b Ououdaga Co, 
s 1>2I: Postofflce East ,>*yracuse. 

Kiniie. Euierso,i, Karuier : b O'laiudaga Co, 8 1804 ; P O De 
Witt Centre. 

Kinne, Mason P, Farmer; b OiumdagaCo, s 18 J8; P U DeWitt 
Centre, 

Knapp, Edwin A. res Janiesville, Physician : b Oneida Co, 8 
1x57: Postoffice Jamesville. 

Kiuue, Ira, Farmer; b DeWitt, s 1819; P o DeWitt Centre. 



428 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Kilt:. \tuu> B. Karuirr . Milhi>( Bad I'luter . b Cuuu. K-'l . P 

It I»»Wln 
Lewi*, .'^KlnrT. Fannrr and iMlrrmaii ; bReoM^laer Co. • IIMD; 

l'<i>tofflr« SyrBfutr. 
LuddiDKtoii I.urlaii. Karoier ; b <>n<>iid»iCB Co, • 1M7 ; I' <J 

STniru»r 
Miller, l»BTid ."*. I^t II'. F»mi<T«inl MairToiBu . b I Uier Co. 

t 1H04 . P'.^t-.fflf.- I ■ i.iirr. 
Manb Ihiiilrl KaniK-r n i Hrrkfrpr- . b i limadacs to, 

1X--T: I'm.' ' 
McKlnlrr. R ^V l.-rrhanl ami School I'onimit- 

n,t..i..T,.r ^ •■. • l-^Kl- •■'• (••llaiiicr. 

Martb. Janir. ; h Hrrajint-r i. ■■. W*. « l"l". iDeceawd. ' 
(>cb«ii«r. Mu-ti.i. I M. ImI JV. Krult «Jrowrr: b M»itx«Tland, • 

l».'.> (• 1 p >vnii"U". 
Orerarr.- ^ila« J Karmrr: b JpffrrwiD Co, « 1*40. P t) DeWitt 

I tiitrr 
PBliDiirr, >><-tb li. Lot .1), Fanner: b MadUoii Co, § 1i*&>: r i • 

Srrarii««. 
rowl«'«lai ■!. ^V M, Farmer; b Onnndana Co, • iml ; Pof(olBr<> 

< •'ilninrr 

r.iwlf.lBiul. Mra Hrleii. iwlfe of W. H Powlealaiid.' b .-^jra- 

ciiM-. • I'M-t: r < > CoHamrr. 
Howlealand. lieonie. Faruirr: b Oiiondam f.'o. • IKIn; P n 

('ollanifr 
PowIpbIbiiU. Mn.^^. iwlfe of (jiforcr Powletlaiid :i b OaondaKA 

l... • IMT. P<i lolUnier 
Vutmby. Mark. Farnirr and Ihiirrman . b Madlnuti Co, « IHUtl: 

V (> IVwnt I Viitrp 
K<-lchrr(. .VIrxaiidrr rr* i>it '", Kaniifr. •) (ieraiauy, « ItMM; 

I' 1 1 1 iillanirr 
t*eel)r, (iportte II. Frutt lirower; biiiioiidaea Vo, t KJi; P (> 

SrmruM'. 
t^mllb. J Hpiirr. Fariiicr and Nraler in Platter; b Dutcbeu 

< I.. . l-jl. P I > Fajmrvilr. 

i^brphard. lU-i burl. Farmer . b P<iniix>T. • li*ll. I' <) JaiiiixTille 
!*Diitb. Mriir}' J. Farni>T and Carpviilrr, b • iiioiidaKa Co, • 

l'«:i5; I' • • Mtriicine 
}4iultb. Hrleii W ; 1> Nrw Matrpuhire. • 1«'.1»; P O .STnicuie. 
r^priirrr. <'bB«. Farmer, b KiiKiand. • Kilt. P O Dewlti Outre. 
»*taii(oii. li F. I'ropr Mrwiit FluurliiK Mlllt; b Porapey. • 

K.".»; P I ' FavrH<-vllli«. 

Sherwood. A II. Farnirr: bn idan Co. • lt<°.M : Pll l>owltt. 

Talloiaii. Thomas K, Farmi-r: b l*ewiit. • IfSi; portoffire 

Cullaiiier 
Webti, I^oiinrd B, Farnier; b OiiuDdaxa Co. iKVi; P<Mto0ce 

Itrwitl. 
Wrtluii. Ilciirr l>. rr*. Janipuvllli*. Oiiieiit. I.iiii<<aiid Planter. 

U I iiioiidniiB Cfi I'stT ; rontofTlc** .l>iii>t'f<% illr 
Ward. K"l..Tt. |{«-liri-d Fariiiir; li Albany Co. > IKJI; |.'o«t- 

i.nici' ?*Tracu«e. 
Wilcox. \ y. rarmrr aud Dealer In Planter: b < hiondan Co. 

• 1"'.''>; P'i»i,.nio»* Fi«\i-in-ville. 
Wrlln, Murlow I), rr. KjikI -vrmu.f. I'rop r WrlU llouie: b 

I itiioidsKa < o. lNl«: Po.t.plBce F.a-t frracupi-. 
Wonleii M P Farnirr; b < >uelda Co. « 1n|0: Poatoffice Fay- 

rtlevlUr. 
Wilcox. «ir<irKe W. Farnirr: b ( )noudai{B Co. li^l.T; Ponttifflco 

llrwill. 
YarrtuKton. Iloratlu N. Farmrr aud iMirynian; b < lunndaRa 

Co. ln'J5. PoBlolllce Syracuse. i4th WlBCnntln Ileftt. i 

TOWN (»F I..\ F.WKITE. 

Abbott. John M. Farmer: b IjiFayettr. • I'K'O ; Pottofllce La- 

Farrtlr. 
AblH.tt Sarnli .1. wKr of J H Abbott: b Cortland Co. i 1><H>: 

|,, . .1. I iKmiMIr 

balK-r. !.•'» ' iiiid Shi-p|i Kaiiwr. b Ma«« • lMi.'i l*o>t- 

..lli \ tr 

Bakrr .\lt'\.>ua< i. 1 annrr. (on nf Lpwls Makpr; b (.AFavrttr, 

Ke. l'o«l.lllr.- l,aFn«<'lt.' 

Baker. >iorTl», FariioT . t. \l < '■ (•■..tofflce IjiFayetlr. 

UbKit. I.utbrr. Farmrr i '. 1' i i l.nFayrtlr. 

■ Irrkrr. Janip*. rr« ljih>> I . '> ".iratoi-n Co., ■ 

|fJT: Po»tot11ce l,iil-av!u-. 
llnttB. Wariirr. Farnirr; I. .Mit.«. • IHii'.. l'.,iitonicr LaFayette. 
|i , .. .,..,,,£,. H, Farmrr. i> .V Y. • i'<.i; I' i i .lamr«villr. 
• r Furmrr. b Poniiwy. » 1. - I' ■ i IjiKayrtlr. 
... m». Furmrr. bl"mp<'». - - - I' ..toillcr i'oni- 

■f \ llill. 
CB»r, II. .nor. rr. Ijkfnyrtte, StatMii Aurni S II and .N Y UK; 
Crandall. .I"lii. Farmer, b Dulcbrai Co. ■ WX,. roaioillce 

I jiFairttr 
Crowiibart. K.<lwBrd \. re*. CafdllT: Pnip'r Cardiff ll.itel; b 

Madi'oii I .. • I":". Po«tomceCar.lHr. 
Colrninn. ■• U pHrmrr , !• Pompry. I"U r...tolBcr C ar.litl 
Couklin. J M. KnoudmraC... I-.':. I' I > roni|irr. 
Itoruian, lirorge A. rr> t ardiff. Miller, b Curllaiirt Co, • iN'i; 

ri.atoflicp Cardiff. 
Itorniaii. Am. a I', wifr of (ieorfte A I»omiaD ; b Tully, • InVi . 

l'...i .llirr Cardiff. 
l»B«i«. Churl.. I. Farnirr: b Poni|>ry, • IK-T . P t> I* Fayette. 
Daufortli. Ttit.ma>. Farnier; bl hatauiiuaco, •IXM; Potti.fBcr 

La t-BV-itr. 
Itantortb. Lnrv H. wife of Ttonia* Oanfonh: b Iji Fayettr. 

Iflll; pottofllce La Fayeite 



KterriuKham. Win. Farmer . b Iji Farette. I«J»: Puttufflce 

I.A Farelte. 
FarriiiRloii. V J. Fanner, b l.a Farpiie. • liCU . |> 1 1 Cardiff. 
Fuller. Andrew. Farmer, b Iji FaTette. • 1>0. Pll La Fayette. 
Fu'ler. Julia C. wife of .\mlrew l^uller : b Con'aiid Co. i'liCS; 

i'o>t..fllrr l,a Fajrile. 
(illbert. Hiram. Farmer. bConn.* l^l.S; Po*tofnce JanieiTllle. 
Hine. I^Biider. Farmer . b Conn. • I*<I4 ; P'Mtotnce Jamp«rllle. 
Ilrndrn-.n. W T. Farnirr b TuIIt. • Kli': PoMofllcr Cardiff 
Hill. I..WI. II. Farairr . b I'oniper. • ITUri; P O Ij» Farelte. 
Hotaliiiic. Jud>..n . b I Inondaita Co. KU: (' () I.jiFare(te. 
Hotalinit. Siephrn. Farnier: b Pomprr. • ItrJ: I' 1 1 |ji Farette. 
H.'tBlini;. Pollr F.. wife of S HuUlluK. b Poinpey. • IHUO; died 

April. \*:i 
HouKht'.ii. Voliirr .\. rea Cardiff. Carrlafce and Wacon Manu- 

faclurrr: b Herkimer Co. • KU. I'oalofBce Canliff. 
Hoyt. ( baa W. re. Ijt Fatrtle. Iletirnl Farnier. 
Hurt. William ll.rr.i ardiff. Merchant . b (iene^ee Co, • 1(117 ; 

roalolllrr CcrdlfT. 

H'.yt. Aii\diiir H. wifr ..f W H Hoyt: b Fablu*. * IfCU : Po*t- 

offlcr ( ardiff 
Hoyt. Philander Farnier: b La Fayette. • \KX: l*o*toffle« 

La Fayeite. 
Hoyt. LucrriiB. wife of Thllander Hoy t : b N iagara Co. * 1(C!0 ; 

Poatoffice 1^ Fa}elte. 
Joue.. William . b Waien. • Ih.17; died l«7fi. 
Jouea. .Mrii F.lirjibeth. widow of Williaai Jooe*. b Tnmpkln* 

( o. . I«i: I'o.tofflcr Cardiff. 
Jncktoii. Caleb II. Farmer: b I •.nii. a I*>I4 : P O I.ji Fayette. 
Jobntoii. Murk F.iriiirr. b La Favrlte, a 1K14; P(l CoIIIukwimmI. 
JubiKon. Caroline T. wife of Niark Jobiiton; b La Fayette, 

IMIl: I'oalofBce t oIlliiuw.Hid. 
KInif. R <;. Farmer: • Klfl: Po.tofflcr Ij» Faynie. 
Mcintyrr. lir'.rvr W. rr. Ijt FaM'tle .Mrrrhniit. i'oataiatter 

and .'.'lipfrri.or: ■ IMii, Po.toffirr Iji Faynie. 
Nonhwat. M li. Farmrr ; '• Pompey. . 1^17; I'd Canliff. 
Newell. Yinioihy. rr« IjiFavrtte. Mrrrhanl.b LaFayrtte. * 

l».i; r<.i^tMfi1cr IjiFavrtte. 
Newell. Ann P. wife of Tiini.tby Newell: b IjiFayette li«!5 ; 

I'oatofbcr Liifnyeltr. 
I'alnier. Avrrv U. ex-."*uprrvi»or : b OiiondaKa Co. * 133T; 

Poat.'fftcr IjtFnTrttr. 
Park R.ibrrt S. re> Cardiff. Mrrchaiii. I'M and J P; b UtFay- 

ritr. a Kki: ro,t..ftlr.- Cardiff 
Park, Mrs H ( rra i ardiff. wifr of K .s I'ark ; b Con land Co. 

• IVd; Poatofdce Canliff. 
Bvdrr. v.. rra Canliff. i .Miper ; b Conn, * ItOl; P O CkrdiS. 
Siinchrr. Wni H. Poatofilcr Tully Valley. N Y. 
Shaw. John 

Smith. ;.orrii. I.. Farmer. !• Vi. h IkV). P < • Jameavlll* 
Smith. Harriet li. wife of l^ireii LSnilih; IjiFayette \<A. 
Thonia.. Ilarri.on. Farnirr. b L^fayrlte. s KU, Poatofflce La- 
Fay et I r. 
Thnaiaa. I'barles M. Farmer: idled AuK iMCTi; b Lafayette. • 

ix-'l. 
Thunia* Helen S. widow of Cbarle* S Thonia*. b .Manila*, a 

l-.ll; P.i.toftlcr l-afayettr. 
Van HeWhlkrr. Martin. Farnirr. I> Sch-iharie Co. • IMiH; Po*l- 

..fllre I ar.hff 
Van DrWhlker. Naiicv. wifr of Martin Van l>e Walker: b 

Tully. . IMHI; I'oatofllcr Cardiff. 

TiiWN iiF TCLLY. 

Abbott. H II. Stock Pralrr; b Conlaiid Co; ilird l''7il. 
Abt...tt. Mr. Su.iiii. wid.iw of H II Abbott; I.Tullr. 1«4: Poat- 

onur Tull\. 
BIrnev. Joarph. Farnier: b Fablun. • Ii^.'i; Pii Tully 
HIriiry. Janir. li. Farnirr: b Fal.iu*. • IM7 ; P 1 1 TuIIt. 
Habc'ick. .Mr. Pollr. widow of Hiram Kabcock : b .Mnnliui, • 

iwrj; !'...(. .fflir Tul'y. 
Uaker, Stilrm. Farmer; b Vt . I>ec. I.'i, K"*!!, • I"!:.'; Pixtofllce 

Tully. 
Camp. NeUon. rr< Tully. Baptitt MInUter; b Conn,* IKM: 

I'oatofflrrTnllr. 
Chii.r. Itua.ell F. Farmer: b Tullv. IKIS; 1' n TullT. 
CuniniinK*. Wni. Famn-r. b Cortland Co. • I^Kl; r ii Tully. 
Fjirle. W' L re. 1ullr. I'ndertaker and Furnilure l>paler:b 

CorllaiidCo. ; Kl; 1' 1 1 Tullv 
i>aiiiel«. Alfred II. Carpenlri . b Tully. « lK-.Ti : P O Vr.nrr. 
Fuller. Frank. Farmrr; b Svracnar. » IMI . I'...t..nicr 1 ully. 
hullrr. Mnriiii li. Farmer: ii Tully, . KfiC p...t..Hlcr TuIIt. 
Fariiham. Snmiiel M. re* Tully. I'hyaiciaii; b ronipey, • |N|0: 

I'oatofflce Tullv. 
French Alpboimo. rra Vraper. J P and P .M : b (UUco. * IKEI. 

r...|..HIcr Vr.|M'r. 
Frilowr. Iliiiiirl. Farnier. b Otiaco. a ImOU; died Nor., \MA. 
liardner, I ha. A. Farmer; b Tuliy, IMx; Foalofflce Tully. 
lianliirr. t iniiila. widi.w of Wni C liardner; b I'onipry. . IHOH; 

Poatolllce Tullr. 
liardner. Wm C. Merchant and Faniier; b Reu**elarr Co. * 

IH-.M. 
Ilollrnbrrk. I«aac. Farnier: b Tullv. a ICI.'i. Jtied Ih74 i 
ILillenbrck. I.vdia M. aidow of l.aac H..lleiih.-ck : b Tullr,* 

1-17. I'll Tullv. 
Mare.. Robert. Farnief; b Albany Co. * 1K.T: Po Tully Valley. 



HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



429 



PO 
PO 
PO 



Hayes, Thomas, Farmer. (Died 1S65.) 

Kellogg, Clarissa, widow of Cyrus Kellogg; b Hamilton Co, 

s 1835 ; Postof Bee Vesper. 
Kellogg, Cyrus, Farmer; b Albany Co, s 1827. (I>!ed 18C4.) 
King, Ueorge, Farmer and Teacher; b Cortland Co, 8 1817 ; P 

O Vesper. 
King, E V, Farmer and Breeder ol Fine Stocl<; b TuUy. 3 

18;iU; Postoffice Tally. 
King, H F, res Tully, Merchant and Postmaster ; b Conn, s 

1820. (Died 1856.) 
King, Mary E, widow of H F King; b Conn, s 1820; P O 

Tully. 
King, H K, "res Tully, Insurance and Loan Agent ; b Tully, a 

1829; Postofflee Tully. 
Lake, Wilmot, Retired; b Conn, s 1807 ; P O Tully. 
Lake, Cynthia, widow of A VV Lake; b Manlius, s 179G; 

Tully. 
Miles, Chas VV, Farmer and Dairyman; b Fabius, s 1839; 

Fabius. 
Nichols, A N, Lot 2G, Farmer ; b Delaware Co, s 1838; 

Vesper. 
Ousby, John, Farmer and Dairymau; b England, s 1840; P O 

Tully. 
Ousby, J F, Parmer; b Tully, s 1853 ; P O Tully. 
Pearsall, Isaac, Parmer; b Dutchess Co, s 1829; P O Vesper. 
Peters, Richard J, Farmer, Delaware Co, s 1829; P O Tully. 
Stauton, George, Farmer; b Schoharie Co, sl849; P O Tully 
Seely, John, s 1829. 
Smith, Thomas, Landscape Painter; b Scotland, s 18C6. P O 

Vesper. 
Smith, Dolly, (widow of A. Smith,) b Mass, s 1821; P O Tully. 
Strail, Richard, Farmer; b Schoharie Co, s 1823; P U Tully. 
Sanchez. W H, Farmer; b Florida, s 1875; P O Tully Valley. 
Smith, Armenius, res Tully, Harness Maker; b Mass, s 1813; P 

O Tully. 
Seeley, Gideou, Farmer; s 1818. 
Seeley, Henry, s 1787. 

VanBergen, Henry, Parmer; died 185G; b Greene Co, s 1823. 
VanBergen, A. H., Farmer and Breeder of PineStock; b. Tul- 
ly, 1839; P O Tully. 
VauCamp, Wm.. Parmer; b Cortland Co, s 18,35; P O Tully. 
Vau Bergen, Robert L., Farmer; b Greene Co, s 1823; Poet- 
office Tully. 
Warner, L. L. Parmer; died Nov. 3, 1867; b Onondaga Co., s 

1844. 
Warner, Almeda, (widow of L. L. Warner,) b Onondaga Co., 

8 1837 ; P O Tully. 
Willis, Samuel, Supervisor; b Hamilton Co. s 1840; PO Tully. 
Willis, L. resTuUy.M.E. Minister; b Hamilton Co. POTully. 
Willis, Lewis, Farmer; Died 1873; b Hamilton Co, s 1842. 
Willis, Ellen, (widow of L. Willis;) b Washington Co, s 1828; 

P O Tully. 
Wiuchell, James, Parmer; died 1850; b Vt. 1801. 
Wiuchell, E, Parmer; b Greene Co. s 1812; P O Tully Va" y. 
Woodmansee, Harriet, (widow of Jerry M Woodmansee,) u 

Onondaga Co, s 1835; P O Vesper. 
Woodmansee, Jerry M, Farmer; Died August 4, 1874; b Onon- 
daga Co, s 1828. 
Wooster, Muray, res Tully; b Conn, s 1833; P O Tully. 

TOWN OP FABIUS. 

Radfish, Benjamin, res Fabius, Miller; bMass, a 1867; Postoffice 
Fabius. 

Beamer, Lewis, res Fabius, Prop'r Machine Shopand Foundry; 
b Onondaga Co, s 1840; Postoffice Fabius. 

Barnes. Oscar A. res Fabius, Carriage Repositorv ; b Onondaga 
Co, 1843 ; Postoffice Fabius. 

Beman, I H, res Fabius, Pastor Free Will Baptist Church ; b 
Steuben Co, s 1877; Postoffice Fabius. 

Benson, Warren; b Pompey, 1817; deceased. 

Benson, Katherine, wife of late Warren Benson ; b Fabius, 
1815; Postoffice Fabius. 

Chaffee, Lyman, res Fabius, Retired ; b Conn, s 1856; Postoffice 
Fabius. 

Chaffee, C S, Prop'r Saw Mill, &c ; b Oswego Co, s 18.56 ; Post- 
office Fabius. 

Cadwell, Anson, Parmer; b Cortland Co, 1806, s 1850 ; Post- 
office Fabius. 

Case, Isaac, Farmer; b Pompey, s 1819; P O Fabius. 

Dygert, Asa B, Traveling Agent; b Onondaga Co, 1828; PO 
Fabius. 

Ellis, Mrs A, res Fabius, Millinery; b Onondaga Co; Postoffice 
Fabius. 

Ellis, Ansel, res Fabius, Carriage Repository ; b Onondaga Go, 
18:32; Postoffice Fabius. 

Elmore, C, Farmer; b Wyoming Co, 1860; P O Summit Station. 

Fowler, Hubbard I, Retired Farmer, b Dutchess Co, s 1843; 
Postoffice Fabius. 

Fosmer, E A, res Fabius, Cabinet Maker and Undertaker; b 
Onondaga Co, 1851 ; Postoffice Fabius. 

French, D W, Farmer and School Teacher; b Tully, 1847; Post- 
office Summit Station. 

Gallinger, George H, Parmer; bCanada 1839, s 185:3 P O Fabius. 

Green, Wm, res Summit Station, Mfr of Cheese, etc ; Post- 
ofii'-e Summit Station. 



Gay, 



G F & Co, res Summit Station, Gen 1 Mdse ; b Onon- 
daga, 8 1852; Postoffice Summit Station. 
Gilbert, Oscar F, Prop'r Hotel; b Onondaga Co, 1835 ; Post- 
office .Summit Station. 
Howe, C L P, res Fabius, Pastor First Methodist Church ; 

Postoffice Fabius. 
Hotaling, William, res Fabius, General Mdse; b ('olumbla 

Co, s 18G0; Postoffice Fabius. 
Johnson, Myron C, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 1841; P O Fabius. 
Jerome John, Farmer ; b Onondaga Co, 1816; P O Fabius. 
Miles, Smith, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, a 1808; Postoffice 

Summit Station. 
Osborn, James, Farmer ; b Onondaga ; s 1845; P O Fabius. 
Osboru, Lyman, P;irmer ; b Mass, s 1811 ; Postoffice Fabius. 
Pine, Milford L, Physician and Surgeon; b Madison Co, s 

1877 ; Postoffice Fabius. 
Pope, Oril, Farmer; Parmer, b Oswego, s 1822; P O Fabius. 
Porter, Polly, Farmer; b Chenango Co, s 1865; P O Fabius. 
Persooe, Miss Mary E, res Fabius, School Teacher, District 

No. 9.- b Cortland Co, s 1835 ; P O Fabius. 
Porter, Mrs Daniel, Farming ; b Pitcher, Chenango ( -o, 1828 s 

1805 ; Postoffice Keeney Settlement. 
Rowley, Newell, Parmer ; b Otsego Co 1814, s 1823 ; Postoffice 

Fabius. 
Sprague, D S, Parmer and Land Surveyor; b Onondaga Co. 

1823; PO Fabius. 
Sturdevant, Andrew, Manufr. of Chairs and Prop'r Saw Mill; 

b Fabius, 1842. P O Summit Station, 
Sharp, John E, Parmer; b Onondaga Co. 1834; P O Fabius. 
Snlffin, John H. res. Summit Station, Prop'r Hotel; bOnou- 

cagal83G; P O Summit Station. 
Smith, Irving, res. Fabius, Prop'r Custom Mill; b Mass. 8 

1835. P O Fabius. 
Webster, Isaac N, Farmer; b Cortland Co. 1821, 3 1828; P O 

Summit Station. 
Williams, Horace F, Farmer; b Ht ' — r'n 1814, s 1820; P 

O Fabius 
Webster, Elmore C, Farmer; b Wy 

mit Station. 

TOWN OF 1 

Avery, Egbert I, Farmer ; b Oc^ 

Billings, Homer A, Farmer; b Ou--ndaga t_o, 1,^-.., 

Babcock. Timothy P, Parmer and Hop uiower; i, C-rtiauu 

Co, sl8G2; Fabius. 
Brown, Charles D, Parmer; b Onondaga Co 1845; Postoffice 

Watervale. 
Berry, Mathias, Lots, 6.5-GG; Postoffice Pompey. 
Benson, A P, Lot 69; Postoffice Delphi. 
Bowen, L B Lot 33; Postoffice Oran. 
Birdseye, A F, Lot 64 ; Postoffice Pompey Hill. 
Craln, C S, Lot 85; Postoffice Delphi. 

Clark, Bronson, Parmer; b Onondaga Co, s 1830; P O Oran. 
Carpenter, Major, Farmer and (.'arpenter, b Oswego Co, s 1S2C; 

Postoffice Delphi. 
.Candee. Honry, Farmer; Onondaga Co, 1823; P O Pompey 

Center. - 
Corwln, Phlneas P, Parmer; b Madison Co, s 1839; ir O Oran. 
Coleman, Timothy S, Farmer; b Onondaga Co 1839; Postoffice 

Janiesvllle. 
Dyei\ M R, Lot G5; Postoffice Pompey. 

Ellis, Stephen. Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 1819; P O Pompey. 
Pitch, Edgar O, Parmer; b Onondaga Co, 1840; PO Watervale. 
Gardlnler, John, Carpenter; b Schoharie Co, s 18GG; Postoffice 

Pompey. 
Gates, J P. Lots 4 and 5; Postoffice Jamesville. 
Hall, Stephen, Postoffice Pompey. 

Hayden, Carmi, Farmer; b Onondaga Co; P O Pompey. 
Hall, Upson, Parmer; b Onondaga Co, 1822; P O Pompey. 
Hoag, Wm M, Parmer; b Onondaga Co, 1848; P O Watervale. 
Hill, Chas R, Lot 33; Postoffice Delphi. 
Hill, C R K, Lot 100; Postoffice Delphi. 
Jerome, S W, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 1827; P O Pompey. 
Jerome, Ira, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 1845; P O Fabius. 
Kelsey, D W, Mechanic; b Chenango Co, s 1856; P O Manlius. 
Kenyon, J. Lot 49; Postoffice Pompey Hill. 
Lowrie, Edward, Farmer; b Onondaga Co; P O Manlius. 
Loomis, Isaac A Jr, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 1818;.l*o8toffii:- 

Manlius. 
Larrabee. C M, Lot 100; Postoffice Delphi. 
Newman. O., Parmer; b Onondaga Co. 1800; P O Pompey 

Center. 
Newman, P. L; P O Address, Delphi. 
O'Reilly, M., Lot 65; Postoffice Pompey Hill. 
Pelrle, J., Pastor Presbyterian Church; b Herkimer Co. s 

1872; P O Pompey. 
Ru33, Henry J., Carpenter; b Onondaga Co. 1830; Postoffice 

Watervale. 
Safford, Silas 15 , Parmer; b Onondaga Co. 1801; PO Oian. 
Shaltuck, Milo, Farmer; b Onondaga Co. 1848; P O Jamesville. 
Stearns, Jehlel, Physician and Surg, b Vt. 1810; P O PDmpey. 
Sutherland. Elijah G., Parmer; b Onondaga Co. 1820; P O 

Manlius. 
Swift, A. P., Lot 93; P O Pompey Hill. 

Tolmau, Josiah H. Farmer; b Onondaga Co. 1832; P O Pompey. 
Vau Brocklin, Wm. W., Lot 64; P O Pompey. 



430 



HISTORY 01- ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Itet:.; POl'ompey. 
. I 'i>. ItO*; I'tiatoilloa 



Walk Ilia. WktaoD, Kaniicr: bOn 
WliiH?liick, Luthar J., Kuniier; L 

Watrrvale. 
White, John W.. Kartuor mnd Meebanle; b Oiiuiidxtm Co. 1KJ4; 

iMtOraii. 
Wyaiit, Daniel I'.. Kariiiir and C»rp«-uter; b Dnoiidaxa lo. 

MIX,; P <) Watcrrnlr. 
Woodf ' t ■ liio 1'.. Fartner; b UoondBca Co; I'oitofflM 

Woodf i h., Karraor; b Ououdacm Co; roitoffloe 

Wright. Jcmiulah. Lot 85; I' O Delphi. 



MISCKU.ANKOUM. 

Brc«d. I •liver, re« Ph. - v - ' • • - ■ Miller (Atlaa MIIU) 

b Veriiioiit. I'i ix. 

niefeudurf.Jobu II. t. ■ ,. Kurt I'lalu. • 1H8& ; 

i' (I I'hiiiilx. 
Baker, Tninmn. re* t'bcsnix, farmer : b Lytauder. • ISiO ; F 

() rb<i'uix. 
Roblofou, Ixireiir-o W, re« I'hueuix. Attorney and Couucillnr- 

at-ljiw , b l)U«iro Co. IKIO. II imi ; I' O I'houuU. 
Revuold*. Avery, re* I'hoenlx. Mfr <'a«kel« and Furniture; b 

Cazeuovia, IKTs ■ ltu.'> : 1' () I'boeulx. 



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